Sarr double delight for Munoz
XISCO Munoz saluted Ismaila Sarr after his two goals in as many minutes condemned Reading to defeat on Friday night.
Senegal forward Sarr curled home a 12th-minute opener and then smashed in a rising second minutes later to wrap up the win for Watford.
“I am very happy with Sarr, he put in a very good performance. But I want to say that for all the players,” said boss Munoz.
“We had a very good team in front of us. I think the team was mature. It is three points more and we go on to the next game.
“I am very happy because I think all of our fans will be very happy with our players, who are giving 100 per cent for the team. We are working like a team.”
The game’s first chance, after two minutes of silence to mark the passing of Prince Philip, was created by Watford. Sarr chested down a clearance from goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and set up Joao Pedro for a low drive across goal that went just wide.
Sarr decided to have a go himself six minutes later and was rewarded with a high-quality opener. The winger was involved in hustling Reading out of possession, but still had plenty to do when he accepted Kiko Femenia’s pass on the right of the box. The Senegal star cut inside at pace, before planting a curling left-footed effort beyond keeper Rafael Cabral.
Sarr doubled the lead 77 seconds later after a combination of Nathaniel Chalobah and Philip Zinckernagel had dispossessed Lewis Gibson. The angle was tight for the 23-yearold, but his rising drive was too rapid for Cabral.
George Puscas passed up a great opportunity to halve the deficit when he hit a post rather than a gaping net from close range. Michael Olise ran at the Watford defence and slipped Yakou Meite in on the right, but somehow his team-mate could not finish.
Sarr soon had the ball in the net at the other end, but a raised flag denied him a hattrick before half-time.
There was another let-off for Watford just before the break when William TroostEkong gave the ball straight to Meite, who could only fire into the side-netting.
Lucas Joao replaced Puscas just after the hour mark as the Royals attempted to turn some encouraging approach play into goals.
Watford were forced into a change at the back when Troost-Ekong was hurt, with Craig Cathcart coming on.
Sub Sone Aluko was denied by a smart save by Bachmann as time finally ran out for Reading.
Manager Veljko Paunovic refused to blame Puscas for another contender for miss of the season.
“He was in the same spot against Derby on Monday and he scored,” he said.
“This group is one of the best groups I have worked with. If somebody misses that’s football, nobody is there to blame. It’s the opposite and I will just keep encouraging the work of the team.”