Tag Archives: Manchester CIty

23rd April 2022- Premier League, Manchester City 5 Watford 1

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Attendance: 53,013

BBC Sport: Watford tried their best, but they were outclassed by a rampant City team and remain anchored in the bottom three, seven points adrift of safety.

Sky Sports: It looked like the hosts would run away with the first half once again when Jesus scored his first goal inside four minutes. City scored five goals in the first 18 minutes when Watford last visited the Etihad in September 2019.

The Guardian: City could have been rampant from this juncture but fell asleep. Hassane Kamara initiated a move he would finish, taking a ball from Dennis that punched a hole in the home defence after Rúben Dias was dragged out wide on the left. When Kamara struck, Guardiola did the same to the turf in the technical area, hitting the grass with a fist.

BHappy: Briefly, the mood changes.  The course of the afternoon no longer seems mapped out… this is a competitive encounter all of a sudden.  Only for six minutes as it turns out, but it’s a decent six minutes – we’ve taken some blows but thrown some punches ourselves, not rolled over, and one has landed.  If you’re looking for evidence of life, here it is right here. 

Fran’s Watford Blog: The travelling Hornets then regaled the home fans with a chorus of “You’re not singing anymore.”  Normal activity resumed soon after as a corner came out to Jesus on the edge of the area, but he shot over the bar.  City restored their two-goal advantage after 34 minutes when Jesus found Rodri just outside the box from where he powered a shot past Foster.

4th December 2021- Premier League, Watford 1 Manchester City 3

WFC.net Jon Marks’ goal commentary: 1

Attendance: 20,673

BBC Sport: The hosts were repeatedly ripped apart by City’s movement, passing and creativity and only a number of saves from goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann kept the score down to one goal in the first 30 minutes.

Sky Sports: Half-time sub Cucho Hernandez did pull one back for Watford (74), following up his own shot against the far post, and Josh King pinged his low cross just wide moments later but City regained control to see out the final stages and make it five Premier League wins on the spin.

BHappy: A blow-by-blow account is slightly redundant.  There were few defining incidents in the game – arguably only the goals that bookended the scoring and in between a lot of stuff during which time City converted twice and were denied on many other occasions.  These outcomes of these incidents could have been interchanged perfectly plausibly.

Fran’s Watford Blog: So, we fell to our second defeat in a week but, after the recent regular batterings by City, a 3-1 scoreline felt rather positive, especially after having conceded within the first 5 minutes.  This week we have played two of the top three teams in the division, we have lost to them both, but I came out of it feeling rather positive.  We were unlucky not to get a point against Chelsea.  That was not the case against City, who really should have scored more but, after being behind at half time, Ranieri brought on a couple of substitutes and adopted a more attacking formation and we fought back in the second half and actually scored a goal.  I thoroughly enjoyed Cucho’s performance, he battled and was so positive.  It has to be said that if Sissoko could shoot we may have got something out of this game.  But, unlike earlier in the season, I am enjoying watching the football again, even in defeat.

21st July 2020- Premier League, Watford 0 Manchester City 4

A programme was advertised as being for sale on the club’s official website a week before the game took place (most clubs continued to produce programmes during the period whilst football was being played behind closed doors because of Covid-19).

However after the sacking of Nigel Pearson this quickly disappeared and two days after the game fans who had ordered a copy were emailed to say that they’d been refunded and their order cancelled.

It must be the first time in over 100 years that Watford did not make a programme available for a competitive fixture. A person linked closely with club told me that only four copies survived the cull that took place in the 50 or so hours between Pearson’s sacking and the fixture taking place. Below is the front cover which I found posted on Facebook but I don’t have a copy and have yet to find one being sold on eBay.

OS Watford FCMatch Preview

Watford ObserverPep Guardiola claims Nigel Pearson did an incredible job at Watford

Hayden Mullins calls on his Watford squad to remain professional following Nigel Pearson sacking

Referee: Michael Oliver
Paying Attendance:0
First half
Second half

OS Watford FC Post Match

So, after more twists and turns than a water chute at an Orlando waterpark, this 38-game, 11-month season will go right down to the wire next Sunday.

Watford ObserverWatford lose to Manchester City in search for Premier League safety

BBC SportSterling took the game away from the home side before half-time, firing in a rising shot to open the scoring before doubling the advantage by following up his own saved penalty – awarded for a foul on him by Will Hughes.

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster admitted his side’s confidence is “crazy low” after a 4-0 defeat by Manchester City plunged them into the relegation zone.

sky Phil Foden grabbed City’s third in the 63rd minute to better his goal tally of seven from last season before Aymeric Laporte headed in a simple fourth as Watford capitulated (66).

guardian Minute by minute

Mullins had set up to contain and the pre-match feeling was that even a narrow defeat might not be the worst result if goal difference was to be a factor in Watford’s bid for survival. Mullins and his players did not even get that. This was as one-sided a game as could be imagined, the gulf in class and, as significantly, belief yawning wide. Sterling got his second when he followed up to score after Ben Foster had brilliantly kept out his penalty and the second half was an ordeal for everybody that holds Watford dear.

