Watford

Watford assistant sporting director Valon Behrami says the decision to replace head coach Paulo Pezzolano with former boss Javi Gracia was "much needed".

The Hornets sacked Pezzolano on Wednesday, just 10 games into his tenure, despite having enjoyed a recent upturn in results in the Championship.

Watford had claimed seven points out of nine across their past three league matches to put them just three points outside of the top six in 11th place.

But despite the side beginning to find its feet, Behrami confirmed that "language was the barrier" for the Uruguayan.

"The results are a part of that, even if in the last week we saw a lot of improvement, that's not where we want to be as a position," Behrami told BBC Radio 3CR.

"We saw the ability of Javi Gracia and we thought it was the best solution for our future before it gets too late. We thought a lot about the decision but it was the right decision and the right moment to do that.

"We have still a lot of time but it's important to have such a manager who doesn't even need the time to settle in because he knows everyone at the club, he knows everything about our supporters."

The appointment marks Gracia's second spell with the club, having been sacked in 2019 after 20 months in the role.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford were building in the right direction to achieve promotion to the Premier League, according to sacked boss Paulo Pezzolano.

The Uruguayan has been replaced by the returning Javi Gracia at Vicarage Road, having taken charge of only 10 games.

In a parting message to supporters on social media, , externalPezzolano says he was confident of delivering a return to the top flight.

"After months of intense work at every level, the results showed that we were building in the right direction to reach our goal of returning to the Premier League this season, with a squad capable of achieving it," he said.

"We had full confidence in that and a firm belief that we could do it, always staying true to our principles."

The former Real Valladolid head coach goes on to thank his players and club staff for their work during his time with the Hornets.

"Last time I checked, looking at the table, they [Watford] are doing okay - where should they be?

"Make it make sense to me. Watford Football Club, what is going on there?"

It's been a week for managerial sackings, and the 72+ team have got plenty to talk about, from Matt Bloomfield's departure from Luton Town to another change on Watford's managerial wheel of misfortune.

What of Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner venturing into the away end, you ask? Well, they've got that covered too.

Listen to the latest episode of the 72+ podcast and more on BBC Sounds.

We asked for your thoughts on another change of head coach at Watford with Javi Gracia returning to Vicarage Road to replace Paulo Pezzolano after only 10 games in charge for the Uruguayan.

Thanks for getting in touch and here are some of your views:

Simon - 22 managers since the Pozzo family took over is now embarrassing. Hard to say whether Javi returning is going to be good or bad. The Pozzo family need to give him time and also need to invest more in the team and club. Personally [think] they should never have got rid of Tom Cleverley, they should have backed him.

Matthew - I watch Watford home and away and no matter who the manager is the team, in my opinion, doesn't have enough firepower to meet the board's objectives and, as they are responsible for recruiting, they only have themselves to blame.

Martin - Here we go again! It didn't work bringing Quique (Sanchez Flores) back, not sure this will either. Someone needs to be given time, bring on players from what used to be a great academy. Mid-table obscurity beckons unless we change the model, not the people.

Derek - This is yet another knee-jerk decision by the board at Watford. I cannot wait for the day that Pozzo announces he intends to sell the club. Oh, for the stability days of Elton John and Graham Taylor, when the board were 100% behind the club and saw it more than just a money-making machine.

Image source, Watford FC

Karl - I think if they were to be sacking anyone, it should be the head of recruitment. Groundhog Day.

Neil - Absolutely the right move to bin PP. Baffling selections, turgid performances and no connection with the fan base. As to whether a returning Javi is the right man to get this squad to where it should be, time will tell.

Jex - Although Pezzolano was never going to work perhaps it is the owners who should be thinking about their own futures. Ever since they took over there has never been any stability that Hornets fans can be proud of - and look at some of the managers they have got rid of. How long is Javi going to last?

David - Pezzolano had alienated the dressing room. His severe lack of English did not help. Javi Gracia is the best option currently by far. If anyone can bring the best out of the squad, he can.

Gary - It's all well and good chopping and changing, but at some point you have to back someone and give them a chance to stamp their authority on the team, even if there's an amount of short-term pain. I look at the squad and it's the best we've had in a while. We need Javi to play a consistent system and know who his best players are and how they fit.

Elliot - Great appointment. Glad to see Pezzolano gone because he didn't have a vision. Gracia is someone who is well liked by the fans and loves the club. Very happy.

Image source, Getty Images

Watford have reappointed Javi Gracia as their head coach to replace the outgoing Paulo Pezzolano.

