Unusually for an away game in Blackpool, I had arranged to spend the weekend with a couple of friends in Bradford. We had tickets to see Ian Prowse at the Craven Arms, a pub venue in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales, on Friday night so decided to make a weekend of it. Mike and I arrived early afternoon and were met by Graham who drove us to Salts Mill where we saw David Hockney’s frieze A Year in Normandie, which was absolutely stunning. We revisited his earlier work “The Arrival of Spring” and left feeling joyful. The drive through the Dales was gorgeous. The pub is both picturesque and cosy and dinner was delicious. The gig was as brilliant as expected with Ian supported by the lovely Nick Hall. We had a few more drinks than was sensible with them afterwards. It was a wonderful way to start the weekend.
The original plan for Saturday had been to get a train from Bradford to Blackpool, but the train strike scuppered that, so Graham was on driving duty again. We set off from Bradford in bright sunshine and made very good time. We found the nominated pre-match pub where we were soon joined by the Happy Valley Horns. The food and drink were top notch, the staff were friendly and helpful and the locals were welcoming. Oddly enough we were the only Watford fans in the place. That is an unusual experience, I guess others were drinking nearer the town centre. Graham discovered on Friday that he hadn’t actually bought a ticket for this game. That was rectified and he picked it up from a kiosk next to the away end. By the end of the afternoon he probably wished that he hadn’t bothered.
Team news was that Slaven Bilić had made four changes from Wednesday with Gosling, Troost-Ekong, Louza and Bayo coming in for Gaspar, Sierralta, Asprilla and Davis. So, the starting line-up was Bachmann; Kamara, Kabasele, Troost-Ekong, Gosling; Kayembe, Louza, Choudhury; Sema, Bayo, Sarr.
The Hornets made a decent start to the game as Kayembe released Louza, he advanced and shot but Blackpool keeper, Maxwell, was down to make the save. At the other end, Kayembe failed to latch on to a pass from Gosling, the ball ran through to Wright who hit a shot from distance that flew just wide. There was a delay to the game as Sema, who was making his 100th appearance, received treatment for a head injury. Thankfully he was fine to continue. The home side took the lead in the 10th minute. A long pass was headed on by Connolly to Madine who lobbed Bachmann. The Watford keeper got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. The Hornets tried to hit back immediately, Kayembe hit a shot that was blocked, his follow-up was blocked for a corner. Carey then played a through ball to Yates who took a shot, but Bachmann made the catch. The Hornets should have drawn level after Bayo played a ball to Kamara in the box, he crossed for Sarr who had the goal at his mercy but failed to connect, the ball ran through to Bayo who could only find the roof of the net. Then a free kick from Louza was pushed clear by Maxwell.
The Hornets drew level on 28 minutes as Sarr won a free kick just outside the box. Louza stepped up to take it and hit a wonderful shot into the top corner. We were right behind it and watched the flight of the ball before celebrating wildly. This is the first time we have scored from a free kick since that wonderful Adam Masina effort at Cardiff and it was well worth the wait. The home side looked to regain their lead when Corbeanu hit a shot from distance but it was straight at Bachmann. Louza then played a lovely chip into the Blackpool box, but Kamara couldn’t reach it. The Hornets threatened again when Sema played a through ball to Bayo, but the shot was deflected into the side netting. There were four minutes of added time, although that was clearly going to increase as a Blackpool player was receiving treatment when the board went up. Both sides created chances in added time. First Bayo received a ball over the top from Kayembe, but his shot was blocked. At the other end Carey ran on to a ball into the box but he could only find the side netting when he should have done better, so we went into the break with honours even.
The Hornets had a very slow start to the game but improved considerably as the half went on. At half time a number of people commented that the game could go either way, but the momentum seemed to be with the Hornets.
