Blog

Watford came close to rescuing a point against Manchester United as an unbelievable save by David de Gea denied us a point in front of our home supporters at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets came into this game in fantastic form having had a 100% winning record in all our opening four games. Despite the international break spoiling the momentum for us, the fatigue could not be seen as we took the game to the 20 times premier league champions.

We started the game with a 4-4-2 formation with Javi Gracia opting to play two physical strikers, Deeney and Gray, in an effort to impose against the Manchester United defence. The game started slowly but we had the first sight on goal in the 3rd minute with Abdoulaye Doucure seeing his effort saved by de Gea.We also had a shot by our captain saved by de Gea whose efforts at goal for United would later come to haunt us.

Despite a rather good opening half hour, we lost concentration as United scored two goals in quick succession. The first goal we conceded came in the 35th minute as Romelu Lukaku turned in the ball in a controversial manner. Our goalkeeper, Forster, who had a good game appealed as he thought Lukaku had turned in the ball with his hand. However, replays show he scored fairly.

Things got worse as we fell to a two-nil disadvantage three minutes later. This time the scorer was Chris Smalling for United after a set play.
We went to the break trailing by two goals and we had to produce a comeback as we did against Spurs in that magnificent second half to at least stand a chance of rescuing a point. The game needed a response from us and we did respond with a great second half against a team of United’s caliber.

Our relentless efforts were rewarded as we pulled one back in the 65th minute. Gray calmly turned in Doucoure’s pass as we halved United’s lead.
With us needing just a goal to at least rescue a point, we put in a spirited performance with it culminating with up pulling one back.

We constantly pressed higher of the pitch and had several half chances to rescue a point. However, our high press could have sealed the game in United’s favor as we could have fallen one or two more goals behind save from the incredible work of our defenders, Kabasele and Cathcart. The latter produced a last-minute tackle to deny Alexis Sanchez as he almost got a dangerous shot away.

We continuously pushed for an equaliser but it was not meant to be for us as de Gea stood firm in United’s goal denying us severally.
In the 93rd minute, Nemanja Matic got his marching orders thanks to a second booking after a cynical foul against Will Hughes who had been good particularly in the second half as we played higher of the pitch.

Kabasele met the delivery from the foul magnificently as he headed towards goal but he was denied with a fantastic save by David de Gea. David tipped wide the header and we could not score from the resulting corner as we succumbed to our first defeat of the season.

Despite us dropping points for the first time this season, we can definitely look forward having put in a worthy display particularly in the second half. We were outdone by de Gea in United’s goal and three dreadful first-half minutes.

However, we played well generally and as the gaffer said in his post-match press conference, losing after a spirited performance like we put in today is something we can be proud of even despite the result.

Our next game is a trip away to Fulham on Saturday as we look to bounce back.

Peter Taylor, the Mayor of Watford, is expected to join several business leaders for a CEO Sleepout to put up funds for the homeless in the streets.

Though for one night, the CEOs will challenge themselves by swapping their beds for the street. The Big sleepout event will be held in Watford Rugby Club on the 26th of November.

The Charity’s Sleepout began 4 years back by Andy Preston, the chairman and has been held in multiple venues in the UK. Among the major venues are stadiums like Old Trafford, Lane stadium, St, James Park Newcastle, Meadow lane stadium, Wembley Stadium, and Lord’s cricket stadium.

The main personal pledge for each CEO is to raise at least £1500 with the overall amount raised from the initiative in the past reaching £1.9 million pounds. This has been a significant boost in an attempt to fight poverty in Watford.

“I am very happy to be involved in the CEOSleepout ” Mr. Taylor said. “ and would encourage other people to get involved ” he added.

Mr.Taylor urges and pleads the local’s participation since it is beneficial. “We all want to live in a town where nobody sleeps rough. Local homeless charities do fantastic work, helping people to get the support they need, find work and permanent homes.”

Present in the charity will be Watford Homeless Warriors. The Warriors director, Stephen Russell, insisted on their effort to make the event a national movement and said; “We have worked hard to bring this national movement to the town and make the first CEO Sleepout Watford happen.

He also adds “We will be seeking support from community businesses to get behind this event. We are a kindhearted and caring town, so let’s make CEO Sleepout Watford count for our homeless friends.”

