Goalless Stalemate Against Rangers
Today at 01:09 PM
It felt like a ridiculously early start for the lunchtime kick-off. So much so that I didn't even make myself a cup of coffee before I left home. I did make sure that my replica shirt was in my bag though.
I arrived in the West Herts to find that our table was already well populated. Graham commented that he had arrived at 10, ordered a beer and questioned his life choices. But all at the table looked happy and I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast of a bacon roll and a pint (or two) of Camden Pale.
Team news was that Cleverley had made two changes from the Bristol City game with Larouci and Sissoko replacing Ebosele and Baah. So, the starting line-up was Bachmann; Pollock, Sierralta, Porteous; Larouci, Louza, Sissoko, Andrews; Chakvetadze, Bayo, Kayembe.
Prior to kick-off, the lucky red kite was flying above the stadium, so all was right with the world.
The first action of the game was a rather robust tackle by Madsen on Pollock that earned the QPR man a yellow card. The visitors also had the first attack of note with a run by Saito that was stopped by Sierralta on the edge of the box. The resultant free kick from Madsen was deflected over the bar. The Hornets started to take control of the game after 15 minutes but didn't create much in the way of chances beyond a shot from Chakvetadze that was deflected wide. The visitors had a great chance to take the lead as Saito got behind the defence and pulled the ball back for Madsen whose shot was dreadful and flew well wide of the target. There was then a bizarre decision by the referee as Porteous appeared to drag Saito down but was awarded the free kick. Ryan looked as amused as we were. Then Chakvetadze played the ball out to Andrews whose cross from a tight angle flew well over the bar. The next chance was a shot from Kayembe, but QPR keeper, Nardi, was right behind it. The visitors sent nerves jangling among the home supporters as a corner was delivered into the box and the QPR players seemed to be taking it in turns to try to put the ball in the net but, thankfully, all of their efforts were blocked. Sierralta was then booked for a tackle that was more clumsy than malicious.
The visitors were on top at this point and a long throw was headed on by Pollock and it took a great intervention from Sierralta to stop it finding the net. Smyth was the next to try his luck but his shot from the right flew behind the goal. At the other end, a rare attack by the Hornets finished with the cross from Larouci being deflected into the keeper's arms. The visitors had a great chance to take the lead just before half time as a free kick was head down by Dunne to Celar whose close-range volley needed a great stop from Bachmann to keep it out, the rebound fell to Morrison who, with an open goal to aim at, belted it over the bar. The Hornets had a chance of their own after Andrews played a through ball for Kayembe, he crossed for Larouci whose shot was poor and easily blocked. There was one minute of added time and a chance for the Hornets to break the deadlock before the interval, but Kayembe played a rather strange ball from the byline back to Andrews and the shot was high and wide. It had been a poor half for the Hornets who were lucky to go into the break level.
The half time guest was Emma Saunders back at the Vic after leaving for Sky Sports stardom. She talked about the challenges of the interviewing role at the Vic, singling out the interviews with the mascots as the most difficult. She said that the most memorable moment was the game after the passing of GT when she was interviewing the players that had come back to pay tribute. It was a very moving occasion, and they were players that she had idolised growing up. Her role leading the Hive Live coverage during lockdown was mentioned. She said how special that was, and I know that coverage was something that I really looked forward to at that time. She said that Watford are looking for a new matchday announcer to join Tim, and they have invited people to apply by sending in voice recordings of them reading out a teamsheet. I expect that they will be inundated. Before she left, Emma was invited to attempt the MrQ challenge, and her shot was a decent effort.
Cleverley made two changes at the break bringing Vata and Baah on in place of Sierralta and Kayembe. This meant a change to four at the back as Larouci and Andrews dropped into defence. The Hornets had an early chance as a cross from Chakvetadze was met by Baah whose header was straight at the keeper. At the other end a low shot from Saito was blocked by Porteous. Louza then played a lovely ball to release Baah, his cross was blocked, and the ball eventually fell to Bayo who could only find the side netting. Pollock was then booked for a foul on Smyth. There was then some sublime skill from Vata as he kept the ball in on the touchline and looked as though he had lost out to Smyth, but he flicked the ball and ran around him to pick it up only to be knocked down for his audacity. Needless to say, Smyth received a yellow card for the offence and there was a break in the game as he injured himself in the process. The Hornets then had a great chance to break the deadlock when Chakvetadze got around the back of the QPR defence into the box, but his shot was blocked by the keeper's legs. Each side made changes at this point with Varane replacing Madsen for the visitors while Larouci and Andrews made way for Ebosele and Ngakia making a very welcome return after a long layoff.
Baah then went on another great run, his cross was blocked with shouts of handball but the referee was unmoved. At this point two red kites appeared, I hoped that they would spark a change in fortune, but they were flying a little distant from the stadium. The visitors had a chance to open the scoring from a corner when a deep cross reached Cook, but his shot was terrible and flew wide of the far post. The visitors made a triple substitution bringing Ashby, Fox and Andersen on for Smyth, Paal and Morgan. The Hornets had a great chance to take the lead as Louza released Baah who played a return pass and Imrân curled a gorgeous shot that Nardi did well to push wide. The next chance for the Hornets came from a Louza free kick that appeared from behind the goal to have gone straight in. We were celebrating until we realised that the ball had hit the crossbar and bounced off the line. The next chance came as Ngakia exchanged passes with Baah before finding Louza who shot over the target. At this point Cleverley made his final change bringing Ince on in place of Sissoko. The visitors had another great chance to take the lead with a ball over the top into the box for Ashby but, again, with the goal gaping the shot was woeful. Field was booked for a foul on Vata giving the Hornets a free kick in a dangerous position. Chakvetadze took the set piece, but his delivery was straight at the keeper. The visitors had another great chance as Celar broke into the box, but Bachmann narrowed the angle, and his shot hit the post. There was five minutes of added time during which Chakvetadze tried a shot from a tight angle, but Nardi was equal to it. Then Ngakia had a chance for glory on his return from injury, but his shot cleared the bar. The visitors had a final chance to take all three points with a shot from distance by Cook that flew well wide of the target, so the game finished goalless.
It had been a much better half for the Hornets but, if the visitors had been able to shoot, they would have had 3 or 4. I guess that explains their league position. It was a frustrating afternoon. Chakvetadze has had a couple of disappointing games. He is so desperate to score that he repeatedly runs into defenders and loses possession. Louza continues to impress and looks as if he is enjoying his football again. Vata was a breath of fresh air when he came on, running for everything and the cheeky ball around Smyth was a thing of beauty. Also, it was lovely to see Ngakia back on the pitch after so long out with injury. One other thing of note during the game was Pollock standing in front of the opposition keeper when he was trying to set up the wall at a free kick. It was an annoying distraction and an interesting idea.
In Women at the Game week, it was lovely to see Emma Saunders on the pitch. A Watford fan who grew up in Hemel, she cut her teeth on the tannoy at Watford and just grew in the game. I am a big fan of hers and, having stood in front of her at an away game I can vouch for what a passionate fan she is. I feel stupidly proud of her for what she has achieved. Maybe the winner of the competition for the new announcer will take inspiration from her and realise that the world is their oyster.
