Category Archives: February

9th February 2019- Premier League, Watford 1 Everton 0

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A lot happened in both the lead up to and the aftermath of this game so I’ve tried to provide a bit of context which is shown below in bold.

Referee:
Lee Probert
Attendance:
20,333

Pre Match Articles

Marco Silva: Independent inquiry into Everton’s alleged illegal approach for former Watford boss ongoing

Javi Gracia expecting Watford fans to get behind Hornets against Everton

Watford vs Everton: Javi Gracia has no special plans to counter Richarlison threat

Watford vs Everton: Marco Silva claims he’s ‘ready for everything’ ahead of Hornets return

Post Match Articles

Relive our coverage of Watford’s Premier League clash with Everton

Watford vs Everton: Andre Gray ensures miserable return to Vicarage Road for Marco Silva

Watford head coach Javi Gracia delighted after Everton victory

Everton boss Marco Silva claims ‘I did my job well’ while at Watford

RATINGS: How we scored Watford’s performances against Everton

A selection of images from Watford’s win over Everton

Andre Gray says Watford are not putting limits on their ambitions this season

Adrian Mariappa hails ‘terrific’ support from Watford fans after Premier League win over Everton

Watford held off late pressure from Everton to claim a hard-fought victory over their former manager Marco Silva.

After Troy Deeney had appeared to stoke the flames ahead of the encounter at a Watford fans’ forum, Gray made the most of the only moment of real quality in the game when he converted Will Hughes’ cut-back 20 minutes into the second period, scoring his fourth goal of the season.

Pre Match Report

Marco Silva has said Troy Deeney’s comments about intimidating Everton have been noted by his players and can serve as motivation for their visit to Watford on Saturday.

Post March Report

Before the match, the Watford captain, Troy Deeney, had distanced himself from comments he made at a fans forum this week where he promised to kick Everton’s players. Yet with passions running high in this part of Hertfordshire, as the chief executive, Scott Duxbury, said he would not engage with Silva in the opposition dugout, some supporters greeted their former manager with yellow inflatable snakes.

The Troy Deeney ‘comments’ mentioned above came from a Fan’s Forum which took place in London one evening in the week leading up to the Everton game.

Andy Lewers of the brilliant Hornet’s Nest blog and Love Sport Radio live tweeted what was said by those at the forum. Click on the tweet below to see the whole thread from the evening.

He later provided more details on what was said in a post on facebook.

The media then mis-quoted some of this which led to Silva’s motivation comments. This was how the Evening Standard reported the forum…

Troy Deeney’s Watford Fans’ Forum appearance was a joy to behold… unless you’re Marco Silva

Troy addressed the mis-reporting of his comments on the morning of the game

To be fair to Silva (not that I really want to be) he told 5 Live’s Vicki Sparks in his post match interview that he hadn’t really believed the reporting of Deeney’s comments and that Troy clarified them when they spoke before the game. (Apologies for the poor audio quality)

The atmosphere in the ground before kick-off was brittle. I must confess that I didn’t notice the widely-celebrated playlist, but there was no missing Emma Saunders’ pointed welcome to the visiting head coach over the tannoy. 

As we walked along Vicarage Road away from the ground, we could see something going on by the Everton coaches.  There was a crowd by the cemetery wall looking in and first reports were that there had been a stabbing, although that was proved wrong after the game.  But two Watford fans were hospitalised, one with a nasty head injury.  As someone who started to go to football matches in 1979, these scenes were seen on a weekly basis in those days but had become a rarity in recent times.  I really hope that it remains that way.

The trouble mentioned was widely reported.

Watford FC fans ‘covered in blood’ amid violence after Everton match

Watford v Everton: Four arrested over football violence

Police charge 23-year-old after altercation outside Vicarage Road

https://oldwatford.com/2019/03/03/3rd-march-2019-premier-league-watford-2-leicester-city-1/

2nd February 2019- Premier League, Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Watford 0

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Referee:
Simon Hooper
Attendance:
30,414

Watford unable to get back to winning ways after 0-0 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion

Ben Foster stars again as Watford pick up Brighton & Hove Albion point

A selection of images from Watford’s draw at Brighton & Hove Albion

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster thinks he could play for a few more seasons

Watford manager Javi Gracia said goalkeeper Ben Foster produced a “special performance” after preventing Brighton from claiming their first league win of 2019.

