Wagner salutes ‘extraordinary’ demolition of 10-man Watford
David Wagner hailed an “extraordinary” performance as Huddersfield Town banished their away-day blues in an incident-packed game at Watford.
After seven successive blanks on their league travels, Huddersfield ended a run of 648 minutes without scoring since the opening day of the season with their first four-goal haul in the top flight since 1956.
The margin of victory was every bit as emphatic as it looked as Huddersfield lived up to their Terriers nickname by snapping at Watford’s heels from the first whistle.
“To be so focused and strong mentally that you believe in yourself and what you’re doing even though we had such a bad away run, this is something extraordinary and makes me even more proud,” said Wagner, the Huddersfield manager.
“This is exactly what this team is all about. They know exactly that what happens to us, can happen to a club like us.
“The players looked fresh and we were very intense – we looked fast and it was good that we had a lot of fresh legs on the grass. I was impressed with what the players showed, even if I wasn’t surprised because I think we performed on a comparable level against Brighton at home a week ago. But to do it away at Watford – they’re a top team. We met them in a good situation for us because of the suspension and injury problems they have.”
Elias Kachunga’s opener for Huddersfield was a highly controversial effort as referee Michael Oliver appeared to allow two offsides following Aaron Mooy’s hook back into the danger area.
Kachunga then departed to a serious injury to his left knee before his replacement, Tom Ince, crossed for Mooy to make it 2-0 in the 23rd minute.
There were only 29 minutes gone when Watford captain Troy Deeney was sent off for a tackle from behind on Collin Quaner. The offence looked like it should have been a booking rather than a straight red.
Oliver had been in charge when Deeney received a retrospective threematch ban for gouging Stoke’s Joe Allen and he did not appear to want to give the Watford captain a second chance this time.
Watford manager Marco Silva refused to criticise the officials, however. “It’s not only the referee, it’s the officials, but I don’t want to talk about them – nothing,” he said. “Of course I have my opinion, but I don’t want to talk about it at the moment.”
Watford, who had Tom Cleverley and Marvin Zeegelaar suspended for this game – have now had four players sent off this season, more than any other team in the Premier League.
But Silva insists there aren’t disciplinary problems with his players. “No, I am sure about that. Until now you can talk about the red card for Richarlison, but as for the others, no,” he said.
But he revealed Deeney had been to see Oliver about his red card. “Troy went to see the referee and he [Oliver] said ‘I gave you the red card not because of the tackle, but the speed [of it]’,” he said.
Of the ‘offside’ first goal, Silva added: “It’s not my job to talk about things I cannot control. My job is to do my best and keep working hard because the Premier League is not easy.”
Huddersfield kept their foot on the gas after the break, and Laurent Depoitre drilled in their third goal.
Huddersfield were reduced to 10 men in the 62nd minute when Jonathan Hogg, the former Watford midfielder, was sent off for a second bookable offence for a kick on Richarlison.
Watford took advantage by pulling one back six minutes later when Abdoulaye Doucoure rifled home an unstoppable shot from 30 yards. But Huddersfield made sure when Mooy drove home a penalty in the 89th minute after Doucoure pushed Depoitre from behind.