Point Deduction Worries for the Hornets

The Hornets and former owner Laurence Bassini face charges of misconduct from the Football League over transfer payments made in 2011. If the allegations over transfers to a finance company prove true, the club violated several league rules and faces possible monetary and points sanctions.

Sheffield Wednesday 1-4 Watford 9-3-7 30 pts

The Hornets bulldozed over cellar-dwellers Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough today in a match that was, with the exception of about one minute spread over two runs, all Watford.

A defensive error gave the Owls an early lead when Michail Antonio scored in the third minute, but they could not gain any momentum and a Fernando Forestieri goal off a Daniel Pudil throw-in served to equalize in minute 18.

Wednesday's only other chance came when Jay Bothroyd was taken down by Pudil who, though arguably deserving of a red card, was only shown a yellow. Acting captain Manuel Almunia saved Chris Lines' penalty kick to hold the draw into the second half.

Alex Geijo (pronounced Hey-Ho) nicked his first Watford goal to put the side ahead 2-1 at minute 67. The floodgates opened with a Troy Deeney goal in the 75th minute and a blistering strike from 25 yards out - a goal-of-the-year candidate - on a bouncing ball smashed by Mark Yeates gave Watford their fourth.

The Hornets finish November unbeaten and return to Vicarage Road Saturday, December 1 when they host Barnsley with a 9:00 am kickoff (St. Louis time).

Blackpool 2-2 Watford 8-3-7 27 pts

Goals from Ikechi Anya and Troy Deeney salvaged Watford's fifth consecutive undefeated match leaving Watford three points off the playoff zone.

An early counter-attack by the Hornets saw Anya pick up Matej Vydra's feed and put Watford ahead in the fourth minute of the match.

Watford continued to dominate the home squad as a Mark Yeates free kick lead to Deeney's goal from six yards out to double the lead.

Ex-Hornet loanee Kevin Phillips made it a match in minute 52 from in front of the net as the Watford defense collapsed momentarily. Blackpool continued to press a sluggish second half Hornet's squad and took advantage of five minutes of added time to equalize with an Isaiah Osbourne goal and save a point in the standings.

The Hornets look to continue their away run Tuesday, November 27 at Sheffield Wednesday. Kick-off is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Watford 2-1 Wolverhampton 8-2-7 26 pts.

Someday the Hornets will play in a match that finishes with 22 men on the pitch. This was not that day.

Christophe Berra hit the showers 25 minutes in after a hard challenge on Troy Deeney and Watford controlled the match from then on despite a game Wolves side playing 3-4-2 and equalizing the match.

A Fernando Forestieri run ended with Nathaniel Chalobah netting his own rebound in the 35th minute to put Watford ahead going into half time, but a Bakary Sako free kick from about 45 yards out caught Manuel Almunia out and tied the match.

A Deeney header from a Mark Yeates cross in the 68th minute recaptured the lead and the three points for Watford.

The squad is within two points of the playoff zone as they hit the road next Saturday, November 24 and head to Blackpool. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Leeds United 1-6(!) Watford 7-2-7 23 pts.

The Hornets took advantage of a Neil Warnock tactical error and ten minutes of added time to put some serious hurt on United and gain five goals in the goal difference column.

Matej Vydra put the visitors ahead in the 28th minute with a break-away and Watford controlled the first half to the point a Jason Pearce challenge on Almen Abdi earned him a trip to the showers. Warnock made a substitution to compensate and two more at the half, exhausting his substitution options.

This left him up a creek when midfielder Rodolph Austin broke his leg in two places on the first play of the second half and Leeds had to manage the rest of the match with nine players.

It took Abdi until the hour mark to double the lead with a 20-yard shot, but then the goal spigot opened. A Mark Yeates free kick from 25 yards out found its way into the net at minute 75, but a Joel Ekstrand foul on Luke Varney gave Leeds their only goal in the form of a Michael Tonge penalty kick.

Vydra got his second with seven minutes of regulation left and Sean Murray and Troy Deeney scored one apiece in injury time for Watford's highest score in recent memory.

Maybe we'll get to see what an eleven on eleven match looks like Saturday, November 17 as Watford hosts the Wolverhampton Wolves. Kickoff is at 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Watford nil - nil Millwall 6-2-7 20 pts.

A strong Watford side dominated a Millwall squad packed with former Hornets, creating plenty of scoring opportunities and shots on goal, but the sides ended the match the way they started it - scoreless and tied in points in the league table.

Lots of effort, but few results leave Watford mid-table.

Their next shot at points comes Saturday, November 10, live at Leeds vs Leeds United. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Watford 2-1 Leicester City 6-1-7 19 pts.

The Hornets held on through seven (!) minutes of injury time - admittedly, against but ten men - to nab three points at home against The Foxes.


A run by Almen Abdi put Watford ahead at the 14th minute and the Hornets kept control through the half. They doubled thier lead when Fernando Forestieri caught a rebound of Daniel Pudil's shot on Kasper Schmeichel at the 68 minute mark.

The two goal lead lasted only three minutes until David Nugent slipped one past Manuel Almunia. Leicester's counter fizzled once Zak Whitbread was sent off for his second yellow and Watford held through the added time, made even longer by Fitz Hall's injury.

The next match is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 6. Another home match, Watford hosts Millwall with the kickoff (now that the US has synced back up on Daylight Savings Time with the rest of the world) at 1:45 pm St. Louis time.