Gracia’s two-week masterplan bamboozles Wolves entertainers
Javier Gracia is close to signing a new contract as Watford manager, and this victory underlined his growing reputation as a shrewd Premier League tactician.
Gracia discovered the formula to nullify Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves entertainers, and revealed that it had taken two weeks of solid preparation after their damaging home defeat against Bournemouth.
Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have both failed to prevent Wolves from flourishing in their free-flowing 3-4-3 formation this season, with Nuno using two wingbacks to increase their options on the counter-attack.
But Gracia’s decision to play three attacking players behind a lone striker, with Gerard Deulofeu in the middle, ensured that Wolves midfielders Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were constantly hurried out of possession.
Neves, in particular, had a rare off-day, while Moutinho, the vastly experienced Portugal international, was badly at fault for the crucial second Watford goal.
Also, Jonny Otto, the Spain international and Wolves wing-back, was taken off at half-time because he had proved ineffective.
Manager Gracia said: “I’ve seen the Wolves games, and not many teams will win here.
“Having two weeks to think about the Bournemouth result [Watford lost 4-0 at home] was tough – but at least it meant we had the time to prepare for this game. All of the players have been concentrating on this game. This almost feels like four points.”
It took only 58 seconds for Watford to end Wolves’ six-match unbeaten run in a crazy sequence in the first half.
Etienne Capoue gave them the lead from 22 yards before the impressive Roberto Pereyra scored a wonderful second goal.
Wolves were better in the second half, but Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster, booed throughout by the home fans due to his association with bitter rivals West Bromwich Albion, never looked in danger of missing out on a clean sheet.
Nuno, who had been September’s manager of the month, is now ready to make changes to his starting XI after such a curiously flat performance by his players.
Adama Traore, the £18million record signing, and Ivan Cavaleiro are both in line to start next weekend’s game at Brighton.
Conor Coady, the Wolves captain, said: “We have to get better. The Premier League is such a tough division that if you’re off the money even a little bit, teams get after you and punish you.
“We weren’t close enough to players, we weren’t pressing players like we used to. It is about learning as much as possible.
“It needs a reaction. Losing is not something we like, we have to show a reaction next week at Brighton, which is a huge game for us. We’ll listen to the manager this week and get better.”