I hate midday kick-offs, especially on a Sunday. Having been out later than expected on Saturday evening, I had to drag myself out of bed and have a strong coffee to wake me up before I left for the game. Stupidly, I hadn’t packed my bag on Saturday and couldn’t find where I had left it, which delayed my departure. When I arrived at the tube station, a train was just pulling out and the wait for the next one was longer than usual which meant that, when I arrived at Euston, I expected to have missed the train that I planned to get. Nonetheless, I ran up the escalators and arrived at the platform to find that the train was running a couple of minutes late, so I was able to board and grab a seat. That was a relief as the next train wasn’t for another half hour.
I headed for the West Herts more in hope than expectation and was delighted to find that it was open. Apparently, it always opens at 10am on a Sunday. It was a lovely morning, and we were soon sitting in the sun with a pint. They have new caterers there now, who know how to make a breakfast roll, so I had a lovely bacon roll which set me up nicely for the afternoon.
When I arrived inside the Rookery, I was delighted to see that my usual programme seller, Lynda, was back for the first time this season. It never feels right buying a programme from anyone else.
Team news was that Ismaël had made three changes from the Stoke game. Asprilla came in for Morris as Sema went to left back. Koné and Kayembe came into the midfield in place of Louza and Livermore. Louza was dropped to the bench as a disciplinary measure after being late for training in the week. Ismaël is clearly taking no nonsense. So, the starting XI was Bachmann; Sema, Hoedt, Porteous, Andrews; Koné, Kayembe, Dele-Bashiru; Martins, Bayo, Asprilla.
Prior to kick-off there was tribute payed to Andy Rankin who passed away during the week. I was surprised to hear that he made his last appearance in 1979, the year I started attending matches as my memory was of watching him for far longer than that. He had been my first goalkeeping hero and I was very sad to hear of his passing. The minute’s applause was heartfelt.
Blackburn started the brighter of the two teams, but the Hornets had the first chance of the game as Martins had a shot from the edge of the box that was deflected for a corner, which came to nothing. The next chance came from a subsequent corner, Asprilla’s delivery was met by Hoedt whose header was wide of the target. At this point, there was an enthusiastic round of applause for new boy, Mileta Rajović, as he warmed up on the sideline. The visitors drew the first save of the game as Szmodics latched on to a through ball and unleashed a shot, but it was straight at Bachmann who made the block. The Hornets then had a great chance to take the lead as Dele-Bashiru did well to break into the box before finding Martins whose shot was saved by the Blackburn keeper, Pears. The first booking of the game went to Hoedt for a foul on Hedges. Those around me in the Rookery were incensed, but he had been a late in the tackle so had flown in a little recklessly and the card was no surprise. The next chance for the Hornets came after some good work from Bayo to win the ball in midfield, he released Asprilla, but the cross was blocked. Asprilla then had another chance from the right, but his shot was deflected to the keeper. The Hornets should have taken the lead just before the half hour, Martins found Koné whose shot was blocked, Kayembe played the ball back to Martins who unleashed a tremendous shot that cannoned off the crossbar. On 30 minutes the big screen showed a photo of Matt Sillitoe, the PA announcer at Ewood Park, who has passed away at the age of 30. All sides of the ground joined in the minute’s applause. The visitors created the next chance as a cross from Rankin-Costello flew just over the head of Szmodics and Andrews put the ball out. From the resultant corner, Bayo failed to clear the ball and Leonard just failed to connect with the cross at the far post. Pears then impressed clearing a ball over the top from the Hornets with a header. The Hornets should have done better with a free kick in a dangerous position, but Martin curled the ball disappointingly wide. Some great interplay from the Hornets finished with Asprilla being crowded out, the ball dropped to Dele-Bahiru in the box, but the shot was blocked by Hyam. Asprilla then exchanged passes with Martins but was stopped by a tackle in the box, so we went into the break goalless.
It had been a decent half with the Hornets dominating play, but every shot found a Blackburn player (or the crossbar) in the way. The shot off the crossbar from Martins was the highlight and he was unlucky not to find the net.
At half time, Danny Webber and Neil Cox were at the side of the pitch remembering Jimmy Davis as it is 20 years since his passing. Gangster’s Paradise was played over the tannoy as this was the song that Jimmy had sung for his initiation. Danny was very emotional talking about his friend. Jimmy is remembered for his bubbly personality and cheeky smile as much as for his great footballing talent. Danny talked about what a hard worker he was, wanting everything that he did to be perfect. This even extended to the song, which he had practised until it was perfect. He was enjoying his performance so much that he had to be carried off the stage as he wouldn’t stop singing. Jimmy had been a very popular member of the team and is greatly missed by all who knew him.
