Watford are a different beast compared to Reading, and with no proper striker leading the line today was looking like a big test. Though if we play like we did at Reading we should be in good stead to grab at least a point.
We started the game bright, our pressing was proving fruitful as we were winning the ball high up the pitch. The travelling support were raucous from minute one as per. Watford’s first corner provided some danger for the Lads, the ball went across the box and back out to Watford, and they had about three crosses into our box and they kept getting the second ball after we cleared. Then Choudhury made a nice cross and Patto was forced to make a great reaction save but in the end the linesman had his flag up for offside, regardless it was a fantastic stop by our number one.
Based off of the first ten minutes this game looked very open, both sides were getting into dangerous positions. I have to say watching us this season has been unreal, some of our interplay and quick short passing is something to behold. As for Watford they had started the game with a lot of loose passes.
Positive play by the lads at the 20 minute mark, a run by Clarke ended in a cross that sailed across the box, once the ball was with Gooch he faked the cross sending one defender to the shops and then he tried a curled effort from the edge of the area but it went wide. Encouraging stuff.
Around the half hour mark our pressing worked again and Roberts made a decent run between two but then went down, in hopes of a penalty but there wasn’t anything in it really.
After 33 minutes Watford had the opener. A decent switch out wide by Asprilla gave Kamara acres of space, he played the ball across the box for Keinan Davis to get his debut goal. Patto got his hand on the pass but it wasn’t enough and Davis had an open goal. The long ball from Asprilla made the goal, a pass of the highest quality from the 18 year old.
Patterson turned into Ronaldo for a second too, Batth played the ball to him and he got the ball stuck under his feet and as the Watford attacker charged at him he chopped the ball behind his legs and cleared the danger. Almost a disaster but he thankfully got rid.
We should have had a pen with 40’ gone. A corner for the lads, headed down to Clarke by Alese and Choudhury pushed Clarke to the floor but the ref didn't give anything. Choudhury seems to have a knack for getting away with things like this, he did when he was in the Premier League with Leicester and it seems he still does today. The ref was no more than a few yards from it so he should have seen it and given it.
WOW! We launched a massive attack on the Watford goal right before the first half. A decent pass to the back post from Pritch, Clarke tried and scrambled with the keeper but the ball wound out to Embo who had a crack which was blocked and then Alese grabbed his first goal for the lads as he followed up the rebound. The shot was blocked by the Hornets defence but it was proven to be over the line as the ref’s watched buzzed. A delayed reaction from the fans as it was on the other end of the pitch so I think they couldn’t tell what was going on! We deservedly went into the break level and the Lads were serenaded into the tunnel to the tune of Sunderland take over everywhere we go.
We were attacking the Sunderland end in the second half but we came out from the break rather slow and Watford were pushing on. Watford almost had the second, O’Nien’s header ended up on the left flank and Keinan Davis was played through on goal and he took it past the onrushing Patterson before Batth came over in cover and stopped the attempt for a corner.
The game was sparked alight after the Davis chance, we almost stole it off their last man and they went down the other way and put a dangerous cross in. The home crowd was nervy whenever the Hornets were passing around the back and you can’t blame them, it always looked like one of them would gift us the ball.
Roberts earned himself a yellow after arguing with the ref. He fouled his man but he was arguing the ball had gone out for a throw in prior and in his defence it did, so Roberts shouldn’t have had to make the challenge anyway.
Evans was then shown a yellow minutes later, he tripped Pedro and then Choudhury sparked a reaction from the skipper. Joao Pedro swung it at the back post and it was headed back into the area and O’Nien put his former club back in front. He leapt above everyone and headed it past Patto into the bottom corner. Following the goal Mowbray had seen enough and brought Amad Diallo on for Elliot Embleton.
Aji Alese was finding himself in dangerous attacking positions on the left flank which was giving Clarke more space as well. Diallo played a wonderful cross to the back stick and Clarke volleyed into the bottom corner but the flag was up for offside. Poor Amad hadn’t seen the flag and was still celebrating with the fans before he fell to his knees after he realised. The pass and the finish were really good though. After that TM brought on more subs, Jewison Bennette and Dajaku came on for Neil and Clarke.
With 15 left to play it was becoming end to end stuff. With Cathcart down receiving treatment Mowbray brought on the final lot of reinforcements, with Matete and Ba on for Evans and Pritch. Just over ten minutes for Ba on his debut.
Roberts with the best run of the afternoon, from the halfway line to edge of the area. He lost his footing but he managed to shuffle it off to Bennette who lashed it wide. Watford then took off their goal scorer for former Mag Dan Gosling. Our tempo had turned right up and you’d have thought we’d end up with at least one more chance.
As I was saying… JEWISON BENNETTE!! Similar to the offside Clarke goal a cross ended up at the back post, this time Jewi was onside and he drilled it past Bachmann. A good chest down then he hit it on the half volley and ran to the two thousand strong Mackems. He was booked for taking his shirt off but who cares? Our Costa Rican hidden gem was off and running in the Championship.
With minutes to go the home crowd were silent and all the noise was coming from the noisy lot in red and white. Five minutes were added, Matete was booked for a dangerous challenge and their free kick went straight out for a goal kick and as soon as Patto launched it up the field the whistle was blown for full time.
A really good point. Fighting from behind twice on the road to a side who were in the Premier League last season. Had the ref given us some deserved calls we could’ve left with all three points. Regardless you’ll take a share of spoils against Watford and we sit fifth in the table as things stand. Worth mentioning all the young lads that came on looked sharp today, Jewi with the late equaliser, Amad linking up well with Roberts and Ba looked smart on the ball in his cameo.
ALS Man Of The Match: Jewison Bennette. Ok, you could give it to someone who played more of the game and what not but I’m giving MOTM to Jewi. Seeing the delight on his face and all the travelling support when it went in was unreal. Even before his goal went in you could see his danger, he was leaving players in his dust with his pace and he won a few free kicks too. Good start youngin’, long may it continue.
If I hadn’t given it to Jewi it would have been Alese, didn’t put a foot wrong at the back and helped out the attack more than once. Another player who has stepped up when he has been called upon.
