Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WAT A GOAL AS DANNY GOES HEAD OVER HEELS
Welbeck’s worldie gives Hornets hope and crushes Canaries
NIGEL PEARSON hailed matchwinner Danny Welbeck for breaking his Watford duck in style and said: “He deserved it.”
It was Welbeck’s first top-flight goal since 2018 and followed a long lay-off after a hamstring injury in October. Pearson said: “For him to score a winner of such quality is great for us as it was a difficult game.”
DANNY WELBECK finally struck gold to give Watford priceless breathing space in the Premier League race to the bottom.
In his 13 previous Premier League appearances this season, the former England striker had yet to score.
But Welbeck’s brilliant winner gave the Hornets only their second victory in 12 games and sent the Canaries to the edge of the abyss.
Welbeck’s superb bicycle kick, from Ismaila Sarr’s deflected cross, was a glorious way to lift the curse and worthy of settling any match.
And now the Canaries could finally be put out of their misery this Saturday lunchtime if they lose at home to West Ham.
It will be sad to see them drop, but at least they went down fighting at Vicarage Road.
And substitute Adam Idah went agonisingly close to snatching a deserved point at the death.
Relieved Welbeck, who has had a rough start to his Watford career after a free transfer from Arsenal 12 months ago, said: “It means a lot to me and means a lot to the whole team.
“It is one that puts us on our way now. We will give it our all from now, but I am speechless after the goal.
“I knew I had caught it, kept my eye on the ball and it went in the top bins. It was a great goal and I am very pleased with that one.”
Six straight defeats or not, no one could accuse the Canaries of sinking to the occasion again.
They had scored only once in their previous nine league games.
But when Onel Hernandez shrugged off Kiko Femenia’s feeble challenge to feed Emi Buendia in the box, the Argentine playmaker broke his duck for the season and left-footed into the far corner after just four minutes.
Within six minutes, however, Watford grabbed an equaliser of risible simplicity, Craig Dawson (below) nodding home Etienne Capoue’s free-kick at the far post.
It was Dawson’s second goal in four games, but the last time he enjoyed such privileged treatment he was probably being shown to his seat by an usherette at the cinema.
And that, folks, is why Norwich are going down.
Not for the first time, they played with verve and spirit going forward – but they leave the back gate open too often.
The Canaries were indebted to keeper Tim Krul for a sharp save to keep out Welbeck’s header from a Will Hughes corner. And the former Gunners striker (below) should have done better from Sarr’s deep cross just before the interval.
But Welbeck’s luck finally turned 10 minutes into the second period with his acrobatic party piece to put the Hornets in front.
It was the first time this season Watford had fallen behind and overturned the deficit.
But the Hornets still had to live on their nerves, Mario Vrancic directing a free header wastefully wide before Idah, stretching to meet Josip Drmic’s flick, only managed to prod wide from four yards out.
Talking about Welbeck, Watford boss Nigel Pearson, said: “It’s been frustrating for him to come with a big reputation and to be injured so early. He’s been patient – his desire to get back has been really big.”
He added: “I feel for Norwich because they played pretty well and we’ve had to fight very hard.”