Ismaël made a change at the break bringing Louza on in place of Koné, who had another disappointing game. The Hornets created the first chance of the second half with a curling shot from Martins that was just wide of the target. The next chance came as a cross from Sema was headed wide by Bayo. The Hornets threatened again as ormnets Kayembe played the ball out to Martins and Pears had to be alert to gather the cross. Then Asprilla played a cross-field ball to Martins whose shot was deflected over the bar. Ismaël made a double substitution just before the hour as Dele-Bashiru made way for Chakvetadze and Rajović made his debut in place of Bayo. The new boy, who is a big lad, was immediately involved challenging at a corner. Blackburn then made a couple of subs as Dolan and Leonard were replaced by Gallagher and Moran. The first real chance of the half for the visitors came as Hedges broke forward before finding Moran whose low shot was saved by Bachmann. The Hornets threatened again as a great ball found Rajović in the box, but he could only force a deflection off a defender to win a corner. There were then two shouts for a penalty as first the corner appeared to drop onto a Blackburn arm, then a cross from Chakvetadze hit Hyam on the arm. The referee was unmoved by the appeals.
The Hornets continued to attack as Louza played a lovely ball for Andrews whose progress was stopped by a foul by Hyam, who was booked for his trouble. It was a shame as it had been a good move. The next chance for the Hornets came from a free kick and was a move straight off the training ground. Louza played a short ball to Chakvetadze who played a return pass, but Louza’s shot cleared the bar. The next chance came as Louza played a through ball to Rajović, but the shot was wide of the near post. Louza and Andrews were then both booked for fouls. The Hornets continued to search for the opener as Louza crossed for Rajović, but a defender got his head to the ball, the Dane then had the ball at his feet but could only manage a soft effort that was more like a pass to the keeper. Sadly, as at Stoke, Watford went behind against the run of play. Travis broke forward and was stopped by a great tackle from Porteous, but the ball dropped to Hedges who skipped past Hoedt and beat Bachmann at the near post. It was very disappointing. At this point Ismaël brought Ince on for his home debut in place of Asprilla. Rankin-Costello was then booked after going down injured and being told to leave the pitch, he did so but came back on again to walk to the physios on the sideline prompting the referee to brandish a card. He didn’t return to the field as he was replaced by Wharton.
The Hornets looked to hit back as Porteous played the ball out to Ince, but the cross was straight to Pears. Ince then played a lovely ball to Andrews who pulled the ball back for Rajović, who didn’t react quickly enough so was crowded out by defenders. That was the last contribution from Andrews who was replaced by Ngakia. He walked back to the dugout to warm applause from the Vicarage Road faithful. The Hornets had another great chance to draw level. Ince crossed for Louza at the far post, he touched the ball back to Martins whose shot was pushed onto the post by Pears. It was a terrific strike that deserved more. There was five minutes of added time and Sema really should have done better with a strike from outside the box that was high and wide. It was wasteful as Louza pointed out to him, gesturing that he had been in a better position. There was one last substitute for the visitors as Garrett came on in place of Travis. The Hornets had one last chance to salvage a point as a lovely cross was headed down by Rajović to Louza, but he was unable to fashion a shot and the ball was cleared so, for the second week running, the Hornets fell to a narrow, undeserved defeat. The final whistle was greeted with some loud boos, which was very harsh.
The post-match opinion was that we had been very unlucky to lose that game. We will play worse than that and win. The positives were that the new striker looks like a number 9. He got into some great positions and will certainly get some goals for us this season. Tom Ince impressed looking much more assured than he had at Stoke. Andrews had yet another a good game. Martins was in the middle of everything and should have had a couple of goals. The first half shot that hit the crossbar and the save in the second that could have gone anywhere but hit the post were the pick of his efforts. I certainly thought that the team didn’t deserve to be booed at the final whistle. They had completely dominated the game and could call themselves unlucky. Disappointed as we all were, we applauded the effort. This was a total contrast to the performances last season that lacked both cohesion and spirit. We are creating plenty of chances, but luck has not been on our side. That has to change one of these days. Let us hope it is sooner rather than later.
Fran's Watford Blog 