Watford

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Rex Features

Watford will probably need to win six of their last eight games to make the Championship play-offs. That task seems unlikely so they may have to settle for a top 10 finish - the lack of squad depth is likely to cost them.

Watford have as strong an 11 as most in the Championship and some top players in the form of Giorgi Chakvetadze, Kwadwo Baah, Imran Louza and James Abankwah but dig down a bit and the quality is not quite there.

It's most apparent in the striker department. There aren't many number nines who are going to finish the season with over 15 goals in the league. The traditional number nine position seems to be getting more difficult to master than ever before and Watford have suffered more than most up top recently.

Vakoun Bayo has 10 for the season but four of those came in one match and he hasn't scored since mid-January. When he returned from suspension last month 19-year-old Mamadou Doumbia was chosen ahead of him.

Doumbia is a raw and exciting talent and could be the answer to Watford's nine problem but even he failed to score in the six matches he started although he did win penalties and provide assists.

Watford have started their last two matches without a recognised striker with Bayo on the bench. With several other key players missing the thin squad hasn't got Watford as close to the top six positions as they would have liked.

The injury to Baah has had the greatest impact. Watford don't possess any other player with the raw pace and ability to go past players like him in the final third.

If it's not to be this season Tom Cleverley can still hold his head high. There were relegation predictions at the beginning of the season and the Watford boss had to endure a turbulent period in January where it looked like he'd been replaced, so to get them where he has has been a fine effort.

Watford aren't far off being a credible promotion-chasing side. With three or four quality additions you would fancy their chances next season but that's as long as they keep their own four or five top performers.

With Premier League parachute payments a distant thing of the past that seems unlikely with the Hornets owner, once again, likely to want to balance the books.

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Watford boss Tom Cleverley says his side are playing better than results suggest after a 1-0 defeat at Oxford United left them five points behind the Championship play-off spots.

Cleverley, who became the first Hornets boss since 2019 to reach a year in charge this week, told BBC Three Counties Radio: "I'm getting a little bit sick of disappointment, to be honest, when I don't feel my team are playing as poorly as the results maybe show.

"Why are we not winning the games we're in full control of? Millwall, Oxford, Stoke.

"It's a conundrum I need to solve on how we turn all this control and good play into wins because no-one wants to see a team that are playing great football but not winning matches, especially at this stage of the season.

"It wasn't a pitch where you can play the football we normally do but we saw out the first 20 minutes, lively wind affecting the play, then I thought we were in absolute control.

"If I can level any criticism at the lads today, we weren't clinical enough - 16 shots and none on target in the second half and that's why ultimately we've not won the game."

Oxford United have failed to win any of their past nine league games as they prepare to face Watford on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Watford have won three of their past five Championship matches, leaving them four points short of the play-off places.

• Oxford have won just two of the past 27 games between the two sides in all competitions (D12 L13) and are winless in their last seven against the Hornets (D2 L5).

• Watford are unbeaten in their past 15 away games in all competitions against Oxford (W5 D10) - this is their first visit to the U's since a 1-1 League Cup draw in September 2020.

• Oxford have lost their past two home league games, they haven't lost more consecutively since a five-game losing run in February and March 2023.

• Watford have kept a clean sheet in their last two away league matches; the Hornets have not kept three clean sheets in a row since January and February 2021.

• Oxford boss Gary Rowett has won his past two league meetings with Watford, beating them 3-0 at home and 2-0 away in 2022-23 when he was in charge at Millwall.

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Watford boss Tom Cleverley says his side need to improve their game management as they prepare for "nine finals" to reach the Championship play-offs.

The Hornets are four points behind the top six after a 1-0 win over Swansea City at Vicarage Road on Wednesday night.

Moussa Sissoko's emphatic finish after Tom Ince pounced on Goncalo Franco's loose pass gave Watford victory, but Cleverley was critical of a second-half performance in which they almost gave up the lead.

"I don't think it's sustainable to be honest, how we're managing the games," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I'm quite angry with how we managed the game - the application from pretty much everyone is to the maximum of what it needs to be and I just think we can manage the game better.

