8th October 2025- Paulo Pezzolano is sacked and Javi Gracia returns as Head Coach

Club Statement: Head Coach – Watford FCDownload
Gracia: “I’m Coming Home” – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: Stories emerge that Watford are lining up Gracia with Pezzolano exit likely

Deeney: ‘Pezzolano has fallen out with everybody’

Watford confirm departure of Pezzolano and the appointment of returning Gracia

Duxbury: ”We are sure many supporters wish Gracia had never left’

‘Unfinished business’: First Javi Gracia quotes as he returns to Vicarage Road

‘We were building’ – Pezzolano releases statement after leaving Watford

The inside story of why Watford sacked Paulo Pezzolano and rehired Javi Gracia

BBC: Watford have sacked head coach Paulo Pezzolano after just 10 games in charge of the Championship club and replaced him with former boss Javi Gracia.

Sky: Crunch talks were being held on Tuesday and the club hierarchy have now parted ways with Pezzolano, who becomes the 12th manager Watford have sacked in just five years.

Guardian: The Uruguayan is said to have left dismayed by the decision to sack him having guided Watford to a three-match unbeaten run that also included a home win over Hull and a draw at Portsmouth and means they are three points off the playoff places.

4th October 2025- Championship, Watford 2 Oxford United 1

Watford Observer: ‘Super important’ – Pezzolano craves a fast start against Oxford on Saturday

Oxford preview: Can Pezzolano change the mood music ahead of international break?

https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2025/october/04/digital-digest-oxford-edition

Match Wrap: Watford 2-1 Oxford United – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: Watford 2-1 Oxford United

Five talking points after Ngakia brace secures victory

Match Report: Ngakia brace sees Watford beat Oxford 2-1

Pezzolano: ‘I liked the performance – we should have wrapped the game up sooner’

‘A really good team-mate’ – Pezzolano pleased Ngakia takes acclaim for Oxford win

‘Not my concern’ – Pezzolano motivated by performance rather than lifting mood

Ngakia was not going for goal with corner – but it was a tactic

Oxford United analysis: The numbers that justify promotion ambition

BBC: Jeremy Ngakia’s quickfire double late in the first half earned Watford a comeback win over Oxford United at Vicarage Road.

Sky: A double from Ngakia – thanks to two blunders from Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming – cancelled out a Max Alleyne own goal, as they went a goal behind for the fourth time in their last six games.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The Hornets drew level on the stroke of half time as a cross from Louza towards Vata bounced off Leigh, Cumming pushed the ball onto the post and then parried the rebound which was met by Ngakia who headed home. That certainly raised the spirits. There was four minutes of added time at the end of the half during which Wiley won a corner. Ngakia’s delivery was on target and Cumming could only help it into the net to give Watford the lead. A brace for Ngakia!! Helik was booked for a foul on Irankunda. Louza took the resultant free kick, which was mishit and fell to Ngakia, who was now on a hat trick, the Rookery yelled “shooot”, but the half time whistle went.

From the Rookery End: In this week’s episode, Jon, Mike and Jordi break down Watford’s hard-fought 2–1 home win over Oxford United, with Jeremy Ngakia grabbing both goals and continuing to impress with his calm, professional displays. We dive into all the big moments and standout performances from Vicarage Road — who shone, who struggled, and how the Hornets finally got the job done.

1st October 2025- Championship, Portsmouth 2 Watford 2

Watford Observer: Portsmouth reporter reveals what Watford should expect at Fratton Park

Team news: Egil Selvik set to start at Portsmouth and Kwadwo Baah could feature

More changes? Predicting Watford’s line-up to face Portsmouth

‘We’ve not been far away’ – Pezzolano on Watford’s wait for an away win

Match Wrap: Portsmouth 2-2 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY RECAP: Portsmouth 2-2 Watford

Match Report: Watford and Portsmouth trade blows in eventful 2-2 draw

Paulo Pezzolano on Nestory Irankunda sub: ‘He didn’t look fresh’

‘We showed two faces’ – Paulo Pezzolano discusses 2-2 draw at Portsmouth

‘It turned out very well’ – Pezzolano on Vata and half-time subs

Five key observations from Portsmouth 2-2 Watford

‘We’re all behind Pezzolano’ – Pollock on ‘tight-knit’ Watford dressing room

‘Take more responsibility’ – Pollock on set-piece defending

‘Water under the bridge’ – Pezzolano holds clear-the-air talks with Irankunda

‘He’s growing a lot’ – Pezzolano ‘very pleased’ with Vata

BBC: Watford fans were left bemused after 35 minutes when Nestory Irankunda was substituted and the Australian forward vented his frustrations at the bench before storming down the tunnel.

