Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Forget those Owls of agony
MUNOZ FOCUSING ON THE PRESENT, NOT THE PAST
Watford v Sheff Wed 3pm XISCO MUNOZ will challenge Watford to lay the ghosts of title heartbreak as they begin the last leg of their promotion charge today.
The Hornets face relegationthreatened Sheffield Wednesday after banking nine wins from their last 10 games and boasting the most goals scored – and most points collected – at home by any team across all four divisions this season.
But there are only two survivors in Watford’s squad – Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart – from the fateful day six years ago when they were pegged back by the Owls in the 91st minute on the last day of term at Vicarage Road.
Atdhe Nuhiu’s undeserved equaliser robbed Watford of the Championship title and the dropped points handed the trophy to promotion rivals Bournemouth instead.
The prevailing mood of disbelief was only lifted when skipper Deeney grabbed master of ceremonies Jon Marks’ microphone and burst into song after the post-match presentation party had fallen flat.
Head coach Munoz
(right) is focusing only on his side’s unfinished business in the present, and will not be using seven players away on international duty as an excuse for Watford being sidetracked from their run.
Several Championship managers, including Wayne Rooney at Derby, have hit out at the schedule of a full EFL programme on Good Friday, barely 36 hours after players return from national duty.
But Munoz said: “When you are in big clubs you know about this. The players are in the national teams and we need to have big respect for these games.
“This is the case for everyone. All the teams in our league have players in national teams and everyone has the same time between the games. For us it’s nothing special.
“I am only thinking about my team. We have our responsibility, our game, our focus.
“We are thinking about our game and the most important thing is that we win and we take another three points.”
Former England midfielder Tom Cleverley will be back in the Watford squad after recovering from a knee injury, but flying winger Ismaila Sarr faces a late fitness check on a hamstring strain and may be kept in reserve for Bank Holiday Monday’s trip to Middlesbrough.