Bayo Double Takes the Boing Out of the Baggies

12/17/2024 11:38 AM

Following the dreadful game in Hull, I wasn't relishing the prospect of this match. West Brom were on a run of 12 unbeaten games and, while the Hornets were unbeaten in 5, a number of the performances had not been convincing. On the plus side, I did have the pleasure of the company of my lovely friend, Alice, who had invited me to share her table in hospitality having won the Supporters Trust draw for this game. There was some disruption on the fast trains to Watford, but the Lioness line was running smoothly, so I took the leisurely ride to the High Street station and had time to buy my calendars for next year before meeting Alice in the Elton John Suite. As I walked along Vicarage Road, after dodging the West Brom fans who had just arrived on the coaches, I bumped into Phil Williams who gave me the opportunity to bang the drum. One that I took with relish.

As it was the Community Sports & Education Trust Awareness matchday, there was a silent auction in the lounge to raise funds. I bid on a day at the training ground but, sadly, did not win it.

There was a Christmas dinner on offer in the lounge, but I decided to have the fish dish instead, which was rather lovely. Dessert was a rather rich chocolate log, which was very tasty, but the portion was rather large. After the heavy meal and a couple of glasses of wine, I hoped that the game would provide enough excitement to keep me awake.

Team news was that Cleverley had made four changes from the Hull game with Sissoko, Vata, Morris and Baah replacing Sierralta, Larouci, Kayembe and Ince. So, the starting line-up was Bachmann; Morris, Pollock, Porteous, Ngakia; Sissoko, Louza; Vata, Chakvetadze, Baah; Bayo. It was a surprisingly attacking line-up along with a change to a back four.

When we took our seats, we found that we were sitting next to Ian Bolton. Alice struck up a conversation with him and we ended up chatting throughout the game.

The Hornets started the game brightly as Baah ran to the byline, but there was a defender with him and he could only play a low cross to the keeper, Palmer. Chakvetadze then went on a great run before finding Bayo, but the defence were back and the attempted pass to Baah was intercepted. The first attack for the visitors came after a break by Fellows but his cut back was well blocked by Porteous. There was danger for the Hornets as an attempt to play the ball out from the back by Bachmann was intercepted by Molumby, his shot was blocked, and the ball was eventually cleared. Chakvetadze went on another run before feeding Vata whose shot was blocked. The youngster had an even better chance soon after when a cross from Ngakia into the box was met by a defensive head, the ball dropped to Vata, and his shot hit the crossbar. Then Chakvetadze went on another great run into the box, but his shot was straight at Palmer. At the other end a cross from Fellows was headed down by Maja, Porteous met it, but his clearance fell to Račič whose shot flew well over the bar. The first booking of the game went to Sissoko for a foul on Grant. The resultant free kick from Styles was met by the head of Furlong and flew well wide of the target. Then Račič tried a shot from the edge of the area that was just wide of the post.

The visitors threatened again with a shot from distance that was met by a flying parry from Bachmann. At the other end, Vata broke into the box and cut the ball back for Sissoko whose shot was blocked, the ball dropped to Louza whose effort cleared the bar. The Hornets took the lead on 35 minutes after another run from Chakvetadze who played the ball out to Vata, he put in a lovely cross that was met by the head of Bayo who found the net, sparking joyous celebrations in the posh seats. The Hornets had a chance to grab a second as Pollock met a free kick from Ngakia, but his shirt was being pulled so it was a weak effort that was easily gathered by Palmer. At the other end Bachmann did well to get his hands to a powerful shot from Grant. The visitors had another decent chance to draw level as Styles got into the box, but his shot flew wide of the far post. West Brom should have equalised when Maja cut the ball back for Grant in the box, but the pass seemed to take him by surprise, and the ball bounced off him and rolled to Bachmann. So, we went into the break a goal to the good and headed to the Elton John suite for a coffee after a very enjoyable half of football.

Ian Bolton was otherwise occupied at the break as his granddaughter was taking part in the half-time penalty shoot-out. He was delighted to tell us that her team had won it.

