Captain fantastic is back
DEENEY RUNS SHOW
VLADIMIR IVIC hailed Watford talisman Troy Deeney, who gave a striking masterclass on his first start of the season.
The Hornets’ captain played a huge part in lifting his promotion- chasing team to within two points of the leaders.
After Domingos Quina gave the Hornets an early lead, Deeney set up Ismaila Sarr, who was then tripped in the area with the skipper smashing home the penalty.
And after Tom Barkhuizen’s deflected goal for
Preston, Deeney then created for Nathaniel Chalobah’s first league goal in more than five years before sub Joao Pedro sealed the rout.
Hornets boss Ivic said: “We know about Troy’s quality and what he means to the team – he is a very important player.
“He is a guy who has come off a long period injured but he did his job today on a first start. We will manage him, because we want him in the team.
“He is a leader, and has that thing inside and can give advice. Today he scored a goal and had an assist for the penalty and then another goal. Today, it was one of the best team performances since I have been here. And our target is to play even better.
“Whatever happens to the other teams, we have to think about our next game.”
Watford may have been missing three unnamed first- team squad players having tested positive for Covid-19 – but they made light of that.
Preston’s absentees – three banned and eight in the treatment room – were far more keenly felt.
Midfielder Quina put the home side ahead after just nine minutes from Sarr’s cross. And there was still time for Declan Rudd to pull off a superb stop to deny Sarr before the break.
Watford doubled the lead after 52 minutes.
Deeney chested the ball into the path of Sarr who was tripped by Jordan Storey. The captain took responsibility and scored.
Preston soon halved the deficit as Barkhuizen’s effort took a big deflection past Ben Foster. But Chalobah, with Deeney again involved, finished neatly.
And after 74 minutes Preston’s plight worsened as Craig Cathcart flicked on James Garner’s corner for Pedro to finish at the far post. Preston boss Alex Neil said: “It was always going to be a difficult game against a quality side just down from the Premier League – and with who we have missing just now even more so.
“We gave away soft goals. It was too easy for them.” WATFORD: Foster 7; Ngakia 6, Cathcart 6 (Sierralta 88), Kabasele 6, Femenia 7 (Femenia 71st, 6); Chalobah 7, Garner 6 (Phillips 88), Quina 7; Sarr 7, Deeney 8 (Perica 7, 6), Gray 5 (Pedro 30, 7). Unused Subs: Bachmann, Troost- Ekong, Navarro, Crichlow.
PRESTON: Rudd 7; Storey 6, Bauer 6, Davies 6 ( Huntington 82); Barkhuizen 6, Pearson 6 (Ledson 65, 6), Johnson 6 (Bayliss 78), Potts 6, Sinclair 6; Maguire 6, Riis 6 (Stockley 78). Unused subs: Ripley, Coulton, Baxter, O’Reilly, Holland-Wilkinson.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Troy Deeney – On a first start of the season Watford’s talismanic captain was heavily involved.
REFEREE: Jarred Gillett 7.