Author Archives: rajo1974

10th January 2026- FA Cup Third Round, Bristol City 5 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Team news: Gracia to give squad players a chance at Bristol City

Gracia reminisces about Woking visit and 2018/19 FA Cup run

Match Wrap: Bristol City 5-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Emil Riis scored his first Bristol City hat-trick as the Robins claimed an emphatic win over fellow Championship side Watford to sail into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Bristol City 5-1 Watford

Match Report: Watford out of the FA Cup after 5-1 Bristol City hammering

Watford defended ‘really badly’ at Bristol City, says Gracia

Gracia on Pollock, Louza and bouncing back from FA Cup defeat in the league

Bristol City verdict: Response needed in more ways than one to maintain momentum

First senior goal is ‘very proud’ moment for boyhood Watford fan Grieves

Fran’s Watford Blog:  It was a truly abject second half performance. The first half had been competitive, and the Hornets had created some decent chances and could have been 2-1 up at one point. But once the third goal went in, the Hornets fell apart. This coincided with the substitutions and showed a worrying lack of depth in the squad. Once Pollock went off, the defence disappeared, which highlighted how much we rely on him and what a great asset Max Alleyne had been.

From the Rookery End: In the first – and last – FA Cup podcast of the season, Mike is joined by the Watford Observer’s Adam Drury to reflect on Watford’s 5–1 defeat away at Bristol City

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–26_FA_Cup

4th January 2026- Championship, Hull City v Watford, Match postponed

The game was called off just 23 minutes before kick off. The Watford players came over to the away fans to tell them that the game was off before any announcement had been made in the ground. The news then started to appear on social media before finally confirmation was given in the stadium that the match was postponed.

Watford Observer: Hull City preview: Gracia expects winning run to energise one more push

News: Hull City Match Postponed – Watford FCDownload

The club released a further statement later in the evening.

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Hull City v Watford postponed

Watford’s game at Hull City postponed at VERY short notice due to safety concerns

‘We were ready to play’ – Watford release statement after Hull City postponement

EFL to ask Hull City and Watford for observations after late postponement

Hull City v Watford postponement saga – what happened and what next?

Referee and safety officials – not clubs – must agree to postpone EFL match

Ince explains ‘strange’ Hull postponement from Watford players’ perspective

From the Rookery End: Watford’s away trip to Hull City was dramatically called off just 18 minutes before kick-off, leaving hundreds of travelling Hornets fans frustrated after making a 400-mile round trip. Among them was our own Mike, who left home at 7am and didn’t make it back until his 7pm train that evening. With no full From The Rookery End podcast this week, we’re sharing Mike’s appearance on BBC Radio Humberside, where he joined host James Hoggarth on Monday night to give the Watford fans’ perspective. Mike talks through the disappointment, the logistics, and the emotions felt by supporters left stranded after a long day of travel — and asks what more could (and should) have been done.

1st January 2026- Championship, Watford 3 Birmingham City 0

Watford Observer: Birmingham preview: Gracia believes Watford squad ‘feel part of something’

https://www.watfordfc.com/supporters/digital-digests

Match Wrap: Watford 3-0 Birmingham City – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Watford 3-0 Birmingham City

Match Report: Ince hat-trick inspires relentless Watford to 3-0 Birmingham win

Gracia on Birmingham win: ‘The squad believe in what we are doing’

Hat-trick hero Ince: ‘I never doubted that I could be exciting again’

Birmingham City verdict: Powerful Watford let rip at Vicarage Road

Gracia on Irankunda’s return to form and ‘high quality’ Ince

BBC: Tom Ince scored a hat-trick as Watford made it four successive Championship wins with a comprehensive victory over a lacklustre Birmingham City.

Sky: Ince should even have added a fourth goal when he fired over an open net inside the six-yard box with 20 minutes remaining.

BHappy: You really don’t want to be falling behind against this Watford side. Admittedly we’ve not taken the lead in games often enough to demonstrate the veracity of this theory conclusively (though, whisper it, one goal conceded in four games in case you missed that detail) but… rarely, perhaps not since our promotion season of 20 years ago (eek) under Aidy Boothroyd have we had a side so well-equipped for attacking on the break.

Fran’s Watford Blog: There were great celebrations in the stands and on the pitch. The players spent some time on the lap of honour and it was lovely seeing Tom Ince walking around with the matchball and a huge smile on his face. He was deservedly man of the match after scoring a hat trick and taking them all well.

From The Rookery End: On this week’s episode, Jon, Mike and DCW revel in Watford FC’s red-hot start to the year as the Hornets make it four consecutive victories and confidence begins to surge. There’s plenty of love for Tom Ince after a stunning hat-trick, with the lads discussing what his form means for the balance and belief within the side. Attention also turns to the hugely important return of Georgi Chakvetadze, whose influence has brought control, cohesion and calm back into midfield, helping to ignite an electric atmosphere at Vicarage Road.

