Category Archives: November

26th November 2022- Friendly, Watford 1 Blackpool 1 (played at the Pinatar Arena, Spain)

Game played behind closed doors

Official site: Slaven Bilić handed match minutes to 18 Hornets in a competitive 1-1 draw with fellow Championship side Blackpool to close out their week-long training camp in Spain. Keinan Davis fired home on the stroke of half-time in response to Sonny Carey’s early opener for the Tangerines, assisted by Colombian midfielder Yáser Asprilla.

Watford Observer: Head coach Slaven Bilic took the chance to take a look at Jeremy Ngakia on the right side of defence for the first time, while midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru also started – though it must be said the line-up was almost totally changed during the interval.

12th November 2022- Championship, Bristol City 0 Watford 0

The programme was only available digitally

BBC Sport: Bristol City’s winless run stretched to five games as they fought out a goalless draw with Watford at Ashton Gate. The Robins enjoyed the better of the contest but were unable to find a way past visiting keeper Daniel Bachmann.

Sky Sports: City dominated for long periods without coming up with a finish, while the out-of-sorts visitors went the whole game without registering a shot on target.

BHappy: Shorn of Sarr, João Pedro and Asprilla on top of Louza we lack any verve whatsoever and all the cracks that their presence renders ignorable are painfully exposed.  Those four aren’t… an unfair advantage of course, for all that they are each surely destined to return to playing at the top level with or without Watford.  You’re allowedto have good players. Had we sold Sarr and/or JP over the summer as we surely expected to, we’d have invested in some Polyfilla (other brands are available) to fill some of those cracks.

Fran’s Watford Blog: At half time the City team of 97-98 were welcomed back for the 25th anniversary of the season in which they won promotion to the second tier.  It was a little ill advised to do that when Watford were visiting as our memory of the corresponding tie that season was of the home fans holding up a banner declaring themselves Champions.  Pride went before a fall and it was the Hornets who topped the division that season on our way to the Premier League.  Still, the first person to be introduced to the crowd was the manager that season, the wonderful John Ward, who was given a very warm reception by the travelling Hornets.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63523490

8th November 2022- Championship, Watford 2 Reading 0

WFC.Net Jon Marks Goal Commentary: 1  2

Attendance: 18,847

BBC Sport: Joao Pedro’s double was enough for a victory over Reading that sent Watford into the Championship play-off places.

Sky Sports: Goals in both halves ensured the Hertfordshire side bounced back from defeat against Coventry last weekend.

Fran’s Watford Blog: As this was the nearest home game to Remembrance Sunday, Bilić and Ince laid wreaths on the touchline and a trumpeter played the Last Post to impeccable silence in the ground.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62776174

5th November 2022- Championship, Watford 0 Coventry City 1

Attendance: 20,164

BBC Sport: Viktor Gyokeres scored the only goal of the game as Coventry City ended Watford’s three-game winning run with a hard-fought victory against the high-flying Hornets at Vicarage Road.

Sky Sports: A goal from Viktor Gyokeres five minutes into the second half turned out to be just enough on a day when Watford had a goal disallowed as well as seeing Ismaila Sarr miss a golden chance.

BHappy: Whilst the game’s outcome is hugely frustrating, any disappointment should by mitigated by the fact that whilst Coventry’s template is very much The Way To Play Against Watford, none have executed it as effectively as this.  We know that without Imrân Louza we are short of a lock-picker;  here Coventry are disciplined and focused in the face of what, for the first half hour or so, is a purposeful attack.  Come the second half they’ll be stretched, we could easily have come away with this with something so – annoying, but maybe a blessing in disguise.  We’re better, but not better enough to take anything for granted.

Fran’s Watford Blog: At half time, tribute was paid to Cliff Vassiliou who was a very familiar face at Vicarage Road before his passing earlier this year.  He would also often be seen at reserve and youth games with his best friend, Tom Walley.  They also remembered Paul Stallard, a lifelong fan who had given 25 years of service to the club.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63436136

2nd November 2022- Championship, Cardiff City 1 Watford 2

WFC.Net Goal Commentary: 1  2

Attendance: 17,036

BBC Sport: Set-pieces proved key in south Wales as Watford came from behind to beat Cardiff City 2-1, with all three goals scored from corners.

Sky Sports: The Hornets replaced Swansea in sixth place with goals from Francisco Sierralta and Ismaila Sarr completing their fight back after Cedric Kipre had given the home side the lead.

Fran’s Watford Blog: This was a very good showing from the Hornets.  Some of the passing from the back can be scary, but when it is executed well it is a joy to watch.  João Pedro was absolutely magnificent, he was everywhere.  Sarr put in a decent showing and was good value for the goal.  The defence were well organised, and it was good to see Gaspar put in a decent shift.  Finally we are seeing some consistency from this team, they are working hard and playing as a team.  They are doing the dirty work, closing down the opposition, but also showing some great skill going forward.  The chants of “sexy football” were well merited.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63363846

28th November 2021- Premier League, Leicester City 4 Watford 2

WFC.Net Jon Marks Goal Commentary: 1  2

Attendance: 34,310

BBC Sport: Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester beat Watford in a hugely entertaining match to ruin Claudio Ranieri’s return to the King Power Stadium.

Sky Sports: The former Leicester boss, who led the club to the Premier League title in 2016, was given a hero’s welcome by the home fans before the game, but his side were behind in the 16th minute after James Maddison capitalised on an error from William Ekong.

BHappy: Our response to this setback, and to the start of the second half, and the fact that we were still pushing at the end of the game are big positives.  If, from the point at which Maddison scored, it rarely felt that we were quite on the edge of turning Leicester over it was never quite out of reach either.  Compare and contrast with any number of our preceding defeats when a goal might not have arrived if offered infinite hours, a written invitation and an armed escort.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The Hornets had another chance to draw level when a Cleverley free kick to the back post was met by the head of Masina but his effort was wide of the target.  At the other end, the home side had a chance to increase their lead when Castagne crossed for Vardy who headed over the bar.  The Hornets should have been level after a brilliant strike from Hernández, but it was deflected off the inside of the post and Schmeichel gathered.  The equaliser had been coming and it came from the penalty spot.  Dennis had received a ball from King and broke into the box where he was tripped by Ndidi and the referee pointed to the spot.  Schmeichel employed considerable gamesmanship in questioning the referee and delaying the spot kick.  We speculated on who would take it.  The consensus was King, who took penalties at Bournemouth and is from Norway so not fazed by snow.  Sure enough, he stepped up and took a lovely penalty into the corner to beat Schmeichel.