Category Archives: September

15th September 2019- Premier League, Watford 2 Arsenal 2

Quique Sanchez Flores first programme notes from his second spell as Manager.

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 21,360

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Watford draw against Arsenal in Quique Sanchez Flores’ first game back

Watford came from two goals down to snatch a point against Arsenal

Quique Sanchez Flores delighted with Watford reaction against Arsenal

Watford players show grit in comeback against Arsenal

Christian Kabasele thinks Watford’s draw with Arsenal felt like a win

Quique Sanchez Flores is making a plan for Watford striker Danny Welbeck

A selection of images as Watford draw with Arsenal in Quique Sanchez Flores’ first match since returning to Vicarage Road

Tom Cleverley was surprised by Arsenal’s dangerous tactics against Watford

Craig Dawson thinks Watford have more confidence under Quique Sanchez Flores

Bernd Leno claims Arsenal were fortunate not to lose against Watford

Ben Foster thinks Watford will find their first win soon after Arsenal display

Quique Sanchez Flores impressed by ‘mature’ Watford captain Etienne Capoue

Arsenal threw away a 2-0 lead at Watford through defensive errors as Quique Sanchez Flores’ side earned a 2-2 draw in the first game of his second spell.

The hosts fired in 31 shots – a club-record for a Premier League game – as Arsenal’s shaky defence finally cracked after the break.

Watford had the chances during a breathless finale when the outstanding Gerard Deulofeu fired inches off target and Tom Cleverley saw a shot deflect wide off David Luiz before, at the very last, Abdoulaye Doucouré blew a gilt-edged opportunity, shooting too close to Bernd Leno.

And so Quique’s back, and inevitably he’s given a warm welcome because such is the way of things in such situations even if the man in question isn’t a good bloke from recent memory. His first team selection is encouraging in its shape… a return to the 4-2-3-1 of Marco Silva’s brief successful period with Tom restored to the buzzing around role in front of two sitting midfielders, Étienne Capoue stepping into the role vacated by Nathaniel Chalobah after his knee injury. More odd was an extremely conservative bench, no out-and-out striker with Welbeck (reportedly injured in training on Friday) and Success omitted from the squad.

The final whistle went to rapturous cheers. As the players applauded the crowd, Quique’s name was being sung and he responded with a broad smile and an enthusiastic wave.

29th September 2018- Premier League, Arsenal 2 Watford 0

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Watford Observer

Relive as Watford lose out to late Arsenal double strike

A spirited Watford were made to pay for missed chances as two quick-fire Arsenal goals in the last ten minutes sealed the Gunners a 2-0 win.

Javi Gracia praises Watford’s performance in Arsenal defeat

Watford player ratings: Christian Kabasele impresses in Arsenal defeat

PICTURES: Images from Watford’s defeat to Arsenal

Will Hughes rues Watford’s inability to take their chances following Arsenal loss

Watford: Marc Navarro’s Premier League debut a dream come true despite Arsenal loss

A 2-0 victory over Watford at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, thanks to two goals in the last nine minutes, secured the Gunners’ fifth league win in a row.

Alexandre Lacazette’s pressure on Cathcart saw him turn Alex Iwobi’s cross beyond Ben Foster with nine minutes to go at the Emirates, before which the visitors had enjoyed the better of the chances. Will Hughes had volleyed an early chance wide, Andre Gray had a one on one saved by substitute goalkeeper Bernd Leno and an Isaac Success effort glanced the post with the scores goalless.

Seven successive wins is a helpful statistic, but Emery was as impressed to see how Arsenal mastered their most difficult test since the first week of the season – when they lost to Manchester City and Chelsea. This was a true test of their mettle, with Watford starting the day ahead of them in the table thanks to their well‑organised ambition, and threatening to take all the points until Arsenal scored twice in three high-energy minutes in the late summer sun.

It’s an indicator of how far our feet are under the table that this is all so familiar now. Four of the five visits to the Emirates since promotion and the environs are now as familiar as Borough Market pre-Millwall, as the cricket club at Turf Moor, as the discarded bin bags spewing their contents all over the pavements between Norwood Junction and Selhurst Park.

It was a cruel finish to the game. Watford had been the better side for most of the second half and had considerably more shots on goal, but the hosts made the most of those that they had and it was the finishing that proved the difference between the teams.

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26th September 2018- League Cup Third Round, Tottenham Hotspur 2 Watford 2 (Tottenham won 4-2 on penalties) at Stadium MK

The game was played at Stadium MK as Tottenham’s new stadium was still not ready to be used and their temporary home, Wembley Stadium, was unavailable as it had hosted an Anthony Joshua title fight the previous weekend.