Sky: Adrian Segecic made sure Watford’s dismal away form continued as his 79th-minute equaliser handed Portsmouth a 2-2 draw at Fratton Park.



27th September 2025- Championship, Watford 2 Hull City 1

Watford Observer: Hull City reporter previews the Tigers’ trip to Watford on Saturday

Hull City preview: Paulo Pezzolano’s Watford must put smiles on faces – and fast

Team news: Jeremy Ngakia and Jeremy Petris return but Egil Selvik out for Hull

Pezzolano: ‘Watford’s track record with head coaches doesn’t preoccupy me’

Kwadwo Baah ‘working well every day’ and could start with Nestory Irankunda

Paulo Pezzolano on why Watford haven’t found consistency yet

https://www.watfordfc.com/supporters/digital-digests

Match Wrap: Watford 2-1 Hull City – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: LIVE: Watford 2-1 Hull City

Match Report: Watford come from behind to beat Hull City 2-1

Paulo Pezzolano pleased with Watford’s character in comeback Hull win

‘It is deeply-rooted in the club’: Pezzolano reacts to ‘sacked in the morning’ chant

No left-footed defender and Kyprianou benched: Pezzolano explains selection for Hull

Opinion: Where does Pezzolano stand after ‘sacked in the morning’ chants?

Kwadwo Baah leaves Vicarage Road in a sling and being assessed

BBC: Vivaldo Semedo scored his first Watford goal as they came from behind to beat Hull City 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

Sky: In a changeable atmosphere, with home fans at first turning on their own manager before the Hornets’ second-half fightback, 20-year-old Portuguese striker Semedo’s unmarked header from skipper Imran Louza’s corner 12 minutes from time completed an unlikely turnaround.

BHappy: The crowd turns instantly, and a lot of heads visibly drop on the field as “sacked in the morning” gets a rather unfortunate if brief airing from the Rookery. We’re lucky to get to the break only a goal down… Alleyne will allow McBurnie a shooting window which he uses to smack a fierce drive against the post, another chance is denied by a combination of flung bodies and a fortunate bounce. We look forlorn, and leave to a chorus of boos at the whistle, much of which you imagine directed at the manager rather than the selection of players that he has juggled onto the field. We are facing a third consecutive 1-0 defeat against weak opposition.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The post-match celebrations were joyous. Captain Louza looked so happy that I couldn’t help but smile. He had been man of the match, but Semedo was a close second. After failing to impress in previous games, he had finally shown us what Pezzolano sees in him. He had struggled in the first half (as had everyone else) but had shown some really good things in the second half. Constantly getting into good positions, he contributed a goal and an assist. The assist was impressive as he had shown strength and intelligence in holding the ball up until Louza was available to receive the pass. Good stuff. I also enjoyed the contributions of Petris who repeatedly bombed down the wing and put in some decent crosses. Hopefully this is the start of some more positive, effective football from the Hornets.

From the Rookery End: Another game, another shake-up — but how many changes is too many? Jon, Mike and Adam Drury, from the Watford Observer discuss how Watford looked lost in a dreadful first half where Hull should’ve been out of sight, only for Paulo Pezzolano’s faith in his team to finally pay off after the break.

22nd September 2025- Championship, Millwall 1 Watford 0

Watford Observer: Millwall reporter previews Monday’s clash with Watford at The Den

“We have to be prepared to play differently” – Paulo Pezzolano on Millwall test

Millwall preview: How returning Imran Louza can inspire Watford improvement

Paulo Pezzolano confident of Watford’s promotion credentials

Match Wrap: Millwall 1-0 Watford – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: LIVE: Millwall 1-0 Watford

Match Report: Blunt Watford beaten 1-0 at Millwall

Pezzolano on lack of goals, Mendy selection and use of subs after Millwall defeat

Millwall analysis: The numbers behind Watford’s attacking struggles

Pezzolano: ‘Watford need to become a serious club – we are laying the foundation’

Returning Caleb Wiley and debutant Nathan Baxter react to Millwall defeat

Hector Kyprianou: ‘If we stick together, things will change’

BBC: Camiel Neghli’s deft free-kick saw off Watford to secure Millwall’s first home Championship win of the season at The Den.

