WATFORD CARDIFF JAV THAT! Gracia ‘happy every day’ as he finally breaks new-deal jinx
JAVI GRACIA was finally able to celebrate signing that three-anda-half-year deal as his Watford grabbed a first win in seven attempts.
The poor Hornets boss must have wondered if he had cursed his reign by putting pen to paper on a contract extension last month – after seeing his side hit a miserable run of form and luck.
But three crackers from Gerard Deulofeu, Jose Holebas and Domingos Quina laid those doubts to rest yesterday.
The hosts’ joy did very nearly turn to misery when two late Cardiff strikes in as many minutes threatened to deliver an improbable comeback.
But wobbling Watford clung on and their Spanish coach admitted to mixed feelings of relief and pride.
Gracia said: “I’m so pleased because we have played very well in recent weeks without getting the results.
“I was not too worried at the end, even if we suffered a bit by letting them back i nto the game. We deserved this.
“This is my first win since my new contract? I didn’t know this.
“I’m always happy every day here – with my club and players.”
Anything less than victory would have been a total travesty on the
Hornets.
Neil Warnock
(right) hailed the spirit of his Bluebirds, but was quick to moan about rookie ref Andrew Madley.
Warnock said: “I cannot understand why we had Andre Marriner as the fourth official, and a referee who has not refereed a Premier League game all season.
“Unless it’s because we are Cardiff and they say we can have a Sunday trainee?”
The reality i s that Watford dominated the contest for 70 minutes – mainly thanks to a huge performance from their ex-barcelona and Everton star Deulofeu.
He was involved in all three goals, having sparked the rout with an absolute peach in the 16th minute.
Deulofeu’s sublime shimmy of the hips cut the Cardiff defence in half before he calmly stroked past Neil Etheridge.
The Hornets nailed a crucial second in the 56th minute. Deulofeu was the creator this time, feeding Holebas who curled in a left-footer.
Quina added his own contender for goal of the day on 68 minutes.
Game over... until Junior Hoilett’s 20-yard screamer breathed life into Cardiff limbs on 80 minutes.
When sub Bobby Reid added a second, Gracia must have thought the jinx was striking again.
Not this time. ■ This was Watford’s first win in seven Premier League games (D2 L4), since beating Huddersfield 3-0 in October. ■ Cardiff scored twice in an away Prem game for the first time this term. March 2014 vs West Brom (3-3) was last time.