Watford 1-0 Norwich City: Ismailia Sarr gets Xisco Munoz off to winning start
- Published
Ismailia Sarr scored the first goal of Xisco Munoz's tenure as Watford boss
Ismaila Sarr got new Watford head coach Xisco Munoz off to the perfect start with a winning goal that ended Championship leaders Norwich City's five-game winning run.
Spaniard Munoz, who was appointed last Sunday after Vladimir Ivic's sacking, was in the Hornets dugout for the first time and watched on as his team produced one of their best displays of the season so far.
Sarr scored the game's only goal six minutes before the break, converting Ken Sema's low cross at the far post.
The Canaries, who are still four points clear at the top, had plenty of possession but lacked any real cutting edge - although Teemu Pukki very nearly found himself clean through late on only to be denied by a magnificent last-ditch tackle by Adam Masina.
By contrast, although Watford saw much less of the ball, Andre Gray and Troy Deeney were a constant handful up front and it was the Hornets who created by far the best chances of the contest.
Gray twice blazed over the bar when he should have scored from inside the six-yard box, the second chance coming after captain Deeney himself had completely miscued with the goal at his mercy.
Tom Cleverley also had a goal-bound shot well blocked, while better decision-making on the break would likely have led to further clear opportunities.
Not until the final 10 minutes did Norwich really pile on any sustained pressure, but Pukki's nearly moment was as close as they went on what proved a frustrating Boxing Day evening for Daniel Farke's men.
Victory for Watford lifts them up to fifth in the table, two points off the automatic promotion places.
Watford head coach Xisco Munoz told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"I am very happy. It's a good moment for us. I want to say congratulations to the players because they gave everything. We played with passion.
"I think our fans will be happy because the players gave their maximum.
"I feel perfect and the guys feel perfect. I have very good players in this team - and very good people.
"All the games are difficult. We need to fight together and play together but enjoy every situation."
Norwich head coach Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"Of course it was a difficult game - Watford are a really difficult side - they were fifth and not happy because they want to finish in the top two - it says a lot about the ambition they have.
"Overall you have to say a game with 65% possession as the away team, and 16 to 7 shots, it's not a game you should lose but we did and I think the reason was we lacked a bit of intensity and sharpness up front.
"If you're not sharp and intense enough in the offence you also lack a bit of awareness and sharpness in terms of defending."