New Hope director, Sam Weightman could not hide his excitement and said We are excited to be on the receiving end of that generosity once again. With the demand on our services rapidly increasing, this event doesn’t just provide our supporters with a challenge, but will give them an opportunity to help New

Hope continue to provide professional support and accommodation for those most vulnerable in our town.”

Weighton expresses gratitude in taking part in the first Sleepout in Watford and adds that “Over the last 28 years we have received incredibly generous support from local businesses and the community.”

The chairman and also founder of the CEO Sleepout, Andy Preston said “: “I am very humbled to see so many leaders involved in our CEO Sleepouts across the UK and I am completely confident that Watford will demonstrate what a compassionate town it is.”

Will you be joining them?

Bedding down with you will be business leaders, owners, CEOs, managers,senior-level executives, and teams all in effort to raise awareness and raise funds for the homeless in Watford.CEOs already taking part are Kara Smalley(Administrator, Morgan Charles), Mike Segall Founder, Property Radio, Razi Hassan( Mr. Mustr, Mustr.co.uk), Ruth Lee (Director of Fundraising , Watford Homeless Warriors), Ryan Dalton (Director, WRFC Bar and Coffee House). Stephen Russel (Homeless Warrior, Watford Homeless Project), Tim lark (Managing Director, Service Innovations Group), Amanda Wells (Therapeutic Counsellor & Wellbeing Teacher), Andy Preston (Chairman, CEO Sleepout UK ) Bianca Robinson( National coordinator, CEO Sleepout UK )and the mayor of Watford Peter Taylor.

Vicarage Road played host as Tottenham visited Watford with both teams seeking to keep their 100 per cent winning start to the 2018 – 19 season of the premier league.

Spurs 12 games against us without tasting defeat was definitely something they could build on in this match given they had comfortably beaten Manchester United earlier in the week. However, it was not meant to be for Mauricio Pochettino and his side as they were stunned by our on form team.

Similarly, we were trying to maintain our 100 per cent start after 3 wins in 3 and a win would see us go level on points with league leaders Liverpool and Chelsea who both maintained their winning start the previous day.

Prior to the kick off, the team news offered a bit of a reprieve to us. We had all our players available while Spurs had absentees in Hugo Lloris and Son as both were out of the Spurs team sheet. Michael Vorm would deputise for the Spurs captain at goal.

Andre Mariner took charge of an uneventful first half with the best chance of the game falling for Dele Alli who headed wide.

Both teams went for the break at halftime even with both neither able to claim that they were unlucky not to be ahead. Spurs could not make their better possession and a couple of half chances count for anything before the break.

It was a second half of drama as we battled from an unlucky own goal to find the Spurs’ net twice inside 8 minutes.

Eight minutes after the restart, Abdoulaye Doucouré deflected a Lucas Moura cut back into his own net to give Tottenham Hotspurs the advantage.

The lead did not last long as Troy Deeney, the Watford captain, scored an equaliser in the 69th minute. Moments before equalising, Deeney had seen his effort diverted against the crossbar by Spurs centre back Toby Alderweireld. However, Deeney’s second goal of the season was not that further as he headed the resulting corner to put the Hornets level.

The Hornet’s second goal, the winning goal, came 7 minutes later as Craig Cathcart headed an Holebas delivery into Vorm’s net. Holebas played a key role in the comeback victory as he assisted both Deeney’s and Cathcart’s goals with his pinpoint deliveries in set pieces. Throughout the game, he linked up well down the left side of the pitch with Roberto Pereyra who has been on fire for us.

What does this result mean for Watford.

Watford continues to enjoy their best ever start to a premier league campaign. Our only other ever 4 wins from 4 games at the beginning of the season came at the beginning of the 1988/1989 season. Our home record is also astonishing as we boast of 7 home wins since January when Javi Gracia took the helm. This record is as good as that held by Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United. No side has a better home record than ours.

The result sees the Hornets go level on points with league leaders Liverpool and Chelsea. It also marks an end to the 31 years we have had to wait to get a win over Spurs in the first division.

Given our perfect start, European football could definitely not be beyond us provided we continue with our momentum after the international break.