Category Archives: March

14th March 2026- Championship, Stoke City 3 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Watford working on aggression and playing forwards ahead of ‘tough’ Stoke clash

Stoke trip is a test of whether Still is making Watford better

Still – ‘The only question is how to win – 4-4-2, 3-4-3, I don’t care’

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Stoke City 3-1 Watford

Match Report: Play-off hopes hanging by a thread as Stoke beat wasteful Watford 3-1

Still insists Watford’s season is not over after Stoke defeat

Still adamant Watford have the strength of character to do better

Another season fades away as Watford can’t master the art of winning

Irankunda left out because ‘he can’t rock up, expect to start and not perform’

BBC: Million Manhoef’s brace helped Stoke return to winning ways with a comfortable victory at home to Watford.

Sky: The Dutch winger found the net either side of half-time before Sam Gallagher added a third late on just after Nestory Irankunda’s stunning strike had pulled one back for the Hornets.

Fran’s Watford Blog: There were very few travelling Hornets left in the away end at the final whistle. The players were greeted with a mix of sympathetic applause and boos. One fan near the front expressed his dismay in such a way that Bola reacted angrily and came over to remonstrate with him. Pollock followed and ushered him away.

From the Rookery End: Back behind the mic, Jon and DCW look back on a bruising week for Watford after a frustrating draw at Sheffield Wednesday and a damaging defeat at Stoke. There’s talk of missed chances, flat performances, fading playoff hopes and what Ed Still can realistically get out of this squad in the final stretch. The lads also hear from the Watford Observer’s Adam Drury, who was at the bet365 Stadium and shares what Ed Still had to say in the aftermath of the defeat. Plus, with Wrexham and Leicester up next, they ask what there is still to play for — and whether simply finding some stability might be the biggest win of all.

10th March 2026- Championship, Sheffield Wednesday 1 Watford 1

Watford Observer: Pollock touch-and-go as Still seeks best display of his reign at Sheff Wed

How Still has used 11-day break as a ‘mini pre-season’

Kjerrumgaard has been ‘one of the standout players’ under Still

Watford need two months of stable, solid football – starting tonight

Still: ‘We’re aware of what a difficult opponent Sheff Wed will be’

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY AS IT HAPPENED: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Watford

Match Report: Watford equalise late but fall short in poor 1-1 draw at Sheff Wed

WATCH: Immediate reaction to Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Watford

Still points to missed chances and second-half mistakes after Hillsborough draw

Lack of composure and ideas saw fragile Watford fall into Sheff Wed’s trap

Ngakia set for weeks on the sidelines with hamstring injury

Fixing possession problems a tougher job mid-season, says Still

BBC: Sheffield Wednesday were denied only their second league win of the season right at the death as Vivaldo Semedo’s late equaliser earned Watford a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.

Sky: Wednesday, who have been in administration since October and are already relegated from the Championship following an 18-point deduction by the EFL, were minutes away from ending a wretched winless run going back to September when Jerry Yates’ second-half header put them in front.

29th March 2025- Championship, Watford 0 Plymouth Argyle 0

Report: Watford 0-0 Plymouth Argyle – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford missed the chance to move closer to the Championship play-off places as they failed to capitalise on total second-half domination in a scoreless draw against bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle.

Sky: An insipid first half did at least give way to a second period full of chances and urgency.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 0 Plymouth 0

Watford 0 Plymouth 0 minute-by-minute report

Cleverley admits his team ‘wasted’ first half against Plymouth

Afternoon when the effects of a lack of options were striking

Cleverley ready to try and help Bayo through a rough patch

BHappy: The first half soon bludgeoned any optimism out of us. It had only been two weeks since a similarly listless outing at Oxford so this should have been no surprise; Argyle employed the high press that we have such trouble coming to terms with, particularly given the ongoing absences of Keben (playing out), Abankwah (charging out) and Doumbia (something resembling a target man to hit). Meanwhile several including Giorgi and Louza, critically, looked rusty taking a time to get going. Both of our DRC representatives, Kayembe and Ngakia, began on the bench for perhaps related reasons, alongside the returning trio of Bachmann, Dwomoh and, eye-catchingly, Baah.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Back in the West Herts there was a mixed reaction, although most had enjoyed the game, or at least the second half where there had been no lack of attacking intent. The return of Baah had been a joy to watch. We have missed those powerful runs, although the opposition defenders certainly haven’t. I was impressed with Caleb Wiley who put in a decent showing at left back. I also enjoyed the cameo from Massiah-Edwards which was rather impressive. He has been a star in the under 18 run to the FA Youth Cup semi-final, so it was lovely to see him unfazed by the step up to the first team. Hopefully he will be a star of the future.