"We can't keep putting these games to chance because again the first-half performance was fantastic and the second-half performance, we looked like a team that's tired and making poor decisions.

"We need to address it as soon as possible because the first-half performances are too good to go unrewarded.

"We have to demand more from ourselves because to reach our goals then I am not sure if the second half performance would help us do that."

On whether Watford can still reach the play-offs this season, Cleverley added: "We just need one big push now on Saturday [at Oxford United] to get to the international break in a good position and it's going to take all of our effort.

"Nine finals. We'll tick them off one by one."

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Watford striker Mamadou Doumbia has been ruled out for a "few weeks" after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday's defeat at home to Millwall.

Ahead of the Hornets' midweek clash with Swansea City, head coach Tom Cleverley confirmed he will be without the 19-year-old until after the international break.

"It's disappointing for the player," Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"It'll be a few weeks so we'll miss Mamadou for the next couple of games certainly and we'll assess more in the international break."

Doumbia was clearly distraught when he went off in the 56th minute of Saturday's 2-1 loss.

"He's been so patient, he's worked so hard and the shirt was his for the time being," added Cleverley.

"When you do get a slight niggle, you give up the shirt up to someone else. There was probably a lot of things going through Mamadou's head, but he's a great professional and I'm sure he'll come back stronger."

Cleverley also confirmed club captain Daniel Bachmann, Pierre Dwomoh and Kwadwo Baah were between seven and 10 days from returning to first-team training.

Watford's defeat by Millwall on Saturday ended a three-match unbeaten run and they are six points off the play-off places as they prepare to host Swansea City on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

The Swans are on their own three-game streak without defeat which has included wins over Blackburn and Middlesbrough.

• Watford have won just two of their past eight league games against Swansea City (D1 L5), scoring more than one goal in just one of those matches.

• Swansea City have lost just one of their past four away league games against Watford (D1 L2), a 2-0 defeat in May 2021.

• Watford are winless in their past four midweek league games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), losing three of them (D1).

• Swansea have kept a clean sheet in two of their past three away league games (W1 D1 L1), as many as in their previous 22 league matches on the road (W6 D5 L11).

• Swansea are winless in their past four midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (D1 L3), this after winning four in a row immediately beforehand.

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Watford boss Tom Cleverley said his team are going to have to "dig deep" to reach the Championship play-offs with 10 games left to play.

Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Millwall kept The Hornets 11th in the table, six points adrift of West Bromwich Albion in sixth, ahead of Wednesday's game against Swansea City at Vicarage Road.

"Me and the lads are going to have to dig very deep, to look at what went wrong and to remotivate ourselves," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"There's six points to play for this week, starting with Wednesday night, and we have to show a reaction - and dig probably deeper than we have done all season to make sure we still achieve our goals."

The Hornets lost 19-year-old striker Mamadou Doumbia to what appeared to be a hamstring injury against Millwall, enabling substitute Vakoun Bayo to come on for his 100th appearance in a Watford shirt.

Cleverley was unhappy with his side's "flat" second-half performance and added: "If you're not at the races technically, you still need intensity, and second half there was a big drop off from too many. At this level, you get punished if you are down 10-15%."

Image source, PA Media

Watford boss Tom Cleverley revealed up to half a dozen players are fasting for Ramadan after his side faded following a bright start in a 2-1 home defeat by Millwall.

The Hornets dominated the opening half with crisp passing and good movement and went ahead through Mattie Pollock's header from a corner.

But the second half saw the visitors hit back with two goals as Watford's play-off aspirations suffered a setback.

Asked about players fasting, Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio: "I think we're the most-affected squad in the league when it comes down to that.

"We work really hard with our nutritionists to make sure they're in the best condition they possibly can be.

"It's something we'll have to manage through this period. Five or six of our players today (were fasting). Did it have an impact? I don't know."

He added: "On the balance of the game, I don't think we deserved to lose it. But we have to improve on that second half. First half, we were good value for our lead but we just couldn't replicate that performance. We looked a tired outfit in the second half."