“I don’t think we helped ourselves,” said Foster, the only Watford player to emerge with credit. “I don’t think we did enough to do anything but what the result suggested. The confidence is so crazy – crazy low. I don’t know why it should be but you get into a state of trying to minimise as much damage as you can and it’s a dangerous way to do things. They’re Man City. They’re very, very good.”

TelegraphIn fact Watford playing City at any time has been traumatic of late with this result meaning the aggregate score from their last three meetings alone – including last season’s FA Cup Final – is 18-0 (6-0, 8-0, 4-0) while scrolling even further back it increases to 39-3. That is simply extraordinary as is the truth that it could have been far worse without an outstanding display from goalkeeper Ben Foster who did not hold back afterwards with his criticism.

BHappy imageBut that Pearson did well to drag us up by our bootlaces and that Pearson is not the right person to be in charge of this club longer term are not mutually exclusive.  I’ve got some sympathy with the view that, if Pearson was going at the end of the season anyway, given the awfulness of much of our football and of West Ham in particular and if he’s been stupid enough to mouth off to his boss, perhaps this wasn’t quite the crass stupidity that kneejerk assessments have painted it.

21st September 2019- Premier League, Manchester City 8 Watford 0

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 54,273

Manchester City 8 – 0 Watford

Watford concede eight away against Manchester City.

Watford fall to eight-goal defeat at hands of Manchester City

Quique Sanchez Flores thinks Watford defeat to Manchester City damages his reputation

Quique Sanchez Flores wants Watford to remove bad Manchester City memories

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster expects Manchester City to score 10 after ‘no fun’ loss

Manchester City scored five goals in a devastating opening 18-minute spell as they responded to their shock defeat at Norwich with an 8-0 demolition of Watford on Saturday.

Bernardo Silva scored a hat-trick as Pep Guardiola’s side ran riot to clinch their biggest league win since he took charge in 2016. They also hit the woodwork twice and continued to chase further goals until the end, but a record victory eluded them.

Watford’s heaviest ever defeat in English league football – at the hands of an irresistible Manchester City – prompted harsh words from pundits, their own players and manager.

Quique Sánchez Flores took out Christian Kabesele and Andre Gray for Dimitri Foulquier and Adrian Mariappa, the manager perhaps wishing he had the roughhouse qualities of the injured Troy Deeney to give Otamendi and Fernandinho a differing challenge to that of Shakhtar Donetsk, whom City coasted past to a midweek 3-0 Champions League win.

When I sent out the e-mail to our group asking who wanted tickets for this game, I couldn’t help noticing that there were more apologies for absence than usual.  I can’t say that I blamed them as the memory of the cup final is still rather raw and, given our start to the season, this was not a game that I was looking forward to.

Jon and Mike took on the challenge of going dark to all media between 3pm and MOTD. Could they make it through the game, and the 5 hours afterwards, without seeing the score and what went down at the Etihad. 

18th May 2019- FA Cup Final, Manchester City 6 Watford 0

Referee:
Kevin Friend
Attendance:
85,854

Watford beaten 6-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley

Watford supporters sing until the last in face of heavy FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City

FA Cup final: Javi Gracia reacts to Watford’s heavy defeat to Manchester City

Players rated as Watford are thumped by Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Watford owner Gino Pozzo and chairman Scott Duxbury issue ‘thank you’ statement to fans

Pictures of Watford’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City

Adrian Mariappa said it is an honour to play for Watford after FA Cup final defeat

Heurelho Gomes wants Watford to focus on positives from their recent season

Heurelho Gomes will talk to Watford about his future plans

Andre Gray says Watford were ‘battered’ by Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Javi Gracia told Watford to come back stronger after Manchester City cup final defeat, says Andre Gray

FA Cup final: A selection of images as Watford fans arrive at Wembley

Gerard Deulofeu semi-final goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers voted best of the competition

The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well in the spirit of the Watford fans

Watford’s best chance of over-turning the odds came early on when City keeper Ederson saved at the feel of Roberto Pereyra and they were furious when referee Kevin Friend waved away penalty claims after Vincent Kompany blocked Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot.

Watford then had a strong call for a penalty turned down by Kevin Friend as Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot hit the arm of Vincent Kompany. Though the hand was by his side, we have recently seen penalties given by VAR for similar incidents, particularly in Europe, though the VAR controversially opted against a spot kick this time.

In the process it was also a demonstration of the gulf that now exists between a team that has just won back-to-back Premier League titles and one that finished 10 places further back, 48 points worse off, playing in only their second final.

