Old Watford is a day by day scrapbook style history of Watford Football Club matches told through programmes, newspapers, books, fanzines, videos and weblinks.
Tag: Southampton
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Nigel Pearson does not want Watford to focus on specific games for points
Andre Gray one of three Watford players dropped after lockdown party
Watford concede three at home to Southampton
Nigel Pearson says Watford ‘fighting for their lives’ after Southampton defeat
Referee:Michael Oliver Attendance:26,929
Match Report: Southampton 2-1 Watford
Watford beaten by Southampton in relegation scrap
Watford’s survival hopes take major blow with Southampton defeat
VAR officials were not given angle to disallow Southampton handball, claim Watford
Quique Sanchez Flores ‘not sure’ if he will keep Watford job
Watford players rated after being turned over by Southampton
Will Hughes ‘disappointed’ by inconsistent VAR after Watford lose to Southampton
Attendance:28,153
clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 1
RELIVE: Southampton vs Watford: Jose Holebas secures a point at St Mary’s
Watford player ratings: Jose Holebas secures a point at Southampton
Watford’s Nathaniel Chalobah critical of referee after Southampton stalemate
Javi Gracia’s Watford reign starts with FA Cup exit at Southampton
Javi Gracia says he has already seen a reaction from Watford players in wake of Southampton defeat
Anger at Christian Kabasele and Jose Holebas from Watford fans defended by captain Ben Watson
Southampton v Watford ratings: Few positives from opening game of Javi Gracia reign
Jose Holebas’ late strike denied Southampton a first Premier League win of the season at St Mary’s as Watford came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Despite Watford enjoying some good fortune to equalise, manager Javi Gracia also felt aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when Ryan Bertrand appeared to foul Nathaniel Chalobah. “There were different situations that were difficult for the referee but it was a clear penalty,” he said.
The man at the centre of it all was Simon Hooper, the referee who up until the 57th minute was getting on with his duties with little fuss. But then came the meltdown. First, he failed to award Watford a clear penalty following Ryan Bertrand’s rash tackle on Nathaniel Chalobah and, six minutes later, decided to ruled out a second Southampton goal for what turned out to be a wholly incorrect reason.
The visitors found a way back eight minutes from the end. Southampton failed to deal with a cross from the left, a deflected clearance and there was Jose Holebas to lash home, via a deflection off Cedric, from just inside the penalty area. Southampton were unable to contain their frustrations.
“Tell you what Matt, the next time we come here, let’s not park in Portsmouth…?” Paul’s an affable sort of bloke, not one for unnecessary or exaggerated protest and in fairness he has a point. Our reserved parking space is actually only half a mile or so from the ground as the crow flies but with the River Itchen in the way it’s a good two miles as the Watford fan trudges. This seemed like a reasonable idea without the filter of the pissing rain, and on the way into Southampton the prospect of snarled traffic put us off from looking for something a bit closer. As it is we arrive damp and tired, and that classic football fan’s war wound, the burn on the roof of the mouth thanks to a hastily inhaled balti pie, doesn’t brighten the outlook. Loz materialises, over from gadding it in Spain, this helps, but as the teams come out it’s absolutely hammering it down.
Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s silence to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War which was accompanied by a rendition of The Last Post. The only other sound that could be heard was the rain on the roof of the stand.
I thought Watford were a bit sluggish in the first half, sloppy in possession and just generally a bit lackluster. Second half however we were much improved, the introduction of Deeney shortly before halftime I think was crucial. If you take away just one trait, one characteristic of this Watford side so far this season it’s that they never give up. We pushed Southampton right until the end and threw the kitchen sink at grabbing a winner. The team spirit that Javi has created in this side is infectious.
Jack Stephens marked his 24th birthday with his first goal for Southampton as they progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 home win over Watford.
Injury-hit Watford struggled to create but nearly forced a replay, Christian Kabasele heading wide in added time.
It was an afternoon of disgruntlement in the stands. While a portion of Southampton’s supporters maintained their burgeoning FA Cup tradition of voicing disapproval with Mauricio Pellegrino’s substitutions, jeering when the Argentinian replaced Sofiane Boufal with Maya Yoshida in the second half, that burst of dissent felt mild in comparison to the moment when Christian Kabasele and José Holebas had to be pulled away from a disagreement with a few Watfordfans after an otherwise forgettable game.
The general sense of malaise was compounded here by conceding inside four minutes and, while there was mostly sarcasm in the fans’ appraisal of a team that have now lost nine out of their last 13 matches, the scenes on the final whistle were angry.
More than one person mentioned yesterday that I usually find something positive to say about games. Sadly, I cannot find anything good to say about that game either on or off the pitch. 
I felt sorry for Gracia after his first game in charge. A ridiculous number of injuries and a fan base that appear to be turning against the players with every game. The new-manager bounce we so badly wanted and needed had the complete opposite effect and as supporters we have ourselves to blame too, we weren’t at the races.