The Uruguayan had taken seven points from his final three games in charge, leaving the Hornets in 11th place in the Championship, three points short of the play-off places.

Gracia returns to Vicarage Road after leading them to 14th and 11th place finishes in the Premier League and the 2019 FA Cup final, where they were thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City.

So, Watford fans, is this the right move by your owners, or was Pezzolano just beginning to get things going?

Send us your views here and check back later to see some of the responses.

Image source, Getty Images

Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann's loan spell in Spain has been interrupted by a knee injury, which will keep him out for two to three months.

The 31-year-old joined Deportivo La Coruna in the summer on a season-long loan.

The Spanish club said he has suffered a "partial tear of the external ligament in his left knee".

A statement on the Deportivo website added: "The Austrian goalkeeper begins a period of immobilization and joint relief before moving into the recovery phase with the club's physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists.

"The estimated recovery period will not be less than 10 weeks."

Bachmann joined Watford in 2017 and has played 138 games for the club.

He sustained an ankle injury against Sheffield United in January, an injury which prompted the Hornets to sign Egil Selvik, who is now established as first-choice at Vicarage Road.

Image source, Getty Images

Watford full-back Jeremy Ngakia hopes to provide more goals and assists for the team this season after his double gave them a 2-1 win over Oxford United.

The 25-year-old headed a 45th-minute equaliser after Oxford had taken the lead and then scored direct from a corner in added time at the end of the first half.

He had only netted once in his previous 104 league appearances for the Hornets and told BBC Three Counties Radio: "It was important to get the win and I'm happy to contribute with two goals.

"I was just trying to put it [the corner] in the area but I'll take that. I don't remember (doing that before).

"We said at half-time we needed to try to get more goals and created a lot of chances, we could have punished them even more, but it's good we got the win."

Watford have taken seven points from their past three games are are up to 10th place in the Championship heading into the international break.

Their next game is away to Sheffield United - managed by former Hornets boss Chris Wilder - on 18 October.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford manager Paolo Pezzolano is satisfied by his side's "growth" following their 2-1 comeback win versus Oxford United on Saturday.

Following Max Alleyne's early own goal in the first three minutes, wingback Jeremy Ngakia scored a quickfire double for the Hornets before half time to take the lead and give them their third win of the season.

"Seven points out of nine possible is great, but the most important thing is the performance and the growth of the team," said Uruguyan Pezzolano to BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I liked the team very much during the first half. We could have scored that third goal to wrap up the game a little bit, but it didn't come.

"Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance and the development of the team."

On conceding first again: "The good thing is that the team continues to show that character, continues to show that determination and attitude to turn things around to overcome difficult and negative situations."

This is just Oxford's second league trip to Watford in the past 26 years.

The Hornets took the honours last season with a Vakoun Bayo goal sealing a 1-0 victory.

• Watford have won four out of the past five home league meetings against Oxford United (L1) , conceding just two goals during this run.

• Oxford United have won just three of their previous 25 league meetings with Watford (D11 L11), their last victory however being a 1-0 win in the pair's most recent meeting in March 2025. Prior to last season's meetings, the pair last played each other in the league in March 1999.

• After losing five consecutive league home matches between December 2024 and February 2025, Watford have lost just three of their past 11 home games (W5 D3).

• Since the start of last season, only Derby and Blackburn (15 each) have lost more Championship games on a Saturday than Oxford (14), with the U's still winless on Saturdays this season (D2 L3).

• Oxford boss Gary Rowett has won each of his past three league matches against Watford, keeping a clean sheet in all three victories.

Watford defender Mattie Pollock says the squad have a lot of trust in manager Paulo Pezzolano following the 2-2 draw against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

New head coach Pezzolano has had a turbulent start to life in the Championship, winning two and drawing three of their opening eight games, but Pollock insists the Uruguayan has had a positive impact on the players.

"We've got a good dressing room. We've got a lot of trust for the manager. It obviously shows that the things he says at half-time is positive - it's working," Pollock told BBC Radio Three Counties.

"For myself, I think I can do a little bit more, especially in the first half, but it shows we have got a good group. We are all behind the gaffer, we're all enjoying it and we're just frustrated that we can't play as well for him in the first half as we did in the second, but I'm sure that'll turn around.

"There's a lot of games in the Championship but overall it feels good. The gaffer comes in very positive at half-time and gets us going again and I think that's showed now for a few games."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

"I think Pezzolano knows what he wants, he knows the end goal, and he has been adding things slowly but surely. It's definitely looking better."

