A Pre-Christmas Defeat at Turf Moor
12/23/2024 05:27 PM
I had a night out at the theatre on Friday (The Purists at the Kiln, which was fun). I had been doing some Christmas shopping beforehand, so didn't check the Women of Watford email account until well after I got home. There was an email from Chris, our SLO, about the rescheduled Cardiff game, which meant that I was sitting at my computer at midnight sending the subscriber email and putting a message on social media when I really should have been getting some beauty sleep before the trip to Burnley. I am not an early riser, so the prospect of having to get up early generally stops me from sleeping and I was staring at my alarm clock as the hours ticked by, calculating how little sleep I was going to get. I was up early, but not particularly bright, and was at Kings Cross in plenty of time for my train, so I bought myself a strong coffee to wake myself up.
I had taken the LNER route to Burnley via Leeds. Their catering is much better than other train companies and the bacon roll for breakfast really hit the spot.
When I changed at Leeds, I became aware of how many Watford fans were actually on the train. As we travelled through the stations of West Yorkshire, I was looking out for Graham and the Happy Valleys, but there was no sign of them until we disembarked in Burnley and they appeared from another carriage.
As is our habit, we headed for the cricket club (a monument to Jimmy Anderson). Ashley, Ross and Zoë were already in situ, and we were soon joined by other friendly faces. In contrast to a lot of Burnley, the cricket club is a lovely, friendly place with a mix of fans. The catering options are limited, but good. The meat and potato pie with chips, mushy peas and gravy was just perfect for a cold afternoon in December.
Team news was that Cleverley had made two changes from the West Brom game with Louza, who was ill, and Morris making way for Dwomoh and Larouci. So, the starting line-up was Bachmann; Larouci, Pollock, Porteous, Ngakia; Sissoko, Dwomoh; Vata, Chakvetadze, Baah; Bayo. As he walked to the dugout, Cleverley applauded the travelling Hornets.
It had been dry when we arrived at the stadium, but it was apparent before kick-off that there was now swirling wind and rain. Thankfully we were sheltered from it in the away stand.
The Hornets started well, with a good spell of possession in the Burnley half, although all they had to show for it was a shot from Dwomoh that flew wide of the target. The first chance for the home side came from a free kick, but Flemming's delivery cleared the bar. Burnley took the lead in the 9th minute as Brownhill received a lovely through ball and crossed for Anthony who was in an acre of space as he swept the ball home. The home side had a chance for a second soon after from a free kick, but Hannibal's delivery was into the wall and the ball rebounded to Anthony whose effort cleared the bar. Burnley had another decent chance after a spell of playing the ball around the Watford box, Baah had claimed it but went down, playing for a foul that wasn't given, Hannibal, who had been much more successful in fooling the referee, picked up the loose ball and fed Laurent whose shot was straight at Bachmann who made the catch. The home side then had a great chance from a corner that Bachmann did well to tip clear with a Burnley player lurking behind him ready to pounce. A loose ball from Pollock caused problems for the Hornets, but Ngakia did well to nick the ball off Hannibal in the box. The next chance came after Brownhill exchanged passes with Anthony, his cross was met by Pollock, but the ball fell to Hannibal on the edge of the box who, thankfully, shot just wide of the target when he probably should have done better. It was not until the 34th minute that Chakvetadze went on his first run of the afternoon, he played the ball out to Vata whose cross was blocked. The first booking of the game went to Ngakia for a clumsy trip on Humphreys, who met the resultant free kick with a header that cleared the bar. Late in the half, after some good work from Baah, Dwomoh won a corner. Chakvetadze's delivery was cleared as far as Ngakia who tried to lob the keeper, but Trafford got back to make a nervous-looking catch. In time added on at the end of the half, Burnley had a chance to score a second as the Hornets failed to clear a cross into the box allowing Flemming a shot that cleared the bar. It had been a difficult half to watch. The Hornets had started brightly but Burnley soon became dominant and Watford were really struggling to make any impression on the game.
