Gray Spoils a Lovely Day in Plymouth

Today at 04:29 AM

Another Friday night game under the lights, but this time with the added inconvenience of the long journey to Plymouth. I decided to make a weekend of it, so travelled down on Thursday, passing a lot of snow on the way, but finding that Plymouth was clear, if very chilly. After a lovely late afternoon walk, I got back to the hotel to find two large coaches parked outside and men in Watford hoodies dragging huge kit bags into the hotel. I had a good look around the lobby, but didn't spot any of the players.

 I had dinner that evening in a local restaurant where the waitress was expressing her concern to the locals about whether the game would go ahead given the imminent arrival of Storm Bert. She was worried that the players wouldn't be able to travel. I assured her that they had already arrived.

I woke on Friday to a gorgeous sunny day and headed down to the Hoe. The sea looked very inviting and there were a good few people either in the water or changing, so I decided to have a dip. It was absolutely gorgeous, and set me up for the day. Once dry and layered up again, I walked down to the harbour area and found a seafood restaurant for a lunch of delicious scallops and then visited the RNLI shop to buy my Christmas cards. I then headed back to the hotel to prepare for the arrival of the rest of our party.

We met in the bar earlier than was sensible, but paced ourselves while trying not to stare at Mattie Pollock who was sitting in the corner with one of the coaches. A little later a guy stationed himself just outside the bar watching the lifts to spot the players arriving for dinner, although he was clearly not a Watford fan as, on more than one occasion, he asked a random member of staff for their autograph. I was trying to be nonchalant, but still accosted Pollock, Porteous, Sema and Sierralta. Then, while chatting to Stuart Timperley, I spotted Tom and Robbo on their way out, so hugs and photos were requested (by me, obviously).

When the time came, we walked to the ground and took the long way around to the away end before taking our seats in the stand.

Team news was that Cleverley had made two changes from the Oxford game with Larouci in for the suspended Ebosele and Sissoko returning from suspension to replace Kayembe. So, the starting line-up was Bachmann; Morris, Pollock, Porteous; Larouci, Louza, Sissoko, Andrews; Chakvetadze, Baah; Bayo. Former Hornet Andre Gray started for Argyle. Needless to say, his name was booed by the travelling Hornets. Damon Lathrope was taking charge of the team from the dugout as Cleverley was banished to the stands due to suspension.

The first action of the game was a booking for Mumba for a foul on Sissoko. Moussa needed treatment, so some time elapsed before the free kick was taken. Chakvetadze's delivery was cleared over the bar and the resultant corner came to nothing due to an offside flag. The Hornets threatened again with a low cross from Chakvetadze that was repelled, as he tried to reach the follow-up the defender drew a foul. Watford took the lead after 8 minutes. From the other end of the ground, we saw Larouci cross and Bayo slide in, but it appeared that the Plymouth keeper, Grimshaw, had smothered the shot. Then the players started celebrating and we realised that Bayo must have bundled the ball over the line, so there was an almighty roar in the away end. The celebrations were no less enjoyable for being slightly delayed. The Hornets should have had a second soon after as Morris played a great ball for Larouci who got behind the defence to the byline and crossed for Baah who was unable to make contact, so the chance went begging. The Hornets won another corner that was punched rather weakly by Grimshaw, but the whistle went for a foul before anyone could pounce on the loose ball. The next chance for the Hornets came when Chakvetadze went on a great run and took a shot that flew over the target.

The Hornets had completely dominated the first quarter of the game, so it was a bit of a shock when the home side drew level with a goal out of nowhere as Gibson played a wonderful cross-field ball over the top for Gray who volleyed past Bachmann and ran to celebrate in front of the Watford fans, something that he didn't have to do that often when he played for us. Plymouth then had a chance to take the lead. The travelling Hornets were furious that a foul on Baah wasn't given, allowing a counterattack that finished with Whittaker trying his luck from distance, thankfully the ball flew just wide of the target. The home side had another decent chance as Obafemi got the ball on the edge of the box and shot just wide. The Hornets then had their first chance for some time, and it was a good one, as a Louza corner was headed on by a defender, Pollock headed it down for Morris who flicked it back to Porteous whose shot flew just wide of the target. The next chance for the Hornets came after Andrews picked the ball up in the midfield and played a lovely pass for Bayo who couldn't find the target. The Hornets regained the lead after 41 minutes. A Louza free kick was played for Pollock to run on to at the back post, he played the ball across the face of the goal for Porteous to poke it home. This time the celebration in the away end was instantaneous. There were 3 minutes of additional time at the end of the half. This gave Louza time to try to catch the keeper out with a hopeful chip from the halfway line, but Grimshaw was behind it, so the whistle went with the Hornets leading after a very entertaining half of football.