29th December 2025- Championship, Norwich City 0 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Preview: Sargent returns for Norwich as Watford aim for three straight wins

Match Wrap: Norwich City 0-1 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Norwich City 0-1 Watford

Match Report: Dramatic Semedo winner lifts Watford into top six at Norwich

Gracia on Norwich win: ‘The substitutes made the difference’

Norwich verdict: Irankunda burst shows why 2025/26 may just be different

Norwich boss Clement claims Watford staff told him victory was lucky

Gracia pleased Watford are ‘more solid’ but is not thinking about league position

BBC: Vivaldo Semedo’s late winner against Norwich moved Watford into the Championship play-off places.

Sky: A disappointing game of few clear-cut chances appeared to be heading for a goalless draw until Semedo’s deflected shot found the back of the net after a fine run down the left from fellow substitute Nestory Irankunda.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The final whistle was greeted with shouts of “Yellows, yellows” and the post-match celebrations were joyous. The players all came over to applaud us, and Semedo was pushed to the front as the crowd sang his name. The crowd then lauded Irankunda who had made the goal, and he came over to give his shirt away with the biggest smile on his face. Finally, Javi came to the front and was given the ovation that he deserved.

From the Rookery End: Watford have finally packed their bags and remembered how to win on the road — and Jon, Jordi and The Brigadier Colin are here to enjoy every minute of it.  Back-to-back away victories at Leicester (2-1) and Norwich (1-0) give the Hornets something they’ve been missing for a while: momentum. The lads dig into a mature, disciplined performance at the King Power, ask whether this side is starting to look like a team rather than a collection of individuals, and assess the calm, gritty win at Carrow Road that showed real backbone.

26th December 2025- Championship, Leicester City 1 Watford 2

Watford Observer: Watford training on Christmas Day ahead of packed fixture schedule, reveals Alleyne

Match Wrap: Leicester City 1-2 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Leicester City 1-2 Watford

Match Report: Pollock heads winner as Watford secure impressive 2-1 win at Leicester

‘Really happy for players, staff and supporters’ – Gracia on Leicester win

Kyprianou hails Chakvetadze quality after ‘big’ Leicester win

BBC: Othmane Maamma’s delightful strike sparked a stylish fightback as Watford moved to the verge of the Championship play-off spots with victory over faltering Leicester City.

Sky: Imran Louza played a starring role with two assists as Watford came from behind to win 2-1 at Leicester and claim back-to-back victories for the first time this season in the Sky Bet Championship.

Fran’s Watford Blog: It had been a very impressive performance. It was a shame that we had to concede another early goal, but the rest of the game had been mostly Watford, and we had played some very good football. A number of excellent moves were spoiled by poor finishing, but you have to create the chances to miss them and eventually some will go in. It was a great team performance, but there were some stars. Louza had a great game with assists for both the goals. I am glad that he gave his Mum something to celebrate on her birthday. Maamma was again impressive, his goal was a thing of beauty. Mattie Pollock had another solid game and could have scored two goals, I was so glad that he grabbed the winner. Chakvetadze is getting back to his best, scurrying around, fighting for everything. And Ngakia continued his recent good form causing problems for the opposition in both boxes.

20th December 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Stoke City 0

Watford Observer: Referee set to take charge of Watford game for second time this season

Gracia on planning for the festive period and the absence of Kayembe

‘I remember him really well’ – Gracia comes up against former player on Saturday

Match Wrap: Watford 1-0 Stoke City – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Watford 1-0 Stoke City

Match Report: Kjerrumgaard goal earns Watford 1-0 win over Stoke City

Gracia proud that Watford ‘stuck to the plan’ in Stoke win

Gracia explains playing Chakvetadze centrally and praises forwards

Stoke verdict: Wholehearted Pollock typifies hard-earned victory

Alleyne: ‘We think we can beat everyone – we want promotion’

BBC: Watford extended their unbeaten Championship run to four games with a narrow victory over out-of-form Stoke City.

Sky: The Danish striker was on target in the 74th minute to stretch the Hornets’ unbeaten home run to nine matches, and they have lost just once in their last 10 home and away.

Fran’s Watford Blog: At the end of the game a couple of players had collapsed to the ground, which is not unusual, but then the physios came on and it was apparent that Semedo was in some trouble. Pollock had gone to applaud the Rookery while the rest of the players surrounded the stricken Semedo, and he was called back to join them. It looked really worrying, so it was a relief when Vivaldo got to his feet and walked off the pitch. The highlights showed him taking a nasty elbow to the face in the last action of the game.

From the Rookery End: Watford fans were treated to an early Christmas gift as Javi and the boys delivered a hard-fought 1–0 win over Stoke City — and this week, Jon, Jordi, Kieran and the Brigadier are in festive spirits as they break it all down.