Tag Archives: Middlesbrough

1st November 2025- Championship, Watford 3 Middlesbrough 0

Watford Observer: Team news: Gracia on niggles, Maamma, Chakvetadze and centre-back options

‘Take care of the details’ – Gracia on how Watford can become consistent force

Gracia knows young players need time but warns competition is on

Rob Edwards reflects on ‘frustrating’ Watford spell but believes exit was right

Gracia: Vicarage Road has to be our ‘extra power’

Match Wrap: Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough – Watford FC Download

Watford Observer: MATCHDAY LIVE: Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough

Match Report: Watford beat Middlesbrough 3-0 with clinical display

Vata injury the ‘only bad thing’ to come from Middlesbrough win

Gracia on Middlesbrough win: ‘We showed a hunger, an attitude’

Louza: ‘Gracia has brought the spirit we’ve missed for years’

Scoring first and strong vibes: Five talking points from Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough

Edwards reveals Middlesbrough worked to stop exactly what led to Watford goals

BBC: Rob Edwards left Vicarage Road frustrated again after Middlesbrough’s promotion hopes were dented by his old club Watford. Edwards was back at Vicarage Road for the first time since his sacking in 2022 after just 11 matches. And the Boro boss left disappointed again as the Teessiders missed a great chance to move level on points with Coventry City at the top of the Championship.

Sky: Pacy winger Kwadwo Baah ran 60 yards with the ball, beat Matt Targett down the outside and his cut-back was fired home by Watford captain Louza, whose pass had instigated the breakaway, for his fifth goal in seven games.

BHappy: There’s nowhere to hide with a formation that’s less 4-4-2 than 4-2-4. The excitement at the prospect was tempered by the memory of the flimsy defending that contributed to at least two of the goals last weekend and the knowledge that we were again up against one of the division’s strongest sides the like of whom we’ve largely gotten away without playing thus far thanks to a quirk of the fixture list.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The main criticism last week against Coventry was that the Hornets were not clinical enough in front of goal, and the defence was porous. Neither was the case in this game. The Hornets took their chances brilliantly and gave Middlesbrough no space to play. The defence looked well organised and when the visitors did create chances, Selvik was superb. Baah was back to his best, belting down the right wing and putting in some great balls, particularly for Louza’s goal. Ngakia also found space down the right and his cross for Kjerrumgaard’s goal was sublime. Luca had his best game for some time and capped it with a brace, even if he didn’t know much about the second goal. Pollock was very solid and the defence looked like a unit, finally keeping a clean sheet. In fact, Gracia has got us looking like a team again rather than the group of individuals that we saw under Pezzolano. That and the attacking approach has been very pleasing. The only negative was the injury to Vata. He has been a joy to watch in recent weeks, so I hope he is not out for long.

From the Rookery End: On this weekend’s FTRE, Jon, Jason, Kieran and Jordi shelter from the rain as they stand outside Vicarage Road to celebrate a dominant 3–0 win over Middlesbrough — and Rob Edwards’ return. The team unpack a near-perfect display under Javi, from Selvik’s superb save to Bola’s standout performance against his old club, Louza’s growing influence, and a front line that finally clicked.

15th February 2025- Championship, Middlesbrough 0 Watford 1

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1

Report: Middlesbrough 0-1 Watford – Watford FC Download

BBC: Moussa Sissoko’s headed winner gave Watford only their second win in 11 Championship games to increase the pressure on Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick.

Sky: The Hornets leapfrogged Boro into the top 10, who have now lost their last four Championship games and Carrick’s side were booed off at half-time and full-time by the home supporters at the Riverside.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Middlesbrough 0 Watford 1

Middlesbrough 0 Watford 1 minute-by-minute report

‘I have to give massive credit to the players because they were outstanding’

This time a fine away performance in the north-east Tees up a victory

Fran’s Watford Blog: It was joyous at the end of the game. After the pleasantries with the opposition players and the officials, the players gathered in front of us. Sissoko was beaming as he conducted the crowd singing his name. Then, as Cleverley’s name was sung, Kayembe decided to lift him off his feet. He gestured to them to calm down, but I think he was frightened of being dropped. The players continued to applaud the crowd who were lustily singing their support.

From the Rookery End: After 1-0 win away at Middlesbrough. Jon, Jordi and Adam gathered to react to the win and how the Hornets might have started to revive their season at the Riverside. With one eye on next weeks derby match against Luton, they discuss how a new foundations seems to be forming in Tom Cleverly’s Watford squad with a new centre back pairing and the continued redemption of Imran Louza. Tom will have some hard decisions to make, but has Doumbia shown him enough to cause him headaches for who should be starting up front.

5th October 2024- Championship, Watford 2 Middlesbrough 1

WFC.Net goal commentary: 1 2

Report: Watford 2-1 Middlesbrough – Watford FC.html Download

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 2 Middlesbrough 1

Watford 2-1 Middlesbrough: Five talking points from victory

Watford 2 Middlesbrough 1 – how the action unfolded

BBC: Watford substitutes Edo Kayembe and Kwadwo Baah scored late goals to complete a second-half turnaround against Middlesbrough. After a dominant first half, Boro broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second through George Edmundson’s goal.

Sky: It was the perfect reaction to Watford’s defeat by Preston in the week, as the hosts made six changes – Ryan Porteous, Tom Ince, Ken Sema, Daniel Jebbison, Tom Dele-Bashiru and Ryan Andrews all coming in.

