Hornets find hero’s spirit
ON the day Watford honoured the memory of the club’s greatest-ever manager, Hornets fans are starting to like what they see from the hot-seat’s latest incumbent.
Four years on from Graham Taylor’s death, the 20th boss to have a go since the Vicarage Road great left his position in 2001 is already impressing.
Presented with a daunting triple-header of Norwich City, Swansea City and Manchester United, Xisco Munoz certainly got a baptism of fire.
But after beating the leaders his side made light work of Huddersfield to continue their assault on the Championship’s top two.
Second-half goals from Tom Cleverley and Joao Pedro did the job and new boss Xisco said: “It is an important day for Watford.
“His story is his story – he is in the memory of everyone and if you can give three points to the fans on this day, then fantastic.
“We had the control of the game and I am so happy with them because since I came they have given me everything. We have the passion. We have 24 players ready to play and that is excellent for us.”
Joao Pedro’s snapshot forced Ryan Schofield into action 10 minutes in, before Troy Deeney nearly broke Juninho Bacuna in two and was rightly booked.
It was one talking point in a tetchy first half void of big chances and quality.
The Terriers, who won the corresponding fixture 2-0 on December 19, needed their goalkeeper at full-stretch to keep Ismaila Sarr at bay but a goal before the break wouldn’t have been fitting.
For all his hard work, Schofield was left with egg on his face when the breakthrough eventually arrived.
Alex Vallejo’s ball back to the goalkeeper was simple, but he froze for a split second.
That allowed Cleverley in and before he could recover it was too late – a bad error from the youngster but the experienced midfielder showed no mercy.
Watford have managed just six goals in their last eight games and then achieved a rare thing soon after – scoring more than once in a game.
Kiko Femenia rampaged down the right before the ball eventually fell to Joao Pedro who couldn’t miss.
Terriers boss Carlos Corberan said: “We gave Watford a goal and it was not possible for us from there.”
WATFORD: Bachmann 6, Femenía 8, Troost-ekong 7, Sierralta 7, Masina 8, Sarr 7, Chalobah 6 (Hughes 67, 7), Cleverley 7 (Garner 80), Sema 7 (Zinckernagel 80), João Pedro 7, Deeney 6 (Gray 67, 6). Unused subs: Ngakia, Wilmot, Cathcart, Navarro, Parkes. HUDDERSFIELD: Schofield 5, Ávila 6, Edmonds-green 6, Vallejo 7 (Ward 76), Crichlow 6, Toffolo 6, O’brien 7; Aarons 6 (Jones 61, 6), Bacuna 6, Rowe 6 (High 68, 7), Campbell 6. Unused subs: Pereira, Olagunju, Duhaney, Brown, Austerfield, Phillips MAN OF THE MATCH: Kiko Femenía. The Spaniard’s lung-busting run created the second goal and sealed the points. REFEREE: Michael Salisbury 7.