Robbed 'em. Sort of - we defended like titans & the core of our team was brilliant. Weak down the left but that's been the case for a while. No end of superlatives for our CBs and keeper, and probably Buyens and Vetokele too. Wilson played superbly as well.
Defence and goalie were brilliant- Solly back to his best, especially second half. Worried me that we conceded possession so much and were opened up so easily too. If we go up by 1 point or get to playoffs by 1 point then this will be the game where we nicked it. Dont like the way we just concede territory without any real pressure.Seemed to lose every 2nd ball. Watford are a good side, but we just let them play around us. Still, 3 points in the bag, on to Tuesday and Wolves - if we get 3 points then, then maybe we could be looking towards top 2 if we beat Rotherham.
bikey was a tank, solly back to his old best. Moussa lost his head a bit final 10 and we should've killed them off while they were chucking players forward. Grabbed a goal and waited it out. Very decent 3 points when it comes to the end of the season.
I'd give that 3 points squarely to Henderson. What a shotstopper. Didn't look like he was going to concede today.
Watford very good at moving the ball quickly and finding the open man. We did well to limit them to the chances they had. But they'll consider themselves unlucky to leave without anything.
Moussa very frustrating at the end, giving the ball away cheaply when he could've just held on to it. BP smashed his water bottle on the ground twice in frustration. Could see him screaming "FRANK! RUN TO THE F****** CORNER!!"
The fact that we haven't been at the races a couple of times this season, and have still won, despite playing the best teams in the division - I think we have to give Big Bob and the players a lot of credit.
Undefeated, who'd have thought? This season may continue to surprise us all. Considering my expectations before the first game, I'm over the moon.
Difficult watching at times, but a fantastic three points against what looked like a very good side. Slightly frustrating seeing them come at us over and over again, but in the end we had the strength of character to hold on. You can't fault Hendo's performance and the whole team pulled together to get the result. As an aside, I watched the stream here in Dubai but could only get Arabic commentary. The only bits I caught were "Belgica Bob" which was said every few minutes and made me chuckle.
No complaints from me, but I was disappointed to miss the 10th minute as my laptop decided to buffer just at the wrong moment. I'm sure the crowd did their bit. RIP David.
Agree about Wiggins and Solly. Both excellent. Overall they were robbed of at least a point I thought. Gudmudsson (sp?) going off maybe hindered our passing game.
First and foremost a brilliant defensive performance. Henderson and the entire back four were immense. Think we are a couple of players short of being a play off side as (regardless of the result) Watford are clearly a step up from us. But let's give credit for holding out. Think in an ideal world we need another option alongside Igor and an option on the left (Bulot?) to enable Cousins to move inside.
Still think Poyet would have been just what we need in this game. Someone to hold into the ball and not panic. Would love him back on loan. Hope Gudmundsson is back on Tuesday but Wilson can do a job.
I think like Brighton we sat back and invited the pressure, although today we got away with it. I think we made Watford look better than they are the same as we did Brighton. We need to believe that we have that second goal in us and keep going forward. However, all said an done a great result and squeaky bum afternoon.
I think we can outplay these sides, so let's start trying.
Looked great in first 30 mins and then lost our way. Great spirit and defensive display for remaining hour. If we'd have held out for 3 points at Brighton would I be right in thinking we'd be topping the table tonight ?
Watched on TV. Second time I've watched the team on TV, but the first against Brentford I'd say they were still finding their feet.
Yes, maybe fortunate to get three points but good work, and also some much better distribution than that first game, from Henderson, kept us in it.
Looked a bit ponderous at times, slow build up that often went nowhere before we lost possession. Definite lack of pace in the starting XI.
Defence was good, though Wiggins worried me at times. Solly got more into the game in the second half and looked pretty good and Bikey and Ben Haim must be as good a pairing as any in the division.
Apart from one attempted cross, Buyens looked classy. Cousins doesn't look right playing wide left, though it was his ball to Vetokele that helped earn the penalty. Haven't rated Tucudean from what I've seen so far but Vetokele is the perfect all-round striker. Holds the ball up well, wins loose balls works hard, just didn't get a decent chance today.
I'm sure Big Bob didn't instruct Moussa to run into the defence every time he had the ball in the last ten minutes. I was convinced he'd give the ball away for a breakaway goal. Could be a good player if he uses his brain a bit.
Anyway, great to get to see the game on a proper screen, not a dodgy stream. Very happy with the three points.
Tbh stream quality wasn't great so I was struggling to tell who was who sometimes, got so bad I couldn't see the ball at times.