Watford defended stoutly but lacked imagination in attack, and failed to register a single shot on target across the 90 minutes.

It was Brighton who were almost celebrating a winner 10 minutes from time. Gross’s inviting cross from the left was met by a flicked header from Locadia but Foster somehow leapt to turn it behind. He followed up that save by unconventionally keeping out Duffy’s acrobatic attempt with his feet and then smothered an effort from the onrushing Andone. Yves Bissouma was also narrowly off-target in the dying moments.

Much as you want to win, there’s always something thrilling about being in someone else’s ground when a game that’s in the balance suddenly tips and the noise starts echoing around the stands. Sets the adrenaline going, makes eventual victory all the more vivid. The noise at the Amex still seems to carry with it something of what this club nearly became, of building bonfires and Hereford and all of that. It’s still there, the knowledge that none of this might’ve existed. The pre-match build-up offers somewhat one-sidedly edited highlights of previous meetings, and the big screen malfunctions to obscure half of the picture, which seems a fitting reminder of the sightlines from both the away corner at the Goldstone and the temporary seating at Withdean. It’s thirty years since I was a student here; more than twenty since Fans United. This is a brilliant ground for a proud city. We should all count our blessings more often.

The most entertaining moment of the first half came on the half hour as Holebas battled with March on the wing and ended up giving away the first corner of the game.  In typical Jose manner he then walked towards the goal to defend the set piece, looking furious as only he can.  He was looking for someone or something to blame, and suddenly focussed on his gloves which were ripped from his hands and thrown behind the goal line.  I realise that this loses a lot in translation, but it caused great amusement to the Holebas fans in our party.

24th February 2018- Premier League, Watford 1 Everton 0

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screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-23-36-22clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary   Goals: 1

Watford Observer

RELIVE – Watford vs Everton: Troy Deeney earns vital Premier League win

Troy Deeney scores the winner as Watford beat Everton

Watford’s work rate praised after taking ‘three very important points’ against Everton

Javi Gracia discusses switch to two strikers after Watford’s win over Everton

Watford vs Everton ratings: Stefano Okaka impresses from the bench as Troy Deeney hits winner

Images from Watford’s victory over Everton as Troy Deeney scores decisive goal

Watford: Sebastian Prodl praises ‘individual class’ in vital Premier League win over Everton

skyTroy Deeney struck late as Watford secured a 1-0 win against Everton in the Premier League at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

BBC SportCaptain Deeney smashed a shot into the roof of the net – his first goal from open play all season – to help the Hornets crawl six points above the bottom three.

guardianBlunt as ever, Troy Deeney described this match as “pretty dire”. That may have been something of an exaggeration but it was not wholly inaccurate – yet ultimately this was an occasion to savour for Watford’s captain.

BHappy imageAny sense of blood and thunder and scores to be settled was short lived. The teams arrived to a particularly densely packed wall of flags in the Rookery and an unexpected cannonfire of yellow and black streamers from the base of the stand. Briefly this had the desired effect as the crowd roared the Hornets on, until it became clear that said streamers had been fired with sufficient welly to reach and entangle themselves into the hooks and anchors in the ceiling of the stand which has never received more attention during a game as the tendrils of streamers blowing in the wind provided an unusual frame to the action, a garish new Instagram filter for the rest of the evening. 

FranIt had been a remarkably dull game with most of the excitement of the first half deriving from having to fight off streamers that had detached themselves from the roof.

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10th February 2018- Premier League, West Ham United 2 Watford 0

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Programme images courtesy of Matt Hall

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Watford Observer

LIVE – West Ham United vs Watford: Marko Arnautovic stars as Hornets suffer Premier League defeat

Watford disappoint as West Ham United win 2-0 through Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic goals

Javi Gracia felt West Ham United showed greater aggression in Watford win

West Ham United vs Watford ratings: Marvin Zeegelaar and Daryl Janmaat struggle in Premier League loss

Marvin Zeegelaar: Watford’s West Ham loss serves reminder Premier League survival battle is still on

skyMarko Arnautovic scored on his return from injury as West Ham boosted their survival hopes with a 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday.

