Flores’s Watford standing proud but it’s a tall order for Pulis
WATFORD deserved their standing ovation after dominating the first Premier League game at Vicarage Road since 2007.
The statistics were damning for visitors West Brom, who are still looking for their first goal of the season. Watford had 16 efforts on goal, enjoyed 64 per cent possession and made 416 passes to their opponents to 189.
Tony Pulis will point to the best chance of the game falling to his striker Saido Berahino late on but there was no doubt Watford were the moral victors and have now taken two points against Everton and Albion after being pre-season favourites for relegation.
‘It was like a party,’ said Watford manager Quique Flores. ‘I told the players we need to play with passion and create emotion in the stand.
‘It was difficult to break West Brom down because they defended so deep but I liked the fact my players had confidence to drive forward.’
Watford’s owners, the Pozzo family, have gone against traditional wisdom by regularly changing managers — seven in three years — and filling the side with overseas players. But it seems to be working.
There was so much excitement about their first home game back in the big time that hundreds of fans were still queuing at kick-off due to turnstile issues.
Albion goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was forced into smart saves from Watford captain Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo and full-back Allan Nyom. In fact, nobody typified the home side’s approach than Nyom, a right-back signed from Udinese who spent more time in Albion’s half than his own.
Pulis said: ‘Watford moved the ball quickly and surprised us. We were on the back foot in the first half. Their supporters lifted them, which is what happens with teams who have won promotion.’
Pulis brought on record signing Salomon Rondon for his debut, despite the Venezuelan only arriving from Zenit St Petersburg last week. The £12million forward created a stir with his flashy orange boots and a charge at the Watford defence that ended with a shot over the crossbar.
Interestingly, Spurs target Berahino was pulled out to the right wing to accommodate Rondon’s arrival, though the England Under-21 striker was back up front following Rickie Lambert’s substitution, when he missed a clearcut header from four yards. You could see his disappointment,’ said Pulis. ‘He thought he should have scored.’
Watford have already done enough to suggest they will not be automatic relegation fodder. Instead, it might be Pulis who faces a winter of struggle unless Albion bring in new blood between now and September 1.
‘We are hoping to do a lot of business,’ he said.