Each side made a change at the break. Former Watford loanee Liam Bridcutt came on for Carey to make his debut for the Seasiders and Asprilla replaced Sema for the Hornets. Watford started the second half with a lovely passing move that ended up with Kamara in the box, but a heavy touch meant that he was stretching to take the shot and could only find the roof of the net. Blackpool then launched a counter attack and Corbeanu hit a shot from distance that flew wide of the target. The Hornets threatened again as a Louza free kick was played square to Choudhury who shot wide of the target. Asprilla then went on a lovely run before cutting the ball back to Sarr who shot wide of the far post. From a corner, Corbeanu hit a low shot but Bachmann was equal to it. Bilić made another change at this point bringing Davis on for Bayo. The home side had a great chance to take the lead just after the hour mark when Corbeanu broke forward but his shot was terrible and flew wide of the near post. That was his last action of the game as, soon after, he was replaced by Lavery.
Bachmann was then the saviour for the Hornets as Connolly crossed for Madine whose header was met by a brilliant save from the Watford stopper. From the resultant corner, Thorniley headed goalwards, but Bachmann made another save and was on hand to block the follow-up shot from Connolly. At this point the travelling fans were getting restless and the younger element of the crowd (who have known nothing but the Pozzo era) were chanting “We want Pozzo out” although it was still fairly good hearted. The home side made a change as Madine was replaced by Hamilton who was immediately in action breaking forward, his cross bounced off Gosling and reached Patino whose shot from distance was saved by Bachmann. With 13 minutes remaining, Bilić made a double substitution with Sierralta and Dele-Bashiru coming on for Gosling and Kayembe. Blackpool took the lead on 81 minutes and it was an infuriating goal, when Hamilton crossed the ball in the box it passed about half a dozen Watford players before it reached Yates who volleyed home.
The Hornets were soon two goals down as Yates got the ball on the edge of the box, he beat Troost-Ekong before firing past Bachmann. At this point “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” rang out in the away end. With three minutes remaining Sierralta, who been on for less than 10 minutes, was replaced by Morris. I saw him storm down the tunnel but one of our party said that he had a row with Bilić when he came off. The away crowd were vile at this point. One lad in the row in front of us had already kicked hell out of a seat that smashed, he then stood in front of me to repeat the effort, thankfully that seat was more robust and we were not collateral damage due to flying debris. A large crowd had gathered at the perimeter and I did wonder about the bloke that was there with two small children, what was he expecting would happen at full time? The chant of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” started in the home end, but soon spread through the away crowd. There was five minutes of time added at the end and the Hornets had a chance to spare their blushes when Dele-Bashiru hit a shot from distance but it was straight at the keeper and the Hornets fell to a humiliating defeat.
There was much anger among those gathered at the perimeter fence. Troost-Ekong came over to give his shirt to a fan, which was a very brave act as he was subjected to considerable abuse. Front and centre was the lad who had broken the seats who had several stewards around him and was lucky not to be taken away. The other players kept their distance and quickly disappeared down the tunnel.
The Watford fans were ushered to the opposite end of the stand to leave the ground. There was no concourse, so we had to avail ourselves of the portaloos before our drive back to Bradford. They were pretty rank, which did not improve our mood at all.
We decided to return to the pub for a pint before heading back. The Happy Valleys were also there and we drowned our sorrows together. We were all completely dispirited. After a slow start, Watford had actually been the better team until about the hour mark, but once Blackpool got into their stride again the fight went out of the Hornets and the capitulation was horrible to watch. Mike brought a lovely Blackpool fan back from the bar with him. His perspective was interesting and he repeated the tenet that anyone can beat anyone else in this division. That was certainly apparent in the results on Saturday with Norwich losing to Preston and Sheffield United losing to Stoke. But the fact that others can also be beaten does not help us. There is clearly a problem among the squad. They are certainly talented enough to compete in this division, but are not playing to the best of their abilities. The constant changes in the defence are certainly not helping, but the forwards are also not pulling their weight. Whether that is a confidence or an attitude problem remains to be seen, but something needs to change. We have seen some utterly dreadful performances this season and even an eternal optimist like myself is having their patience sorely tested.
Still, we were soon back in Bradford for a ruby and a few drinks which improved our mood considerably. On Sunday morning we made a quick visit to Cartwright Hall before getting the train home. The collection there is fascinating with a brilliant juxtaposition of modern and classical works that enhanced both. They also have a Hockney exhibition that included some of his very early work and highlighted how hard he worked to learn his trade and to continue learning throughout his career. There is a lesson for all at Watford there.
Fran's Watford Blog 