There were no changes at the break and the first chance of the second half went to the home side with a shot from distance by Gyabi that cleared the bar. The first chance of the half for the Hornets came after Chakvetadze found Baah, whose shot was blocked. From the resultant corner, Louza's delivery was met by the head of Pollock, but his effort flew wide of the target. Then Andrews played a through ball for Baah, but he was pulled back by Gibson who was booked for the offence. The Hornets then almost played themselves into trouble as an attempted clearance by Andrews rebounded to a Plymouth player and the cross had to be punched clear by Bachmann. The Hornets had a decent chance for a third when Andrews released Chakvetadze whose heavy first touch delayed his shot allowing the defenders to regroup and make the block. The ball came back to him via Larouci and he skipped past a couple of players before curling a lovely shot that Grimshaw did well to push over the bar. The next chance for Plymouth was a low shot from Gyabi that Bachmann gathered easily at the near post. Plymouth made a substitution at this point as Whittaker, who had picked up an injury, was replaced by Wright. The Hornets threatened again as Louza played a great ball into the box for Baah to run on to, but the keeper was first to the ball. There was then the odd sight of Louza running around with a streamer attached to his leg. Some strapping had come undone and he was struggling to remove it as play continued and he was determined not to be out of position. I just hoped that he wouldn't get tangled up in the bandage.

Watford made their first change at this point bringing Kayembe on in place of Chakvetadze. Louza then made a great interception but paused before shooting and the momentum was gone. Then Larouci got into a good position on the left, but his cross was straight at the keeper. The Hornets should have finished the game off after Sissoko went on a great run through the middle and played a great ball out to Bayo who was one-on-one with the keeper and hit a shot that was saved by the keeper's legs when he should have lifted the ball over him. The resultant corner was played out to Andrews whose shot from distance flew well over the target. Plymouth made a double substitution at this point as Issaka and Bundu replaced Sorinola and Obafemi. The home side had a chance to draw level but the shot from Wright was just wide of the target. The Hornets made another change bringing Sema on in place of Larouci. Porteous was then booked for a foul prompting complaints from the travelling Hornets that a similar infringement by the opposition had just been waved away. Thankfully the resultant free kick went straight to Bachmann. There were 5 minutes of added time, and the Hornets made two late changes with Baah and Morris making way for Ince and Sierralta. The clock had gone past 95 minutes, and we were willing the referee to blow the whistle, when Bundu found Gray just inside the box and he curled a gorgeous shot into the opposite corner to secure a point for the home side and break the hearts of the travelling Hornets.

It was a very frustrating end to a game that the Hornets should have won. It was typical that Gray scored both of their goals, but it has to be said that they were both decent strikes. Sadly, Watford only had themselves to blame as they should have finished the game off. There were enough opportunities to do so, and they will be ruing the missed chances, particularly the Bayo one-on-one.

But our post-match gathering was generally positive as it had been a very entertaining match with the Hornets playing some gorgeous football at times.  Pollock, again, had a great game, being controlled in defence and providing an assist for Porteous for the second goal. The midfield were superb. It was great to see Sissoko back, but Louza took the plaudits for putting in the best performance that we have seen from him in quite a while. His talent has never been in doubt, but too often he looks as though he is unmotivated. It's early days but I am hoping that Tom is turning that around, as Louza back to his best will be like a completely new signing.

I would have taken a point before the game, given the hosts' home record and ours away. It was certainly an impressive performance from the Hornets and, annoying as it was to have a Friday night game after the international break, we now have an extra day to prepare for the visit of Bristol City. Also, Andre Gray was not the Man of the Match. There are always silver linings.