Sky: A chilly night in the capital was lit up 10 minutes in. Nampalys Mendy fouled Derek Mazou-Sacko just outside the area and Neghli nonchalantly looped the resulting free-kick over the wall, with the dip and curl he put on the ball ensuring it evaded the grasp of Egil Selvik. The Watford goalkeeper appeared to hit his head on the framework of the goal after the ball hit the net. He was deemed fit to continue, but replaced by Nathan Baxter at the break, in line with the EFL’s concussion protocol.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The defeat left us just above the relegation zone. Last week, there was some speculation that Pezzolano may not last long. This performance just added more fuel to that. He certainly isn’t doing himself any favours making wholesale changes and playing players out of position. Unless the performances over the next week are a considerable improvement, I expect us to have a new manager after the next international break.

From the Rookery End: Mike, Colin and Olly gather the day after Watford’s 1-0 defeat to Millwall at the Den on Monday night and attempt to make sense of another confusing team selection and disappointing performance

13th September 2025- Championship, Watford 0 Blackburn Rovers 1

Watford Observer Pre-Match articles: Blackburn preview: How Watford can find the balance between attack and defence

Sir Elton John will be present as Watford wear kit in his honour on Saturday

Pezzolano on ‘honour’ of meeting Sir Elton John and his favourite song

Team news: Mendy and Petris ready for Watford debuts but Chakvetadze return delayed

Paulo Pezzolano on squad depth: ‘The team will not be fixed, it will be evolving’

Valon Behrami discusses Tom Dele-Bashiru loan and why Pierre Dwomoh stayed

https://www.watfordfc.com/supporters/digital-digests

Match Wrap: Watford 0-1 Blackburn Rovers – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: AS IT HAPPENED: Watford 0-1 Blackburn Rovers

Match Report: Watford fall well short in 1-0 defeat to Blackburn

Five talking points as Watford fall to Rovers defeat

Paulo Pezzolano on Blackburn loss: ‘We lacked ideas – I take 100% responsibility’

Paulo Pezzolano on Watford’s midfield and why he made just two subs in Blackburn loss

Paulo Pezzolano praises ‘very brave’ Max Alleyne after starting him at left-back

BBC:Ryoya Morishita scored his first Blackburn goal on his full Championship debut to give Valerien Ismael’s side a valuable and deserved win at Watford.

Sky: Watford hustled but came up empty-handed on home turf. A sixth straight game without a clean sheet under new boss Paulo Pezzolano leaves them 17th in the Championship, two places behind the visitors, who needed a result after losing four of their first five matches across all competitions this season.

BHappy: The interval should have been a time to reset, but instead Rovers went ahead after a sharp move that caught Keben flat-footed leaving Morishita one-on-one to finish confidently. The visitors never looked in trouble thereafter; whilst we defended competently enough – Cantwell’s acrobatic attempt that skied another far-post cross the closest they came – we only managed a single shot on target ourselves, that a scuffed shot from Baah that Tóth fielded comfortably. Otherwise, with Kjerrumgaard scrapping but peripheral and nothing happening in the centre, our attacks too frequently consisted of Alleyne trying to find Baah with an overambitious pass in windy conditions.

Fran’s Watford Blog:  It had been the worst performance so far this season, particularly as there was so little in the way of attacking threat. The brightest spark was Kyprianou who had yet another excellent game. Petris put in a decent showing on his debut. Vata was the best of the attacking players in the first half as Baah couldn‘t get into the game. Irankunda livened things up when he came on, despite having flown half-way around the world after his appearance for Australia during the week.

From the Rookery End: Watford fell 1-0 at home to Blackburn on a day that was about much more than football. As the club looks ahead to celebrating Elton John’s 50th anniversary of becoming Owner and Chairman of the Hornets, the team took to the pitch in a striking Elton-inspired special blue kit. The game began brightly, but the spark never quite caught fire.