BBC SportWatford, who remain 11th, went close through Adrian Mariappa’s header and Gerard Deulofeu’s free-kick but Adrian was equal to both efforts.

guardianWatford were uninspired. They displayed none of the brio that allowed them to crush Chelsea last week, with Gerard Deulofeu and Richarlison failing to find space on the flanks, and were fortunate when the lively Hernández had a goal ruled out by a tight offside decision in the 31st minute.

FranWatford had played considerably better in the second half but, while it could be said that the score was a little flattering to the hosts, some poor defending and equally poor finishing meant that it felt as though the Hornets didn’t deserve anything from the game.

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5th February 2018- Premier League, Watford 4 Chelsea 1

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Javi Gracia’s first programme notes.

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screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-23-36-22clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary   Goals:1  2  3  4

Watford Observer

RELIVE – Watford vs Chelsea: Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu on target as Hornets thrash Premier League champions

Remarkable finale sees Watford dismantle Premier League champions Chelsea

Watford boss Javi Gracia reflects on ‘unforgettable night’ after remarkable Chelsea victory

PICTURES: Images from Watford’s memorable win over Chelsea

Watford vs Chelsea player ratings: Gerard Deulofeu impresses on home debut as Hornets down Blues

Troy Deeney: Watford skipper’s Chelsea celebration a response to transfer speculation

skyWatford piled the pressure on Antonio Conte as a late flurry of goals secured a thumping 4-1 win over 10-man Chelsea on Monday Night Football.

BBC SportThe Blues played an hour with 10 men after Tiemoue Bakayoko’s red card capped a dreadful individual 30-minute performance – in which he gifted Watford four chances.

guardianThereafter, profligacy rather spared the visitors until Hazard, whipping in a glorious equaliser that dipped under Orestis Karnezis’s outstretched left hand, made it level. Briefly, tantalisingly, Chelsea dared to consider inducing another late Watford implosion but it would be the champions who unravelled. Janmaat, Deulofeu and the substitute Pereyra would each glide into space to drive home their advantage while the majority inside the arena pinched themselves in the giddiness of victory. “It’s difficult to explain how I feel at this moment,” said Gracia. “We needed the three points badly but for motivation and to believe in our possibilities, in our work, today was very important.”

BHappy imageThe route home was slightly easier; Dad dropped me at St Albans, I made the train waiting at the platform, grabbed the only cab on the rank at Bedford, home at not-quite-silly’o’clock.  And then lay in bed, staring upwards in the dark. For hours.  Completely wired.

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25th February 2017-Premier League, Watford 1 West Ham United 1

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screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-23-36-22clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary

Goal 1

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Relive the game as Watford draw with West Ham

Hornets held in Hammers draw

Hornets boss Mazzarri says Zarate was in tears after injury against Hammers

Bilic felt Hammers deserved victory but highlights shortcomings

Watford v West Ham ratings: Gomes on form in Hammers draw

Zarate reveals seriousness of knee ligament injury

Kaboul rues lack of second goal in West Ham draw

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Substitute Andre Ayew scored a second-half equaliser to earn West Ham a Premier League point against Watford.

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Watford missed the chance to do the double over West Ham for the first time as Andre Ayew’s second-half strike secured a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.

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West Ham grabbed a deserved point through Andre Ayew after Troy Deeney’s penalty gave Watford an early lead

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Neither Watford nor West Ham are bad enough to get drawn into a relegation battle this season, but they are certainly not good enough to make any sort of push for Europe, either. It is not even March, but it is hard to avoid the feeling that mid-table obscurity beckons for both these sides in the coming months.

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After a two week break, and notwithstanding a defeat at Old Trafford that was disappointing but far from humiliating, perspective on games like this has changed.  The two wins against Arsenal and Burnley reversed the gentle downwards slide and we are now by general consensus a Mid Table Club… not that relegation is impossible, but we’d have to work pretty hard to achieve it.

screen-shot-2016-10-03-at-19-13-20As the half wound down, my gaze was drawn to the TV studio to our left where the pundits were having their hair and make-up done, the first time that I have seen beauty treatments in a football ground.

screen-shot-2016-10-30-at-15-22-53I’m happy to take a point from this game. West Ham were by far the better side but we continually played right into their hands with our ‘lump it up to Deeney and see what happens’ tactic.