From the Rookery End: It was a sunny day at Vicarage Road but the 0-0 draw against Plymouth Argyle was a little bit dull. Howeve, Jon, Jason, Mike and Kieran gathered outside the Hornet Shop to discuss the performance, particuarly that of the younger stars in the Watford ranks.

15th March 2025- Championship, Oxford United 1 Watford 0

Report: Oxford United 1-0 Watford – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Oxford United claimed a first win in 10 Championship matches with a narrow victory over 10-man Watford.

Sky: It was Dembele’s first goal for the club and came just three minutes after Watford had James Abankwah sent off for a second bookable offence when he fouled Przemy Placheta.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Oxford 1 Watford 0

Oxford 1 Watford 0 minute-by-minute report

Cleverley explains leaving Bayo out and substitution delays

If you don’t land a knockout blow, you’re always liable to a sucker punch

BHappy: James Abankwah’s failing was to be tempted into a foul at all, given that the cost of not doing so would inevitably have been Placheta disappearing up his own backside and losing possession but that’s that lack of experience thing again. Instead, Abankwah grabbed at him on the way past, a clear foul but on first glance an extraordinarily harsh second yellow, aggravated by Placheta doing the endearing “waving a yellow card” thing, again without censure. Review of the replay forces a revision of opinion… not harsh, but completely absurd. It’s a cheap foul on the halfway line with plenty of cover (not to mention the fact that nothing involving Placheta constitutes a goalscoring opportunity unless it’s at the other end of the pitch). Everyone makes mistakes… Tom repeatedly owns his, players on both sides throughout the game made plenty, and of course we’d chosen to come at all. Robert Madley proudly joined the club with this absolute stinker.

Frans Watford Blog: Almost immediately the home side took the lead as Harris was fouled on the edge of the box, the referee allowed play to continue and the ball fell to Dembélé who broke into the box, got into scoring position and fired past Selvik. This prompted Cleverley to make a triple substitution bringing Vata, Morris and Andrews on in place of Chakvetadze, Sissoko and Ngakia, but it was too late for them to have any influence on the game. The home side also made a couple of late changes as Dembélé and the evil Placheta made way for Matos and Phillips. There were seven minutes of added time at the end of the game, but the Hornets never looked like rescuing a point.

From the Rookery End: With so much to disucss, from two games of football (Watford 1-0 Swansea — Oxford 1-0 Watford) to the lack of striker, the tired looking Georgi Chakvetadze, the returning of investment money and is the season over? there was only one way to decide on what to discuss … THE WHEEL.

12th March 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Swansea City 0

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Watford 1-0 Swansea City – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford boosted their Championship play-off hopes as Moussa Sissoko’s goal ended Swansea City’s unbeaten run under Alan Sheehan.

Sky: Goncalo Franco gave the ball away to Ince in a dangerous position and with the defence stranded he found Sissoko to slot home his third goal of the season.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Swansea 0

Five talking points as Hornets edge out Swans

Watford 1 Swansea 0 minute-by-minute report

‘We can’t keep putting these games to chance’ admits Cleverley

Reduced impact of substitutes is a cause for concern

Points, play-off potential, progress – but not plain sailing

8th March 2025- Championship, Watford 1 Millwall 2

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Watford 1-2 Millwall – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Josh Coburn was again Millwall’s match-winner, as they came from behind to beat Watford at Vicarage Road and boost their hopes of a Championship play-off place.

Sky: The Lions trailed at half-time after Mattie Pollock had given the home side a 30th-minute lead with his first league goal of the season.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Millwall 2

Watford 1 Millwall 2 minute-by-minute report

Second half was a big learning curve admits Cleverley

Consistency of recent weeks shattered by two contrasting halves in one game

BHappy:  We weren’t on it at all from the start of the second half. Not… overrun, not obviously complacent. But not on it. Critical perhaps was the departure of Doumbia with what looked like a hamstring strain; on came Bayo for his familiar skittling around, his 100th appearance… but it was evident after far fewer than 100 games that holding the ball up was never his thing. Millwall now had a much easier proposition on their hands being able to push up on us high up the pitch without us having as effective an out-ball.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s applause for Dennis Bond and Barry Hartle who passed away recently. This was impeccably observed, and it was lovely to see the Millwall fans joining in. They are likeable after all.

From the Rookery End: It was a cliche, as Watford v Millwall was a game of two halves. First half was great, the second was simply awful. Jon, Jason, Jordi and Mike met to discuss it , outside the hornet shop.