Amrabat leads Watford surge

NEVER mind the significant cloud hanging over their head, Watford are storming their way up the Premier League table and now lie in seventh place. The outcome of the investigations into allegations that Gino Pozzo’s 2014 takeover involved a forged bank letter could yet have major repercussions, with some even suggesting a points deduction. That prospect alone could quite feasibly sap the momentum from Walter Mazzarri’s side, but there was no evidence of that as they beat Hull. With four wins in their past seven games, they have emerged as the most surprising success story of the season so far. Nordin Amrabat was convincingly their best player against Hull and was involved in the move that led to Michael Dawson’s late owngoal. He said of the off-field uncertainty: ‘We heard about it but everybody in the team supports Mr Pozzo in what he does and what he did the last few years for Watford.’ For Hull, the season is falling apart after six straight defeats.

SUPER STAT: Watford have kept three straight clean sheets for the first time since December. WATFORD (3-5-2): Gomes 6.5; Kaboul 5.5 (Janmaat 72, 6.5min), Prodl 6 (Kabasele 86), Britos 6; Amrabat 7.5 (Zuniga 84), Behrami 6, Pereyra 7, Capoue 5.5, Holebas 5.5; Ighalo 5, Deeney 5. Subs not used: Guedioura, Sinclair, Watson, Pantilimon. Booked: Behrami. Scorer: Dawson og 8. HULL (3-5-2): Marshall 6.5; Maguire 6, Dawson 6, Davies 6.5; Elmohamady 6, Henriksen 5.5 (Bowen 89), Livermore 5.5, Mason 6, Clucas 4.5; Hernandez 5, Keane 5 (Meyler 78). Subs not used: Huddlestone, Maloney, Jakupovic, Weir, Tymon. Man of the match: Nordin Amrabat. Referee: Jon Moss 6.5.