Watford have an extra day's rest before their next game, at home to Swansea City on Wednesday evening.

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Norway goalkeeper Egil Selvik has bounced back well from a tough start at Vicarage Road since joining Watford in the January transfer window.

The 28-year-old has achieved three successive clean sheets after conceding six goals - four of them against leaders Leeds United - in his first two games for the Hornets.

So what are the key elements of the goalkeeping role, in his opinion?

"You have to have some personality and you also have to use your aura to contribute on closing the box and also directing players," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"It's like you're working on the (white) board, you're saying where you expect people to be, and if you can give them some attitude and positive feedback, that will always help."

Selvik believes staying calm also helps the defenders in front of him.

He added: "Last game I didn't have too much to do but it's the thing for me to stay alert, keep talking and giving information - you want to do this all game but suddenly you're in action late in the game and you have to be prepared and do what I can do."

Image source, Rex Features

For a club used to regularly hiring and firing head coaches, it is perhaps not surprising that Watford did not reveal the length of Tom Cleverley's deal when he was confirmed as boss in April 2024.

However, in his programme notes, external for Saturday's home game against Millwall, chief executive Scott Duxbury confirmed that the former Manchester United and Everton midfielder had signed a contract until 2027.

"When Tom signed his three-year contract back in April 2024 to become head coach, it was clear then he had a passion for developing players to give them the chance to fulfil their potential.

"Perhaps this is deep-rooted in the upbringing he had as a youth product of one of the world's biggest football clubs.

"And this will continue to be very important to us as a club which strives to ensure academy graduates have a clear pathway to first-team football."

Watford are 10th in the Championship and striving to reach the play-offs for the first time since being relegated from the Premier League in 2022.

Duxbury added: "We can look forward with relish to the final run of Championship games, knowing we have a group of players totally behind their head coach.

"And who says this current season will definitely end on May 3? The professionalism inside the club means everyone is preparing for all possible outcomes.

"Work continues with eyes firmly fixed on closing the small gap to sixth place and building on a belief that there's every reason to think we can be in the mix towards the end of April and beyond."

Will Cleverley still be in place at the end of the 2026-27 season? Only time will tell.

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Watford boss Tom Cleverley expects Belgian midfielder Pierre Dwomoh to return to training next week after almost two months on the sidelines.

The 20-year-old has not played since suffering a thigh injury during the 4-1 FA Cup defeat by Premier League side Fulham on 9 January.

Goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann is two weeks away from a return to training, having damaged ankle ligaments against Sheffield United, also in January.

Cleverley has put a similar timescale on forward Kwadwo Baah and hopes all three will be available for selection following the international break.

Meanwhile, US full-back Caleb Wiley is now fully match fit after joining the Hornets during the January transfer window.

"He looks a very promising player," Cleverley told the club website.

"He needs to learn some of the arts you will need in the Championship, and he will. He is a bright lad, and willing to learn."

Watford are 10th in the Championship, three points outside the play-off places, ahead of Saturday's home game against Millwall.

Watford host Millwall on Saturday (12:30 GMT) in a game likely to test each team's Championship play-off credentials.

After five straight home defeats, the Hornets stopped the rot with victory over Luton in their last fixture at Vicarage Road and could go level on points with the play-off places, for a few hours at least, with another victory here.

The Lions lie four points and two places back in 12th, having gone down 2-0 at home to Bristol City on Tuesday in their game in hand following Saturday's FA Cup fifth round defeat at Crystal Palace.

• Watford have lost three of their past five league games against Millwall (W1 D1), as many defeats as across their prior 20 meetings with the Lions combined (W12 D5).

• Millwall are unbeaten across their past two away league games against Watford (W1 D1), last enjoying a longer run at Vicarage Road between 1995 and 2002.

• Since losing 4-0 to Leeds, Watford haven't conceded a goal in any of their past three Championship games. The Hornets last kept four clean sheets in a row in November/December 2022.

