Category Archives: March

21st March 2026- Championship, Watford 0 Leicester City 0

Watford Observer: Still on whether he judges himself on points or performances

Still not focused on the ramifications of Leicester game

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: Watford 0-0 Leicester City

Five talking points as Watford held to Leicester stalemate

Match Report: Selvik saves penalty as Watford and Leicester slog to goalless draw

Still: Watford played through the pain barrier and wanted ‘close game’

BBC: Patson Daka had a penalty saved as relegation threatened Leicester City were held to a goalless draw by play-off chasing Watford.

Sky :Daka’s 40th-minute spot-kick was brilliantly tipped on to the post by home goalkeeper Egil Selvik. The striker also headed wide of a near open goal in the second half as the Foxes failed to climb out of the bottom three.

BHappy: Forgive me, I know that ranting about referees is unspeakably dull and I wouldn’t for one moment suggest that his performance had anything to do with the disappointing outcome of this game, but I do need to try to extract some pleasure from the exercise. As the second half descended into mind-numbing stalemate, Smith seemed determined to inject some randomness into proceedings with a series of absurd decisions in both directions. The most bizarre, a yellow against Doumbia which saw him drop to his knees in astonishment after he held off an aggressive challenge from behind. In the first half, the official had dropped the ball and run off the pitch and down the tunnel during a break in play that contributed to eight minutes being added before the interval; one can only assume that in the interim some sort of alien abduction took place, or an unwise experiment with hallucinogenic drugs such was his performance in the second half. No surprise at all that when Bobby Decordova-Reid obstructed Egil Selvik’s attempt at a clearance even the Norwegian, that mildest-mannered of mild-mannered janitors, was at a boiling point that saw a significant scuffle ensue. “That was the ref’s fault”, said everyone in the stadium (as well as the interfering extra-terrestrials, one assumes).

Fran’s Watford Blog: There was disaster for the Hornets ten minutes before the break as Fatawu went on a dangerous run into the box, getting behind Formose Mendy who tripped him. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot. The penalty was at the same end as Knockaert’s all those years ago and Selvik did an Almunia by diving the right way and pushing Daka’s shot onto the post where it rebounded out sparking joyous celebrations in the home stands

From the Rookery End: Watford served up the full emotional buffet this week — from the genuine high of a feel-good win over Wrexham (and that moment), to the all-too-familiar frustration of a stop-start, slightly baffling 0-0 with Leicester.

17th March 2026- Championship, Watford 3 Wrexham 1

Watford Observer: Minute’s applause for Amelia Aplin to be held during Wrexham game

Doumbia out to set the tone on decisive night at Vicarage Road

I’m not a fan of the club using AI to create images, especially not of legendary players. The back row here looks like they got together a load of look a likes.

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: Watford 3-1 Wrexham

Five talking points as Watford win to keep play-off hopes alive

Match Report: Bove seals the deal as Watford bounce back to beat Wrexham 3-1

Still: ‘We did the basics right – that’s the big positive’

GALLERY: Best images of Bove’s Rookery End goal and celebration

BBC: Watford kept their Championship play-off hopes alive while denting those of Wrexham by beating the Red Dragons at Vicarage Road.

Sky: Goals from Marc Bola and Edo Kayembe did the damage for the Vicarage Road outfit and although Max Cleworth pulled a goal back for the hosts, Edoardo Bove netted his first Hornets goal in stoppage time.

Fran’s Watford Blog: On 15 minutes, there was a minute’s applause in memory of Watford fan, Amelia Aplin, who passed away after collapsing while playing in goal for Oxford Academy. As fans at both ends of the ground stood to applaud, the ball went out for a throw and the game paused while the players and officials joined in the applause. It was a wonderful tribute, and I doubt there was a dry eye in the stadium.

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.