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Referee: Lee Mason Attendance: 23,650

clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals:1 2

Watford Observer

RELIVE – Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford: Dele Alli strikes decisive spot kick as Hornets exit Carabao Cup on penalties

Watford knocked out of Carabao Cup by Tottenham Hotspur on penalties after 2-2 draw

Watford player ratings: Isaac Success the standout performer in Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham Hotspur

PICTURES: Watford knocked out of Carabao Cup by Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford: Isaac Success takes pride in Carabao Cup defeat

Watford: Javi Gracia delighted with squad players despite Tottenham Hotspur loss

Isaac Success put Watford ahead, goals from Alli and Erik Lamela made it 2-1 before Etienne Capoue equalised.

After Capoue and Domingos Quina missed spot-kicks in the shoot-out, Alli stepped up to send Spurs through to the fourth round.

Javi Gracia had made even more changes, with Craig Cathcart the only survivor from the lineup that has started all six of Watford’s league games this season. But Watford, too, were eager to advance and Gracia introduced Christian Kabasele from the bench in the 77th minute to help protect their lead. Three minutes later the Belgian was on his way back off again, shown a red card after his challenge led to Alli tumbling to the floor. Alli got up to score from the penalty spot. Gracia was dismayed by the sending off – “I cannot understand this decision,” he said, before indicating that Watford would appeal against it.

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22nd September 2018- Premier League, Fulham 1 Watford 1

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Screen Shot 2018-09-24 at 21.20.57 Referee:Martin Atkinson Attendance:23,418

clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 1

Watford Observer

RELIVE – Fulham vs Watford: Andre Gray and Aleksandar Mitrovic on target in Premier League draw

Watford unable to build on Andre Gray’s goal in Fulham draw

Slavisa Jokanovic praises Fulham’s attitude and character after Watford draw

Fulham vs Watford: Javi Gracia admits Watford could have killed the game in the first half

Fulham vs Watford ratings: Andre Gray and Ben Foster on song in Premier League draw

PICTURES: Watford forced to settle for point at Fulham

Ben Foster: Watford made to pay for poor finishing in Fulham draw

Watford’s Troy Deeney critical of failure to make dominance pay against Fulham

Watford had to settle for a draw at Fulham after Aleksandar Mitrovic struck late on to earn the hosts a point. The Hornets punished a poor start by Fulham as Andre Gray sidefooted home inside 90 seconds and the visitors, who won their first four Premier League games of the season, dominated the first half.

The home side were lucky to go in at the break only one goal down after Christian Kabasele and Gray spurned presentable openings, while it could have been even worse had referee Martin Atkinson sent off Timothy Fosu-Mensah for a studs-up tackle on Troy Deeney just past the half-hour mark.

Watford’s captain now appears likely to be Gracia’s first enforced change of the season, having left Craven Cottage with his right leg in a protective boot and revealed he will require an X-ray after Fosu-Mensah’s 32nd-minute tackle. “I may have a broken bone or two but we crack on,” Deeney said. He had still completed the 90 minutes. “I am a tough, ugly boy so it will be all right.”

So, for the second week running, we came away disappointed at the result. I think we would all have taken a point before the game, but our first half performance was such that we should have been further ahead at half-time and, had that happened, it seemed unlikely that the home side would have been able to recover. Instead, Fulham were still in the game at the break and Jokanović made changes that strengthened his team, who pressed harder against the Hornets who then misplaced more passes and allowed the home side to threaten more.

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17th September 2018-Under 23 Professional Development League, Watford U23 0 Ipswich Town U23 2

15th September 2018- Premier League, Watford 1 Manchester United 2

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Referee:Mike Dean Attendance:20,537

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho said Romelu Lukaku epitomised his team’s performance as they withstood a spirited fightback from Watford to claim back-to-back victories and condemn the Hornets to a first loss of the season.

Ben Foster was excellent in the first half despite the scoreline, and made a wonderful save from Alexis Sanchez in the 32nd minute as a long ball from De Gea was put into the Chile forward’s path by Lukaku. He then dribbled down to the right of the area before taking aim, but Foster was equal to it with a fingertip stop at the near post.

The Watford supporters very audibly sensed vulnerability in United but, with Mourinho imploring his players forward, they suddenly struck twice shortly before half-time.

A play in three acts, this. The Hornets lined up in the now conventional eleven; United kicking towards the Rookery in an alternative kit of nondescript colour which looked, as Cathal later observed, like it might be inside out.

It was a day to remember absent friends as it would have been GT’s 74^th birthday and Toddy’s anniversary is this week. While there was little expectation that our 100% record would continue, we had to hope that the lads would still do them both proud.

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