Henderson great today, really kept us in it. Bikey and TBH same old routine stuff for them. Wiggins really really stepped it up, much better from him today, Solly was mustard, especially second half.
Buyens was class as usual first half but seemed to lose it a bit for the second half, seems to happen often for him. Thought Jacko was solid again and think he's proving he should be in the team. Wilson was decent outwide, always finds space, clearly missed JBG though. Cousins was average, definitely a good player but he just can't play out wide. Curious to see Bulot in action.
George did ok, gonna be hard for him to replicate his first half Derby performance but I think there's definitely something about him. Igor did decent, considering how tired he looked forced a lot of fouls out of them and caused them problems, also got us the penalty. Moussa did well when he came on, lost the ball a few times for my liking but done well keeping the ball at his feet. Harriott did well too for however long he was on, really felt like he should have ended the game for us though.
Big big win from an average performance. Roll on Wolves, hopefully we're a bit more possessive against them. Definitely fancy us getting a win.
Solid defensive display but some bad decisions on the last 10 minutes or so prevented us from making the game safe. Watford a decent side but there is no way that game was deserving of 8 yellow cards so very disappointed with the ref. Wilson and Solly on the right is our best combination and Cousins looks much more effective in the middle. Thought Jackson was fairly anonymous today though and Tucudean still doesn't quite seem to be firing on all cylinders.
Fantastic result against a very strong Watford side. We have been leaking goals a bit lately so it was great to get a clean sheet, especially considering we were holding on for 97 minutes!
That ref bottled sending their keeper off for the pen, but then decided to spend the rest of the game trying to steal the show.
Great result. We've beaten another good team. Different display this week, and we showed a resolute side and battled hard. Great to get the 1st clean sheet. Back 4 were superb, and I think we have to give Wiggins the benefit of the doubt. I reckon he's lost a yard of pace from the injuries, yet he still worked hard against a sharp player. Buyens played well and I thought Vetokele was good, especially for someone who only just got back from intl duty on Thursday, you could see he was blowing a bit at the end.
Yes we gave away the ball a bit too cheaply at times, but we look dangerous when certain players get on the ball. I'm still putting faith in Tucudean, just needs to work on his strength a bit. Deeny is strong and gives Watford the direct option. That was something Watford could do that we couldn't.
We all know what the problem will be though and we got a glimpse of it with JBG going off injured. We won't have the squad to cope with too many. But massively happy with everything about this season.
Is this season going to continue to feel so very 'other'?
Clean sheet, three points, very very nice indeed.
If I were a Watford fan I might think 'how come we came away from that with nothing', yet when you look at the particulars, even though one might feel Watford dominated, they would fire over whilst we would win a vital interception, they would wriggle through. but we would block or save, they would pass it round us, but we would double up on people...in the crucial moments they were not unlucky, and we were not lucky. Some of their players did not attack as well as our players defended, and despite hardly working the Watford keeper we won fair and square.
Our penalty looked a clear penalty, and it gave us something to build our performance around which we proceeded to do. But there was an oddness about it. Yoni started well but faded, Solly started fitfully then grew into the match...apart from one or two notable exceptions I thought each of our players was a bit in and out today, but the outs weren't devastating for us, nor the ins dominating.
I don't apologise for saying that Bikey was 'head and shoulders' our best player. if ever there was a player destined for cult/talismanic status it is him. Not going to analyse his game in detail, but I give you, ladies and gentleman, his overhead bicycle attempt in the second half to muse on...fabulous and affirmative.
We dug in, I think we have played better this season, but I thought today there were two teams with a lot of similarity of style and ability playing, however Vydra and Deeley were under par, but Anya was a constant threat, and Wiggy did well to just about cope with him.
Still a distance to travel, still a work in progress, but if we continue to average two points per game while feeling our way into the season, then who knows how far we might go?
A couple of decent loans now and a couple of quality perms in Jan, and we could really go places. My only gripe.....play Cousins centre midfield. Out of place and wasted at LM
Henderson mom - great performance. Whole back 5 played well, Bikey rock solid and Solly was superb in the second half. Buyens is a cracking player. Agree with comments that Moussa was frustrating - reminds me of Racon in some ways.
Deeney is prem class IMHO. A Burnley, Leicester or (spit) Palace could do much worse than bringing him in.
Good team performance. I felt we just deserved the win and really should have made one of our counterattacks count. Starting to dream of the play-offs....
We need another option up front. The ball doesn't stick and it is causing us problems.
As much as I think there is a player in there somewhere, Tucudean is not the best foil for Igor.
