SCHMEI OH SCHMEI
It’s grasper Kasper who hands Silva a gift to get Hornets back on glory trail
MARCO SILVA restored Watford’s season to factory settings like a New Year detox sorts out too many tins of Quality Street.
Boss Silva had his head turned like the reels on a fruit machine when Everton came calling in the autumn, and no sooner had the Hornets applied golden handcuffs than his team went off the boil.
But after a deserved, gutsy win in Vicarage Road thriller, Silva emerged from a horrid run of one point from five games and shrugged: “Nothing has changed.”
In Watford’s hour of need, when Silva rattled the collection tin Leicester gave generously, particularly keeper Kasper Schmeichel. The big Dane tried to grab the ball on his goal-line, but only succeeded in finger-tipping it into his own net. A grateful Silva insisted: “I know what is my idea, what is my job and how we want to play.
“When we started the season well, and people were talking about the Europa League, I knew our reality as a club, and I knew the reality was the same when we lost some games.
“That performance showed very good character, but it is the same as we have shown since the first moments.
“In the last few games we had not been at our best, but the three most important things stay the same: commitment, attitude and spirit.
“And when went 1-0 down, we showed all of those things.”
Leicester, who were comfortable for 40 minutes, in the end, got what they deserved – nothing.
Of the 30 goals they have conceded this season, 13 have come from set-pieces. Go figure – Foxes never quit, they just switch off.
Jamie Vardy, clean through, had already wasted a glorious chance before the unmarked Riyad Mahrez headed Leicester in front from Marc Albrighton’s cross eight minutes before the break.
But instead of putting Watford – shorn of confidence and ravaged by injuries and suspensions – to bed, Leicester tucked them in and gave them a comfort blanket.
They didn’t heed the warning of Richarlison’s ghastly miss after rounding Schmeichel and the Hornets were level within eight minutes.
The elusive Brazilian’s volley from Tom Cleverley’s corner was blocked but Mali centre-back Molla Wague, making his first start for the home side, smuggled the rebound beyond Schmeichel.
The winner was untidier than the discarded wrapping paper littering your living room two days ago.
Cleverley’s deep free-kick sailed way beyond the far post, but Abdoulaye Doucoure managed to volley it back along the goal-line and Schmeichel, straining to reach it, applied the crucial touch.
All referee Chris Kavanagh wanted for Christmas was a train set and a whistle – but all he got was a watch which beeps when the ball crosses the line. It was a good job for Watford that football’s leap into the technological age worked in their favour – and even more so that goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made stupendous saves, in a matter of seconds, to deny Wes Morgan and sub Leonardo Ulloa.
“All the people tried to put the fault on him because of one defeat in our last match at Brighton,” said Silva.
“But we win together, we lose together, and with Gomes it’s always the same.
“As a man and as a professional he is a leader in our dressing room.”