Watford

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Watford head coach Tom Cleverley was not angry with his players despite seeing his side drop two points in stoppage time of the 2-2 draw at Plymouth on Friday.

The Hornets had looked to be taking all three points from Home Park, which would have taken them to fourth in the Championship, until ex-Watford striker Andre Gray's 96th-minute leveller.

"I can't be too angry with the players, it was everything we asked for, we asked for a real underdog mentality when we haven't got the ball," the former Manchester United midfielder told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I thought the players were dogged, they were aggressive, they won duels, they won second balls.

"In possession we showed real class and calmness, we just didn't get that third goal you always feel like you need when you're coming here - they score a lot of late goals and that's what's undone us.

"Our leaky defence and our away form has been questioned this season and I'm honestly not sure how we've not picked up three points."

Cleverley did, however, admit his team should have wrapped up the win well before Gray's late strike.

"Its about looking at ourselves - we should have done more to be out of sight at 2-1.

"I feel like we had so many opportunities in transition that we just weren't clinical enough."

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Watford manager Tom Cleverley has confirmed defender Kevin Keben will be sidelined for at least a further six weeks.

The Cameroon under-23 international has only made one appearance for the Hornets since making the move from Toulouse in the summer after arriving with a knee issue.

Cleverley said in his pre-match press conference, external that Keben could be out for as long as two months following surgery on another knee issue.

Pierre Dwomoh is also set to miss Friday night's Championship match at Plymouth Argyle due to illness while fellow midfielder Festy Ebosele serves a one-game suspension.

Watford will have Moussa Sissoko back from a three-match ban as they look for a fourth win in five Championship matches.

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Hornets midfielder Festy Ebosele helped the Republic of Ireland to a Nations League victory on his first start for his country on Thursday.

The County Wexford-born 22-year-old played 76 minutes on the right flank as the hosts saw off Finland by the only goal at the Aviva Arena.

He will hope to retain his place for the trip to Wembley to face England on Sunday (17:00 GMT).

The former Derby man, on loan from Udinese this season, was one of eight Watford players called up for senior international duty this week.

In-form Vakoun Bayo was called up by the Ivory Coast for the first time in six years while Edo Kayembe and Mamadou Doumbia are also on AFCON duty with Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali respectively.

Ryan Porteous is on Scotland duty in the Nations League while Giorgi Chakvetadze is action for Georgia, Ken Sema for Sweden while Francisco Sierralta is trying to help Chile in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford boss Tom Cleverley says there is still more to come from his squad despite being unbeaten at home and winning three of their past four Championship matches.

The Hornets' 1-0 win over Oxford last Friday made it six victories at Vicarage Road so far this season and leaves them in sixth place.

"I think the exciting part is we've not hit close to top gear yet - we've not hit consistency in first halves and we've not found consistency away from home," Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"The players are working as hard as they can to fulfil the potential I think the squad has and it's my job to stay on top of that."

Watford will travel to Plymouth for their next game, after the international break.

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After signing a new five-year deal at Watford, centre-back Mattie Pollock could be a future Hornets captain, according to boss Tom Cleverley.

Pollock arrived from Grimsby Town in July 2021 and had loan spells with Cheltenham and Aberdeen before breaking into the Watford picture in 2023-24.

The 23-year-old has started all 14 Championship games this season and scored his first Hornets goal in a 5-0 Carabao Cup first round win over MK Dons in August, a game in which he captained the side.

Cleverley thinks Pollock can go on to become club skipper on a permanent basis and told the club website, external: “He’s a leader, he’s got a good sense of humour and he’s got great energy. He’s a well-liked character.

“What’s impressed us most as staff is how he’s improved on the ball. He’s really comfortable in possession now and that’s why he’s been catapulted from someone on the fringes to consistently in the team.”

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Watford manager Tom Cleverley expects his side to make it a tough night for Oxford United when they visit Vicarage Road on Friday.

The Hornets are unbeaten at home in the Championship this season with five wins and one draw.

"They're coming to a place which is getting a bit of a reputation as our fortress so we have to make it as uncomfortable as possible," Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio.

Watford's 1-0 defeat at Swansea on Tuesday came after two wins in a row, but victory over Oxford would move them up to fourth place ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures.

"The players will have to look after themselves, especially the ones who've had to play all three games this week," Cleverley added.

Watford will be without the suspended defender Francisco Sierralta but Ryan Porteous should replace him after he served a one match ban.

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Watford manager Tom Cleverley says his squad is being severely tested in a busy run of games.

The Hornets were beaten 1-0 at Swansea on Tuesday night and have a quick turn around before entertaining Oxford on Friday.

"The squad is running thin, we've got suspensions, we've got injuries and three games in six days but we'll find solutions for Friday," Cleverly told BBC Three Counties Radio.

Forward, Kwadwo Baah was introduced as a second-half substitute at Swansea and made an impression with his pace but Cleverley admits he couldn't play him from the start.

"Baah's got a niggle and I wasn't even planning on using him for as long as I did.

"We're trying to reduce his load this week so he can play on Friday - he had a fantastic impact but the plan was to only use him for half an hour."

Cleverley will be able to recall Ryan Porteous from suspension for the game against Oxford but will now be without Francisco Sierralta after he collected a fifth yellow card of the season in the defeat by Swansea.

Image source, BBC Sport

Watford are four points off the automatic promotion places after winning two on the bounce, including a first away victory since the opening day when they thrashed Sheffield Wednesday 6-2 last time out.

Swansea City ended a run of six games without a win when they beat Oxford 2-1 on Saturday but haven't tasted victory at home since 14 September.

• Swansea have won four of their last seven league meetings with Watford (D1 L2), although they failed to win either encounter last season (D1 L1).

• Watford are looking to win on consecutive league visits to Swansea City for the first time ever.

• Swansea are looking to avoid failing to score in three successive league games for the first time since May 2013 in the Premier League, while they last did so outside the top flight in March 2010 in the Championship.

• Watford are winless in their last eight midweek league games (D3 L5), losing both such games this season.

• Watford's Tom Ince has scored three goals in his last four Championship games against Swansea, all of which came with Reading in 2022.

Image source, Rex Features

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