As already said Bikey and TBH were great today as was Henderson. Solly started poorly and improved dramatically after Wilson came on. Best I have seen Wiggins play this season.
The really encouraging thing for me is the fact that whilst we were nowhere near the performances against Wigan and Derby, we still carry a threat. There were times last season where you just sat and knew we could play for 3-4 hours and wouldn't have scored.
Bob needs to make his mind up on the left as well. Jordan is wasted there and I much prefer him in the middle. Hopefully Bulot is the missing link there (where was he today?).
Less said about Harriot's cameo the better.
Still a great 3 points against a vastly improved Watford side.
Well that wasn't for the faint hearted. Some good stuff particularly early on. Defended well, Henderson stood tall when asked. Last season we would have folded, this year we hold up. Impressed
We need another option up front. The ball doesn't stick and it is causing us problems.
As much as I think there is a player in there somewhere, Tucudean is not the best foil for Igor.
As already said Bikey and TBH were great today as was Henderson. Solly started poorly and improved dramatically after Wilson came on. Best I have seen Wiggins play this season.
The really encouraging thing for me is the fact that whilst we were nowhere near the performances against Wigan and Derby, we still carry a threat. There were times last season where you just sat and knew we could play for 3-4 hours and wouldn't have scored.
Bob needs to make his mind up on the left as well. Jordan is wasted there and I much prefer him in the middle. Hopefully Bulot is the missing link there (where was he today?).
Less said about Harriot's cameo the better.
Still a great 3 points against a vastly improved Watford side.
Only caught second half on stream but that was not an easy watch specially with the added time! Luckily the boys on the pitch weren't as nervous as me! Even though we barely touched the ball it was an excellent performance shape wise and off the ball wise. With a bit more quality on the day we would have picked them off with a second. Other than one clear cut chance and some long rangers we pretty much dealt with them.
We would have lost that game in the past and points like that are what turn you into contenders as you can't play well every week and need to grind out results like today. Watford been scoring for fun as well and were second in the league. COYR!!
Comments
Dont like the way we just concede territory without any real pressure.Seemed to lose every 2nd ball. Watford are a good side, but we just let them play around us. Still, 3 points in the bag, on to Tuesday and Wolves - if we get 3 points then, then maybe we could be looking towards top 2 if we beat Rotherham.
We were fanatastic for first 20, then Watford on top, but, we look great on the counter - Love Bikey
Watford very good at moving the ball quickly and finding the open man. We did well to limit them to the chances they had. But they'll consider themselves unlucky to leave without anything.
Moussa very frustrating at the end, giving the ball away cheaply when he could've just held on to it. BP smashed his water bottle on the ground twice in frustration. Could see him screaming "FRANK! RUN TO THE F****** CORNER!!"
The fact that we haven't been at the races a couple of times this season, and have still won, despite playing the best teams in the division - I think we have to give Big Bob and the players a lot of credit.
Undefeated, who'd have thought? This season may continue to surprise us all. Considering my expectations before the first game, I'm over the moon.
The stats will be used to suggest we were lucky to get any points but i think that is incorrect and harsh on us.
Favourite moment was Deeney leaving the foot in on Ben Haim trying to be the "big man" he soon backed down when Bikey turned up.
Slightly frustrating seeing them come at us over and over again, but in the end we had the strength of character to hold on. You can't fault Hendo's performance and the whole team pulled together to get the result.
As an aside, I watched the stream here in Dubai but could only get Arabic commentary. The only bits I caught were "Belgica Bob" which was said every few minutes and made me chuckle.
No complaints from me, but I was disappointed to miss the 10th minute as my laptop decided to buffer just at the wrong moment. I'm sure the crowd did their bit. RIP David.
Well done lads. Onward and upward!
COYR
Still think Poyet would have been just what we need in this game. Someone to hold into the ball and not panic. Would love him back on loan. Hope Gudmundsson is back on Tuesday but Wilson can do a job.
I think we can outplay these sides, so let's start trying.
Yes, maybe fortunate to get three points but good work, and also some much better distribution than that first game, from Henderson, kept us in it.
Looked a bit ponderous at times, slow build up that often went nowhere before we lost possession. Definite lack of pace in the starting XI.
Defence was good, though Wiggins worried me at times. Solly got more into the game in the second half and looked pretty good and Bikey and Ben Haim must be as good a pairing as any in the division.