BHappy: The winning goal is a thing of very great beauty. Ryan Andrews is involved again, his long looping throw isn’t really anywhere near Mattie Pollock but this doesn’t matter since the most centre-back of centre-backs launches himself at it like a human missile to win the knockdown and there’s Kwadwo Baah with an acrobatic volley and yes the defender should have been closer to him maybe but yes, that’s us looking like Manchester City and taking a small error, pulling it open and pouring through it. Utter jubilation in Vicarage Road.

Fran’s Watford Blog: There were smiles in the stands and on the pitch at the end of the game as I Just Can’t Get Enough rang out. At the end of the Preston game on Wednesday, Tom Cleverley was applauding the fans looking shamefaced and facing abuse. What a difference a couple of days make, I was delighted to see the beaming smile on his face and those of the players. The performance had been such a contrast to Wednesday. Middlesbrough may have dominated possession, but the defensive effort from the Hornets was solid, and the introduction of Baah and Kayembe gave the opposition something to think about. Edo could have had a hat-trick, but it was Baah who was serenaded with “Baah will tear you apart” at the end. It was great to see the team spirit and resilience back in the squad. I thought that once Middlesbrough scored, we were doomed to defeat, so the comeback was as pleasing as it was enjoyable. So, we go into the international break on a high. Let’s hope the momentum continues on our return to action.

4th May 2024- Championship, Middlesbrough 3 Watford 1

https://www.skysports.com/football/middlesbrough-vs-watford/teams/485247

WFC.Net Goal Commentary: 1

Sky: Emmanuel Latte Lath continued his blistering form as Middlesbrough signed off for the summer with a 3-1 home victory over Watford.

BBC: Emmanuel Latte Lath gave Boro a half time lead before Wesley Hoedt’s equaliser on 73 minutes. But the home side made sure with quickfire goals from Alex Bangura and Isiah Jones.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Middlesbrough 3 Watford 1

If you’re worried, you’re not alone – things must change

Cleverley said his side lacked personality in possession

‘You have to score enough goals to be in the mix’ – Cleverley

BHappy: It’s not a bad game at all, as it turns out, for all that we lose it and deservedly so in the end, and for all that it is nonetheless unavoidably shaded in the colour scheme of end of season dead rubber. The latter colours our interpretation too, since the same game in January would surely have featured a deal more frustration and rancour than the two lone voices who can’t help themselves but briefly explode into righteous fury at our failure to press high up the pitch in the wake of going behind. And not just because January is wet and cold rather than, as here, finally, relatively mild.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The players all came over to applaud the travelling fans and were given a good reception, which was rewarded as most of them gave away their shirts. Asprilla and Hamer both appeared to wave goodbye.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c4n10ermz6zt#Tables

30th September 2023- Championship, Watford 2 Middlesbrough 3

https://www.skysports.com/football/watford-vs-middlesbrough/teams/484809

BBC: Middlesbrough continued their return to form with a third win from four unbeaten against an under-performing Watford at Vicarage Road.

Sky: Local boy Josh Coburn scored the 63rd-minute winner that halted an improbable comeback by Watford, who now sit just a point above their visitors having won just one of their last eight league fixtures.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 2 Middlesbrough 3

Poor Hornets suffer Boro defeat

Ismael admits his change of shape was “not a good decision”

Does Ismael fear the often-used international-break Pozzo trigger finger?

BHappy: If three goals within the opening twenty minutes sounds exciting, it really wasn’t. “Park football” was Vicky’s comment as the visitors demonstrated that they were equally capable of offering unchallenged chances… an accurate but optimistic Porteous pass somehow found it’s way beyond Boro’s defence to Bayo who even more somehow overcame his traditional fallibility in such situations to steady himself and roll past Dieng.

Fran’s Watford Blog: Ismaël made a change at the break bringing Martins on in place of Rajović, who had been invisible. The substitute was involved immediately winning a corner. His next contribution was to find Dele-Bashiru whose shot from outside the box cleared the bar. The Hornets should have equalised when a cross from Ngakia was met by a great header from Bayo that was on target, but Dieng made a wonderful save to keep it out. The resultant corner was cleared to Hoedt on the edge of the box from where he found the bottom corner to level the game. It was interesting that he ran to the dugout to celebrate. There was another booking for the Hornets as Sierralta was cautioned for a rash challenge on Crooks. The Boro player stayed on his feet, which was as well, or Sierralta could have seen red.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship#tab-Results

28th January 2023- Championship, Middlesbrough 2 Watford 0

Attendance: 25,469

BBC Sport: Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough side leapfrogged Watford and moved up to third in the Championship table by winning the meeting of two play-off hopefuls.

Sky Sports: First-half goals from Chuba Akpom and Marcus Forss enabled Boro to bounce back in impressive fashion following last weekend’s North East derby defeat by Sunderland.

Fran’s Watford Blog: The travelling fans who were still in the stand at the end of the game offered sympathetic support to the players when they came over to applaud us, but that didn’t mask the fact that it had been a poor performance. There had been a promising spell midway through the first half and a very good start to the second, but Middlesbrough were on top for most of the game, were incredibly dangerous when they attacked and, once they scored the second goal, the Hornets never looked like getting back in the game.