Cleverley made a change at the break bringing Sierralta on in place of Vata. The first chance of the half went to the home side with a shot from outside the area by Anthony that flew well over the bar. The next incident was a booking for Laurent for a pull on Baah, which at least meant that the Hornets were trying to attack. The Hornets had a chance from a Larouci free kick that Porteous headed on for Bayo who was unable to connect. Baah then went on a great run into the box, but the Burnley defence were back, and he was dispossessed. The Hornets threatened again as Chakvetadze played the ball out to Baah whose cross was too high for Larouci. Cleverley made a double change on the hour mark replacing both of the wing backs as Andrews and Ebosele came on in place of Ngakia and Larouci. The home side scored a second soon after as Brownhill played a one-two with Hannibal before curling a gorgeous shot past Bachmann into the far corner. That felt like it for the Hornets, but then Egan-Riley was booked for a foul on Chakvetadze, who took the free kick himself. His delivery was met by Sierralta whose shot needed a decent save from Trafford to tip it over the bar. It was the first real shot of the game for the Hornets. The resultant corner from Chakvetadze was met by the head of Porteous who appeared to be heading it on for Bayo, but it flew wide. At this point, the home fans were jeering us with a chant of "You should have gone Christmas shopping."
The home side had a chance to score a third, but the shot from Flemming was straight at Bachmann. At this point the weather was filthy with swirling rain, and the wind had changed direction, so some was coming our way but, thankfully, we were high enough in the stand to be quite well protected. Cleverley made another change at this point bringing Jebbison on in place of Bayo. Burnley had a decent chance to score a third as Anthony got his head to a loose ball from Sierralta, Brownhill returned the ball, and he took a shot was that was saved by the legs of Bachmann. At the other end Jebbison fed Baah whose shot from outside the area flew wide of the target. Jebbison then went on a great run into the box where he was tackled by Egan-Riley, who conceded a corner. Chakvetadze's delivery was met by a Burnley head, but the ball fell to Baah who blasted home to bring some Christmas cheer to the travelling Hornets. Cleverley made a final change at this point bringing Kayembe on in place of Dwomoh. Soon after, Koleosho replaced Hannibal for the home side. Burnley were trying to run the clock down and Trafford was booked for time wasting as he delayed taking a free kick. After the goal the Hornets were suddenly on the front foot and Ebosele exchanged passes with Kayembe before crossing for Andrews whose shot was deflected wide. There was five minutes of added time that the home side hoped to use up by making a couple of substitutions. First Flemming made way for Rodriguez, then Egan replaced Roberts. The Hornets could have salvaged a point at the death as a Chakvetadze free kick was punched to Andrews, but his shot was well over the bar. So, the final whistle went on a narrow defeat for the Hornets. The bright end to the game had energised the travelling Hornets who enthusiastically applauded the players and sang Cleverley's name.
A draw would have been harsh on the home side who had dominated all but the last 10 minutes of the game. After the energy and competitiveness of the West Brom game, this was a very disappointing showing from the Hornets. Burnley are a good team, but it was a great shame that we didn't have a go at them earlier on. We certainly missed Louza in the midfield. Burnley stopped us playing while putting together some slick passing moves themselves.
We left the ground grateful to find that the rain had stopped. A couple of us were booked on the 6.22 train and there was some discussion about finding a pub, but we headed in the direction of the station and found the 5.22 just pulling into the station, so we all piled on. The ticket inspector pointed out that I was booked on the later train but kindly let me off as it was Christmas. I said goodbye and wished happy Christmas to my travelling companions as they arrived at their home stations.
I had a long wait at Leeds, but had a good book with me and the train that I was booked on was pleasantly quiet, so I had a peaceful journey home. As I sat there with a glass of wine, I felt strangely happy despite the defeat. It may have been a poor performance, but I had spent a lovely day with some wonderful people and that made it all worthwhile.
May I wish all reading this a very happy Christmas. I will see many of you at the Vic on Boxing Day.