Apart from one attempted cross, Buyens looked classy. Cousins doesn't look right playing wide left, though it was his ball to Vetokele that helped earn the penalty. Haven't rated Tucudean from what I've seen so far but Vetokele is the perfect all-round striker. Holds the ball up well, wins loose balls works hard, just didn't get a decent chance today.
I'm sure Big Bob didn't instruct Moussa to run into the defence every time he had the ball in the last ten minutes. I was convinced he'd give the ball away for a breakaway goal. Could be a good player if he uses his brain a bit.
Anyway, great to get to see the game on a proper screen, not a dodgy stream. Very happy with the three points.
Finally, why did the ground look so empty?
Henderson great today, really kept us in it. Bikey and TBH same old routine stuff for them. Wiggins really really stepped it up, much better from him today, Solly was mustard, especially second half.
Buyens was class as usual first half but seemed to lose it a bit for the second half, seems to happen often for him. Thought Jacko was solid again and think he's proving he should be in the team. Wilson was decent outwide, always finds space, clearly missed JBG though. Cousins was average, definitely a good player but he just can't play out wide. Curious to see Bulot in action.
George did ok, gonna be hard for him to replicate his first half Derby performance but I think there's definitely something about him. Igor did decent, considering how tired he looked forced a lot of fouls out of them and caused them problems, also got us the penalty. Moussa did well when he came on, lost the ball a few times for my liking but done well keeping the ball at his feet. Harriott did well too for however long he was on, really felt like he should have ended the game for us though.
Big big win from an average performance. Roll on Wolves, hopefully we're a bit more possessive against them. Definitely fancy us getting a win.
That ref bottled sending their keeper off for the pen, but then decided to spend the rest of the game trying to steal the show.
Yes we gave away the ball a bit too cheaply at times, but we look dangerous when certain players get on the ball. I'm still putting faith in Tucudean, just needs to work on his strength a bit. Deeny is strong and gives Watford the direct option. That was something Watford could do that we couldn't.
We all know what the problem will be though and we got a glimpse of it with JBG going off injured. We won't have the squad to cope with too many. But massively happy with everything about this season.
Is this season going to continue to feel so very 'other'?
Clean sheet, three points, very very nice indeed.
If I were a Watford fan I might think 'how come we came away from that with nothing', yet when you look at the particulars, even though one might feel Watford dominated, they would fire over whilst we would win a vital interception, they would wriggle through. but we would block or save, they would pass it round us, but we would double up on people...in the crucial moments they were not unlucky, and we were not lucky. Some of their players did not attack as well as our players defended, and despite hardly working the Watford keeper we won fair and square.
Our penalty looked a clear penalty, and it gave us something to build our performance around which we proceeded to do. But there was an oddness about it. Yoni started well but faded, Solly started fitfully then grew into the match...apart from one or two notable exceptions I thought each of our players was a bit in and out today, but the outs weren't devastating for us, nor the ins dominating.
I don't apologise for saying that Bikey was 'head and shoulders' our best player. if ever there was a player destined for cult/talismanic status it is him. Not going to analyse his game in detail, but I give you, ladies and gentleman, his overhead bicycle attempt in the second half to muse on...fabulous and affirmative.
We dug in, I think we have played better this season, but I thought today there were two teams with a lot of similarity of style and ability playing, however Vydra and Deeley were under par, but Anya was a constant threat, and Wiggy did well to just about cope with him.
Still a distance to travel, still a work in progress, but if we continue to average two points per game while feeling our way into the season, then who knows how far we might go?
Deeney is prem class IMHO. A Burnley, Leicester or (spit) Palace could do much worse than bringing him in.
Good team performance. I felt we just deserved the win and really should have made one of our counterattacks count. Starting to dream of the play-offs....
As much as I think there is a player in there somewhere, Tucudean is not the best foil for Igor.
As already said Bikey and TBH were great today as was Henderson. Solly started poorly and improved dramatically after Wilson came on. Best I have seen Wiggins play this season.
The really encouraging thing for me is the fact that whilst we were nowhere near the performances against Wigan and Derby, we still carry a threat. There were times last season where you just sat and knew we could play for 3-4 hours and wouldn't have scored.
Bob needs to make his mind up on the left as well. Jordan is wasted there and I much prefer him in the middle. Hopefully Bulot is the missing link there (where was he today?).
Less said about Harriot's cameo the better.
Still a great 3 points against a vastly improved Watford side.
Missing Tuesday but fancy a drawer from that.
Last season we would have folded, this year we hold up.
Impressed
We would have lost that game in the past and points like that are what turn you into contenders as you can't play well every week and need to grind out results like today. Watford been scoring for fun as well and were second in the league. COYR!!