I had booked a ridiculously early train to get to Rotherham. This booking became even more foolish when the Happy Valleys decided that the pre-match meet-up would be in Sheffield as the designated pub in Rotherham didn’t do food. I was surprised to find that I wasn’t the only Watford fan on that train, although I didn’t join the others in starting on the beers at 9am. If I had, I would have been incapable of walking by kick-off. I arrived in Sheffield some time before the pub opened, so went for a wander through the city and arrived outside the pub to find the Happy Valleys waiting for the doors to open. We were soon inside with some rather good beer. The lunch of choice was a delicious steak sandwich which completely validated their decision to meet there.
When the time came, we took the train to Rotherham and the short walk to the ground guided by some very helpful police officers. On arrival at the ground, there was a large queue for the one female steward who insisted on thoroughly searching every woman going in. It was policy, apparently, no matter that many of us were on concession tickets. She didn’t find anything in the time that I was queuing.
Team news was that Ismaël had made four changes from the defeat to Norwich with Sierralta, Asprilla, Kayembe and Pollock in for Livermore, Martins, Chakvetadze and the suspended Porteous. So, the starting XI was Hamer; Lewis, Hoedt, Pollock, Dele-Bashiru; Koné, Kayembe, Sierralta; Sema, Rajović, Asprilla.
The first chance fell to the home side as Odoffin played the ball out to Kioso who broke forward before playing the return pass to his teammate whose shot flew well over the bar. The next chance fell to Rinomhota whose effort flew wide of the target. The first chance for the Hornets came following a corner, the ball came out to Asprilla whose cross was headed wide by Sierralta. The Colombian was in action again soon after when he picked up the ball and went on a surging run forward before passing the ball out to Sema whose cross was blocked. The next chance was a shot from the edge of the box by Asprilla that was deflected over the bar. The home side then won a rather soft free kick that was met by the head of Kioso, but Hamer made the catch. The Watford keeper was in action again soon after punching clear a dangerous shot from distance by Tiéhi. The Hornets had a great chance to take the lead just before the break as Koné broke before releasing Rajović who played the ball out to Asprilla when a shot may have been the better option as Asprilla tried a return pass that was blocked, and the chance was gone. There was a half chance for the Hornets in time added on at the end of the half when Kayembe found Dele-Bashiru on the edge of the box, but his shot flew well over the bar, so we reached half-time goalless after another half with little in the way of attacking play.
At half time, the tannoy announcer mentioned the passing of Martin Patching, who was a native of Rotherham and whose brother is a season ticket holder. May he rest in peace.
The Hornets came out for the second half much earlier than their hosts. The guy behind me suggested starting without them and told me off for being pessimistic when I said that we still wouldn’t score.
The first ten minutes of the second half passed without incident and Ismaël decided to make a change bringing Ince and Chakvetadze on in place of Kayembe and Koné. The Georgian was immediately involved playing a great ball into the box for Rajović, but the keeper was first to it. The Hornets took the lead on 58 minutes, a corner was cleared to Chakvetadze whose shot was blocked, the ball fell to Asprilla on the edge of the box, we were right behind the goal so saw the ball fly into the net. It was another gorgeous goal from the youngster whose celebration was joyous. He was beaming as he punched the air before running back for the restart. The first booking of the game went to Rinomhota for pulling Chakvetadze back as he tried to break again.
The home side had a chance to hit back as Rinomhota broke forward and found Tiéhi whose shot was high and wide. The next booking of the game went to Revan for a foul on Sema. Rotherham then made a triple substitution with Hugill, Clucas and Eaves replacing Wyke, Tiéhi and Nombe. The home side had a decent chance to draw level with a shot from Revan that ran across the front of the goal and just wide of the far post. Ince then went on a quick break and crossed for Rajović whose header cleared the bar. At the other end a header from Hugill flew wide of the target. Hamer was booked for time wasting when taking the resultant goal kick. With 15 minutes remaining, the Hornets made another change bringing Livermore on in place of Sema. The hosts had a great chance to draw level from a free kick that Morrison headed down, Hamer and Pollock combined to make the block before Sierralta put it out. Watford were struggling to clear the resultant corner and the ball bounced around the box until it reached Rathbone whose shot from just outside the area took a deflection and cleared the bar. From the corner Morrison tried another header down, this one bounced over the bar and the Hornets could breathe again. Rotherham made two further changes with Humphreys and Kioso making way for Cafú and Ferguson.
The Hornets had a chance to grab a second when Livermore played a ball over the top for Ince, but the shot was wild and flew high and wide of the near post. Ismaël made two late changes bringing Andrews and Dennis on in place of Asprilla and Lewis. The hosts had a great chance to equalise when Ferguson played a lovely ball for Revan in the box, he pulled it back for Rinomhota whose shot was blocked. From the resultant corner, the delivery from Clucas was headed wide by Odoffin. There was six minutes of added time during which a poor ball from Ince led to the Hornets conceding a throw-in which was met by the head of Odoffin whose effort, thankfully, cleared the bar, so the Hornets left South Yorkshire with all three points.
It was another disappointing performance from the Hornets. Ismaël said post-match that the win was the most important thing and, while it was great to end our losing streak, a bit of entertainment would have been appreciated. What entertainment there was mostly came from Asprilla who scored his second wonder goal in a week. As soon as the ball dropped to him, he (and we) knew that he was going to hit the net. The first 55 minutes had been quiet, and things livened up when Chakvetadze came on, he isn’t afraid to take a defender on and the first booking of the game was a direct result of him being a menace. Ismaël has explained that Andrews is fatigued, so he is limiting his game time, but I think we miss his attacking abilities as well.
So, we are back at Vicarage Road on Saturday for the visit of Huddersfield. Please, lads, give the home fans something to cheer.
Fran's Watford Blog 
They will have a week oh rest and training free of any games so hopefully will be refreshed and looking to put on more of a show !
Maybe Andrews and Dennis will be fit enough to start?