Well earned three points this afternoon

Against an expensively assembled team, who just a few months ago were competing in the Premier League and beating Liverpool 3-0. After Mowatt's brilliant goal, I thought our players were knocking the ball about well. In the second half, Watford came more into the game. However, our three central defenders were rock solid. So much so that Jack Walton didn't have a shot on target to save all game. We dug in and, in my eyes, never looked in danger of conceding in open play. Prior to kick off, we had already lost Jordan & Ben Williams and Cauley Woodrow, before we cruelly lost the ever impressive Callum Brittain at half time. Clarke Oduor took a few minutes to find his feet, but then looked far more comfortable defensively than he did against QPR. Up front, we struggled against their big defenders. But those lads, along with substitute Miller, gave their all and were constantly putting Watford's defence under pressure.
My MOTM was Callum Styles. This lad is true quality, playing at left wing back, right wing back, or in midfield. Wherever the Head Coach selects him, he always looks comfortable.
Today required greater graft, especially considering our mounting injury list. But it's a while since I felt so comfortable defending a 1-0 lead.
Well done today, lads.

 

To keep a team of Watford's calibre at bay and restrict them to precisely ZERO shots on target is a phenomenal effort. Really, really pleased with today.

 

We see the game exactly the same, pretty much how my match repeat would be.

make that report @JLWBigLil perhaps a Freudian slip

 

How right you are. They were a joy to watch.
The defence seems to have sorted themselves out, looked solid, work well together and can actually play.
Styles is going to be a special player, quick, nippy and works well off the ball.
We do need to be more positive in front of goal, but Watford should be worried, they are a poor team with little effort.
I think that once again our fitness and youth showed up well as they were all budding geriatrics that are on their way down.

 

The back 3 look really comfortable together.

keep them playing together, week in week out, week out, week out. I reckon we have the basis of a really good back 6 (inc. Walton in that). It’s so important to develop an understanding in a defence.

 

Thought it was a proper determined Mel Machin performance today. and there is no higher praise than that from me.

 

Similar thoughts here. Defence dealt really well well with what came in, and they earned the clean sheet, which for the 2nd game in a row was as welcome as the 3 points - will really boost confidence.


Similar to QPR on Tuesday, I did feel we benefitted from an opponent that failed to make the most of their opportunities when on top. Watford obviously had longer spells on top than QPR due to having 11 men. If their final balls into the box had been better, we'd have been tested far more, but at the same time there's nowt to say we wouldn't have stood up. Perhaps my point is the new gaffer's system looks like it will allow more chances against us, in order to give us more scope at the other end, so the quality of defending will need to remain high.

Styles was my man of the match by some distance too. He looks more than comfortable wherever he plays, which increasingly makes me think we should try him as one of the front three at some point.

 

Solid performance today that coped with a lot of pressure and thankfully didn't have Troy Deeney playing. Craig Cathcart in defence. Tom Cleverley as captain who's got lots of experience at the top level and came through at one of the biggest clubs in the world and he got replaced by someone who cost eight million pounds. Backed by a keeper with England caps who holds the record for most saves by any keeper in premier league history.

We did them.

 

It was a great fighting performance from all the lads. I particularly enjoyed Chaplin’s performance who gave everything for the team both in attack and defence. Can’t fault any of them although I did think Styles struggled with Sarr, although that’s no criticism of the lad whatsoever having to play out of position against a £40m rated winger.

 

I really quite enjoyed that display, completely different to the last few games, but a traditional battling ‘you’re just not going to beat us today’ performance.

My only disappointment was Schmidt.

Thought Styles, Helik and Mowatt were excellent. And well done to the psychic groundsman who knew just where to put that lump of concrete to help the ball bounce over our bar!

 

Well said mate. My only concern is how Watford didn't manage a shot on target in the 90 minutes though, they certainly had at least a couple of chances they should have put away. That said we were due a bit of luck at the back though after some of the goals we have conceded recently, especially the Bristol City game.

Special mention to Callum Styles yesterday. Does anyone know what his best position is? He looks seriously good wherever he's being asked to play. It's players like him showing a great amount of flexibility that we need to take us forward as a football club. He really doesn't look out of place in any position and he's played in three different positions in the last 2 games. Well done Callum

 

Except we managed it with just three centre backs, instead of the mandatory Machin five. If he was our manager now, he'd already be working on a plan for Callum Styles to play in stilts so he could be converted into a central defender. Along with Brittain, Oduor and Woodrow.

 

Don’t be daft Cauley would be a marauding left back by Christmas.

 

Its the first time Ive watched on ifollow for some games and i was impressed with what i saw in comparison to whats gone before. Really like the quicker transition from defence to attack. Thought the defence looked solid, particularly Helik. Upfront we need to be a bit more positivity with running at defences. The best way for a shorty to get the better of huge centre halves is on the ground going at them at pace. Its going to be a some you win, some you lose situation, but once you've gone past the man, space and options should open up as long as other forwards have moved forward. My one gripe was how we didnt counter that ball that became really predictable from the Watford back left to diagnal right forward. Even i could see when it was coming and thats when the marker should get tight to the wide player to challenge receiving the pass.

 

I imagine that had Kieffer Moore been playing during the Machin era, Mel would have spoffed in his pants at the thought of him being used as an emergency centre back. Didn't he stick Rammell at centre half once after someone had been sent off?

 

Can't remember that one MT, but he once put Lee Butler up front

 

Watford fans are criticising their own for saying barnsley were poor. They are saying that's why we handed it to them because of their poor attitude. They seem a really decent bunch Watford fans to be fair who don't like the arrogance of their players

 

Take a look at what they said. First up with Smudger, Watch the video its a must.

http://www.wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/barnsley-v-watford-fc-31-10-2020.57709/

 

Great win, dug in and stuck to the task after taking the lead, limiting Watford’s chances and actually having a couple more decent chances ourselves.

 

They weren’t confident was they, in their poll we was second favourite to win by 2 goals.