When I took my seat for the second half, I realised that I had left my notebook in the lounge, so had to go back to pick it up. Thankfully I didn't miss anything beyond the visitors making a change bringing Johnston on in place of Styles. The Hornets had an early chance for a second as Chakvetadze played a lovely ball for Bayo at the near post, but the keeper and a defender combined to make the block. Then a cross from Baah was deflected for a corner from which Chakvetadze's delivery was punched clear by Palmer. The Hornets were two up after 50 minutes when Vata flicked a ball over a defender before advancing down the left wing and putting in a cross for Bayo who chested it down and volleyed past Palmer. It was just reward for a very positive start to the second half. Chakvetadze was causing West Brom no end of problems and an attempted break was stopped by Molumby who was booked for his trouble. Then Morris broke down the left, but his cross was straight at the keeper. Chakvetadze went on another storming run, this time his shot hit a defender and looped to the keeper when he may have been better passing to Baah in space. Grant then spotted Bachmann off his line and attempted a lob from the halfway line, but Dan had time to get back and claim the ball. Sissoko and Chakvetadze then exchanged passes to get into the box, Moussa's pass ran a little behind Bayo and reached Baah whose effort was deflected over the bar. The subsequent corner was played short and there was a lovely interchange between Porteous and Sissoko before the latter crossed causing a scramble at the near post, but the ball was eventually claimed by Palmer.

The visitors then made a triple substitution as Frabotta, Mowatt and Swift came on in place of Bartley, Račič and Maja. West Brom pulled one back soon after as a shot from Johnston was blocked by Porteous, but the ball fell to Molumby, Bachmann got a hand to the shot but couldn't keep it out, setting up a nervous last quarter of the game for the Hornets. The next incident was a bout of handbags between Louza and Molumby who went down claiming a head butt, which hadn't happened. Louza was cautioned, but no more. With 15 minutes remaining, Cleverley made his first changes of the game bringing Kayembe and Sierralta on in place of Vata and Baah. Soon after, Molumby made way for Wallace for the visitors. The visitors were full of confidence after the goal and had a great chance to draw level with a shot from distance by Swift that Bachmann dived to save. The menace of Chakvetadze led to another booking, this time Fellows for pulling him back. Cleverley made another change at this point bringing Larouci on in place of Morris. Chakvetadze went on another run into the West Brom box but was being pulled back which prevented him taking a shot. The Hornets then won a free kick in our half and Louza decided to go for goal, but it was an easy catch for Palmer. Cleverley made a final substitution bringing Jebbison on in place of Bayo. Chakvetadze had a decent chance to score a third after intercepting the ball in the midfield and going on another tremendous run that finished with a shot over from a tight angle when maybe a pass would have been better. There was six minutes of added time that started with another great run from Chakvetadze, he played the ball out to Kayembe who miscontrolled and ran it out of play. The visitors then had a great chance to equalise from a corner that was met by a powerful header from Furlong, Bachmann punched the ball which dropped to Mowatt outside the box, thankfully his shot cleared the bar. So, the final whistle went on a victory for the Hornets with Swift earning a late booking for a protest as he had been fouled just before the whistle went.

We returned to the lounge for mulled wine and post-match analysis. It had been a really enjoyable game. The change of formation to four at the back and the attacking line-up had worked really well. Chakvetadze spent the whole game running at the West Brom defence causing them no end of problems. He really deserves to see his name on the scoresheet. Following on from his goal at Hull, it was great to see Vata start and get two excellent assists for the goals. He really is an exciting prospect. The brace from Bayo was delightful and it is always good to see a beaming smile on his face. The defence played very well, Porteous and Pollock were very solid indeed. It was also great to see Ngakia playing a full 90+ minutes and he was rewarded by being named Man of the Match.

Before we left, Alice and I headed for the Players' Lounge to meet Jon. There I had a chance to chat with Mattie Pollock, who was absolutely lovely. I was also able to tell Jeremy Ngakia how happy I am to see him back, which was rewarded with a delighted smile. His proud Dad was there and was beaming after his boy was named Man of the Match.

So, a pre-Christmas trip to Burnley is in store for us next Saturday. Let us hope for another positive showing before the busy Christmas schedule.