• Millwall have won three of their past five away league games, as many as they'd won in their previous 18 on the road. Each of their past six away wins have been via a 1-0 scoreline.

• Watford have scored seven penalties in the Championship this season, the most of any side. It's their most in a league season since 2020-21 (10).

Image source, Rex Features

Watford have announced that former midfielder and promotion winner Dennis Bond has passed away at the age of 77., external

He made 301 appearances in two stints with the club and was part of the team which won promotion from the old Division Four under Graham Taylor in 1978.

Bond started his career with the Hornets in 1964 and made his debut in the same year at the age of just 16.

He left Vicarage Road after three years and joined Tottenham where he played 27 games before a spell at Charlton.

On returning to Watford in 1973, Bond played for a further five years, with his final season coinciding with the first under Taylor and winning the title.

Watford have also been remembering former winger Barry Hartle who has died aged 85.

He was part of the squad which earned the club's first promotion in their history when they went up from Division Four in 1960.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford boss Tom Cleverley still believes the Hornets are good enough to reach the Championship play-offs despite being held to a goalless draw at struggling Stoke.

Saturday's stalemate leaves Cleverley's men still three points off the top six after failing to score for the eighth time in 35 Championship games this term - and they have only hit 45 goals.

But he told BBC Three Counties Radio: "If we continue to play like that for the last 11 games then I have no doubt we will achieve our goals because we have the firepower and the quality.

"In the first half we controlled it but didn't have much to show for it. I felt we needed more intent and to commit a few more numbers forward.

"We certainly took the initiative after half-time and for 25-30 minutes I thought we were going to break them down.

"It's something I haven't said too often this season, but we lacked a cutting edge in and around their box because we couldn't break them down.

"They came strong in the last five or 10 minutes and pushed us to the end. But we controlled the game enough to win it.

"After half-time we had five shots in seven minutes. Were they outstanding chances? No. But it felt like a matter of time.

"Unfortunately, you have these kinds of days. It's not something I can complain of too much this season. We have scored in a high percentage of our games.

"We are a little bit disappointed that we haven't come away with all three points, but it is a big turnaround from where we have been away from home."

Stoke welcome Watford to the Bet365 on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with plenty at stake for both sides, with a dozen games remaining in the Championship season.

Tuesday's 3-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough was a third in four matches for the Potters, who lie 19th, five points clear of the relegation zone.

After a run of one point from five games, the Hornets have picked-up back-to-back wins and sit 9th, only three points behind West Bromwich Albion in fifth.

• After winning at home against Watford 1-0 last season, Stoke City will be looking to win successive league matches against the Hornets on home soil for the first time since a run of three between 1993 and 1996.

• Watford have won five of their past seven league games against Stoke City (D1 L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories.

• Stoke City boss Mark Robins is unbeaten in his past six league meetings with Watford (W2 D4) since a 3-2 away loss with Coventry City in November 2020.

• Watford have won 1-0 against Middlesbrough and 2-0 against Luton in their past two league games – they last won three in a row in August, while they last did so without conceding in December 2015.

• Watford's Edo Kayembe ended a run of six league games without a goal last time out against Luton, while in the reverse fixture against Stoke this term he scored his only brace to date in an English league game.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford defender James Abankwah hailed their three points against Luton at Vicarage Road as "massive" following five successive home defeats.

The 21-year-old kept his place alongside Kevin Keben at the heart of the Hornets' defence, although both had to go off in the second half, as they kept their eighth clean sheet of the season.

"It was important for the team and the fans to get this win. Once we got the first goal it settled us down and we then pushed on to get the second goal and after that everyone was a bit more relaxed and calm," the Dubliner told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I thought me and Kevin did quite well in the last game and but Mattie (Pollock) is also a very good player as well and today when he was called upon (as a substitute), he was brilliant.

"We've got plenty of cover and it's good to have that competitiveness around that centre-back position and we just push each other each day in training to get the best out of each other."

Watford are ninth in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke City, but Abankwah added: "We're not thinking too far ahead - just take it game by game and keep doing our best."