Manchester City 6-0 Watford: FA Cup final player ratings

As it happened

Manchester City’s sky blue smashing of Watford proves football is broken

Might it have been different if Pereyra had taken Watford’s best chance on 14 minutes? Gracia said something about it in passing later although it felt a little wishful. The Watford coach’s point was that you really have to take your chances in those moments to have any hope at all. Abdoulaye Doucoure sprung the trap on 14 minutes and Pereyra had just Ederson to beat. But the man who is arguably the Premier League’s best goalkeeper came out at speed and seized the initiative from the Watford attacker whose shot hit Ederson’s legs.

Except that at 5-0, something remarkable happens.  We’ve been loud, in general, and in defiance of the scoreline.  Louder than a month ago, louder than City, the grim memory of the Palace play off now surely dismissed.  Because at 5-0 the songs start to thunder and the flags start to wave  and suddenly the away end is a torrent of yellow and red as flags get frantically waved.  I destroy two, the second of which floats down to the posh seats below as it detaches from its pole. It’s breathtaking and emotional.

City’s fifth came as a low cross from Silva was converted by Sterling.  At this point something remarkable happened, the flags started waving in the Watford end.  First a few and then the stand was a sea of red and yellow, all around us getting to their feet to wave the flags and sing our hearts out for the lads. 

Watford are in football’s shrinking sweet spot & that’s something to envy

Build up to the 2019 FA Cup Final, Manchester City v Watford

The Biggest Day In Our History

Hornets fans can win tickets to FA Cup final with Vicarage Road mural selfies

Paul Robinson: Watford will ‘always have a massive place in my heart’

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: Woking negotiated in round three

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: A fourth round triumph on Tyneside

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: Into the quarter-finals in west London

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: Andre Gray strike beats Crystal Palace in quarter-final

Watford’s road to the FA Cup final: Gerard Deulofeu comes off the bench to sink Wolverhampton Wanderers

The Duke of Cambridge will present the FA Cup to either Watford or Manchester City

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says he is focused on beating Watford in the FA Cup final

Ben Watson thinks Watford have a ‘fantastic chance’ of beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Luther Blissett wants Watford focused on bringing home the FA Cup

A recollection of the 1984 FA Cup final between Watford and Everton

Javi Gracia hopes previous giant killings can help Watford beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Watford fan travels from Australia to watch FA Cup Final at Wembley

Etienne Capoue wants the 12th man to push Watford to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Recalling the significance of Watford reaching the 1984 FA Cup final

FAN’S VIEW: Togetherness can help Watford beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final

Watford boss Javi Gracia will see his mother for the first time in a year at the FA Cup final

Troy Deeney wants his mum to see him lift the FA Cup with Watford

Troy Deeney wants Watford to give Manchester City a tough FA Cup final

FA Cup final: How to follow the action on BBC Sport

Watford FA Cup final: Seven days of uncertainty and the rise to success since

Watford fans bid to recreate 1984 ‘buzz’ for FA Cup Final

FA Cup: Watford’s Capoue on family, football, Baby Shark & Manchester City

FA Cup final: Hornets fly in for Watford and Manchester City game

Raheem Sterling has set standard on combating racism, says Andre Gray

BBC preview

FA Cup final: Man City look to make history, Watford aim for an upset

Man City v Watford: FA Cup final in numbers

John Barnes: ‘Winning the FA Cup would be so special for Watford… you remember honours, not whether you’ve stayed in the league for eight or nine years’

Manchester City v Watford: A complete guide

Javi Gracia says Watford’s success doesn’t ride on FA Cup glory

Watford’s Etienne Capoue says ‘nobody expects us to win’ FA Cup

FA Cup final: Manchester City face Watford with historic domestic treble in sight

Nigel Callaghan: ‘If I was meant to die I’d have died on that table’

Watford’s Étienne Capoue turns blind eye to Manchester City’s matches

‘A demanding perfectionist’: how Gino Pozzo did the unthinkable at Watford

Troy Deeney ready for FA Cup final battle with ‘beast’ Vincent Kompany

For the players, memories of Watford’s first FA Cup final still sting like it was yesterday

Troy Deeney: ‘Vincent Kompany is the league’s best centre-back since Rio Ferdinand, but if I’m on form he’ll have a tough day’

Watford FC’s hidden history revealed in five facts…

What if we win?  Yes, we’re underdogs.  But at least we’re that.  Any club in the country would love to be that right now, certainly Wolves who, whatever your attitude after three eventful games will be watching on nervously, telling themselves that this is something they can’t affect, because they can’t affect it, but worrying anyway.

FA Cup Final Preview

FA Cup Final 2019 Preview

Vicarage Road, Friday 12th April

Rickmansworth High Street, Tuesday 14th May

Watford, Friday 17th May