The journey to Swansea was rather pleasant. The train was already boarding when I arrived at Paddington, so I was able to settle into my seat well before the departure time. There was a young boy and his father in Swansea shirts in the seats in front of me. At one point, the father said to the woman serving the drinks that he thought they would win. I couldn’t disagree with him.
I arrived at the hotel at the same time as Graham, although he was much less relaxed than I was after a 5-hour drive from Bradford. We freshened up and then met for drinks and something to eat in the hotel bar. The last time that I stayed there, the bar was crowded pre-match, but the new bistro setting seems less popular with football fans. At the appointed time, we caught a bus down to the stadium, which was an easy 5-minute ride, so we were soon in the away end.
When I offered to get tickets for the Women of Watford and my usual crew, only Graham wanted to join me, so it was no surprise when the steward told us that there were only 250 travelling fans, so we could sit where we liked. We grabbed a couple of good seats and settled down for the game.
Team news was that Ismaël had made three changes from Saturday with Porteous, suspended for a fifth yellow card, replaced by Sierralta, Koné came in for Dele-Bashiru, who was dropped for missing a team meeting, and Louza dropped to the bench with Kayembe coming into the midfield. So, the starting XI was Bachmann; Lewis, Hoedt, Sierralta, Ngakia; Koné, Livermore, Kayembe; Martins, Bayo, Ince. It is annoying to hear of another player being dropped for a disciplinary issue, most of which seem to be related to time keeping, but at least Ismaël is being consistent in trying to keep the lads on the straight and narrow. The Swansea team included Harrison Ashby, son of Barry formerly of this parish.
Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s applause for Bobby Charlton which was to start on the referee’s whistle but broke out immediately it was announced and was heartfelt. They had also told us that there would be fireworks in the build-up, but I could only hear them, not see them.
The first chance of the game went to the home side. A Paterson free kick was met with a defensive boot and rebounded back for him to hit a cross that was met by Darling who headed just wide of the target. The first chance for the Hornets came after Livermore released Lewis who broke forward and crossed for Ince whose shot was saved by Rushworth in the Swansea goal. The next chance for the Hornets came from a Swansea error. Koné pressured Fulton into an ill-advised pass, Bayo picked up the ball and played it to Kayembe whose shot from the edge of the area flew just wide of the near post. The next chance for the home side came when a headed pass fell to Paterson, his low shot was saved at the near post by Bachmann. The first booking of the game went to Livermore for pulling Paterson over. The home side had a great chance to take the lead just after the half hour mark when Grimes hit a shot from distance that Bachmann did really well to reach and tip around the post. The home side continued to threaten, their next chance came from a shot from outside the box by Darling that flew wide of the target. The Hornets had a great chance to take the lead just before half time. Ngakia put in a deep cross for Bayo, his header was blocked by the keeper, the loose ball fell to Kayembe, but his follow-up effort was weak and easily gathered by Rushworth. The whistle went on the best first half that we have seen for a while. The game was pretty even, but the Hornets had the best chance of the half with the header from Bayo, although he should have done better than aiming it straight at the keeper.
Ismaël made a change at the break bringing Sema on for Martins, who had been marked out of the game. The first chance of the second half fell to the Hornets with a shot from outside the area by Koné that flew high and wide. Kayembe then played a promising ball over the top, but it was too far in front of Bayo for him to capitalise. King Ken’s first contribution was to win a corner and then deliver the set piece for Sierralta whose header cleared the bar. Ince should have done better when he received a headed pass from Bayo, but he opted to hit a shot from a mile out that flew well over the bar when he could have advanced and picked his shot. An hour into the game both sides made a double substitution. Tymon and Cooper replaced Cullen and Paterson for the home side. While Ince and Bayo made way for Asprilla and Rajović for the Hornets. The two Hornets substitutes were involved in the next chance for the Hornets, Asprilla played in Ngakia who crossed for Rajović whose shot was blocked. The home side then had the ball in the net when a corner was headed home. The goal would have been against the run of play, but the whistle had gone for a foul on Kayembe and the celebrations in the home stands were cut short. There was another decent chance for the Hornets as Lewis played a lovely cross-field ball for Asprilla, but his cross was too far in front of Rajović for him to meet it. With ten minutes remaining, each side made a further substitution. Walsh replaced Ashby for the home side and Koné made way for Chakvetadze for the Hornets.
Watford took the lead in the 82nd minute. Asprilla played a cross-field pass for Sema who took a couple of strides before walloping it past Rushworth. We were behind the goal, and I feared that the shot would burst the net and do someone in our stand a mischief. Ken’s celebration was joyous as he went running to the bench to celebrate. It was no more than the Hornets deserved. The travelling fans greeted the goal with a chant about us never winning away. I really do not understand why you would greet a goal with such a negative song, but the days when the majority of songs were in support of your team rather than abusing the opposition or your local rivals have long gone, much to my dismay. I don’t sing anywhere near as much as I used to. The Hornets were pushing for a second goal as Sema broke into the box and played the ball back to Rajović who was unable to control it. The Hornets threatened again as Kayembe passed to Asprilla in the box, but his shot was straight at Rushworth. In the last minute of normal time, the home side had a great chance to prove the chant correct as a Grimes free kick was met by the head of Darling, but Bachmann did really well to keep it out. There was five minutes of added time at the end of the game. The Hornets had a decent chance to make the game safe after Chakvetadze went on a storming run, he played a back heel to Sema, who was being closed down by the defence, and couldn’t find a Watford man with his pass. Instead, Lowe broke down the other end and crossed for Darling whose low shot was pushed clear by Bachmann. There was only time for Pollock to make an appearance in place of Lewis and the final whistle went on our first away win of the season.
You could see how much it meant to the players. I was surprised to see Koné run over to the away fans where he celebrated like a mad man. The rest of the players took a while to complete their pleasantries with the officials and the opposition. When they finally gathered as a group in front of us, King Ken was pushed forward to ensure that he got the plaudits. There was no doubt that the crowd were sending him love and he was beaming and bowing down to us.
It was a considerably better performance by the Hornets. Given that Swansea had been on a four game winning streak scoring 11 goals before their weekend defeat to Leicester, they were surprisingly poor and, as one guy behind me kept saying, there for the taking. Watford were much more positive than of late, the pressing game was back and there was much less of the cagey passing around at the back. I always think that you can’t concede if you have the ball in the opposition half and if you create chances something will go in. It was an encouraging performance that we need to build on. This was our first away win since the new year’s trip to Norwich and all those who made the journey to Swansea thoroughly deserved that performance and result. We have now had two wins and two clean sheets and are at the heady heights of 15th in the table. The visit of Millwall to the Vic on Saturday will not be easy, but there will be some confidence in the team and, hopefully, we can start looking up again. I felt for the Watford fans who had a long journey back home by coach and car. Graham and I had a short bus journey to reach the hotel for a post-match celebration. We met a familiar face in the bar. He asked if I had an early train home as he was getting the 6:30 train to get into work at a reasonable time. I was able to say that I planned to spend the day on the Gower Peninsula walking along the coast. It turned out to be a glorious sunny day and it is a beautiful coastline. I was just annoyed that I didn’t bring my swimming costume. Retirement is marvellous.
Fran's Watford Blog 