Former Watford midfielder Derek Payne joins BBC Radio Three Counties' Geoff Doyle to discuss the key points from the dramatic 2-2 draw at Portsmouth.

Listen to the full conversation and more on BBC Sounds

Watford will be looking for back-to-back wins when they travel to Portsmouth on Wednesday (19:45 BST).

Portsmouth are seeking their first win in three games following a draw against Southampton and two consecutive defeats against Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The Hornets will be looking to claim their first away win of the Championship season and make it two wins in a row, after Saturday's comeback victory against Hull City.

● After their 1-0 win in April, Portsmouth could win back-to-back league meetings with Watford for the first time since April 1996 (3 in a row).

● The side playing at home has won each of the last eight league matches between Portsmouth and Watford, with the Hornets losing each of their last five away to Pompey.

● Portsmouth have lost two of their three home league games this season (W1) and could lose back-to-back home league matches for the first time since September 2024.

● Watford have lost seven of their last eight away league games (D1), with each defeat coming by a one-goal margin.

● Watford are winless in their last nine midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away league outings (D4 L5) since a 1-0 triumph at Swansea in October 2023.

Watford forward Vivaldo Semedo says the best is yet to come from him and the team after opening his goalscoring account for the club.

The 20-year-old Udinese loanee played just 18 minutes off the bench in the Hornets' opening five matches but was handed his first start in the defeat at Millwall.

In his second start on Saturday, he assisted Imran Louza's equaliser against Hull at Vicarage Road before scoring the winner himself 12 minutes from time to end a four-match winless run.

"I was dreaming of this," he told BBC 3CR. "I keep working hard and it feels great to help the team win. We're going to keep working hard to keep moving up (the table).

"We kept believing and kept together and did what we had to do and we got the three points."

The Portugal Under-21 international says he has his sights on the Premier League and hopes performing for Watford will help him get there.

"I'm still a young player and I'm still getting used to the team and especially to the Championship. It's a hard competition, very physical, but game by game I'm going to keep improving, keep doing my best, working hard and the results are going to come.

"I am young, I'm hungry, I want to achieve the Premier League, be in the best clubs so I am going to keep working on my weaknesses and hopefully one day I'll achieve that.

"I came here to add physicality to my game and add more games to my legs, it's why I am here and I am going to keep improving."

Click here for more from Semedo's interview with BBC3CR.

Paolo Pezzolano has urged his side to repeat the high energy levels produced by his side in their come-from-behind win against Hull more regularly.

The Watford boss told BBC Three Counties Radio: "The team showed great character, attitude, and consistency in so many moments of the game.

"We have been trying to work on getting the players moving up front more, and I was pleased with today because we showed that.

"I believe in making sure that we are physically able to keep repeating efforts and can overcome any mental tiredness we might feel in games.

"We want to keep the same energy we used to turn this result around in the following games.

"What is important for us is to continue working to keep the fans happy. In life it is about keeping going and overcoming the difficult moments."

Watford boss Paulo Pezzolano will be looking to ease some pressure as the side welcome Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Hornets have lost their past two games to see them just hovering above the relegation zone and put Pezzolano under the microscope at a club known to have little patience when it comes to under-performing managers.

Perhaps it's a good time to face a side that hasn't been able to do much damage in recent years, but the Tigers are coming off a huge 3-1 win over Southampton and it could be just the confidence boost they need to break Watford's unbeaten run.

• Watford are unbeaten in their last four league games against Hull (W2 D2), winning this exact fixture 1-0 back in April last season.

• Hull have failed to either win (D2 L2) or score in any of their last four away league games against Watford since a 2-1 win in December 2012.

• Watford have won just one of their last 11 league games (D3 L7), beating QPR 2-1 in their first home game of the season.

• Having beaten Southampton 3-1 last time out, Hull are looking to secure consecutive league victories for the first time since a run of three ending in October 2024.

• No Championship player has been involved in more goals than Hull's Oliver McBurnie this season (6), with his three goals and three assists all coming in his last five appearances.

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

"He's spoken a lot about the early weeks, months, it may take a while for the players adjust but he will eventually get there. The problem with that one is this is Watford and they don't tend to be too forgiving."

Watford commentator Geoff Doyle considers if boss Paulo Pezzolano is already under pressure six games into the new Championship season and why he needs to find a quick resolution to the problems at Vicarage Road.

Listen to the full analysis and more Watford content on BBC Sounds.