Watford

Latest updates

  1. Watford v Everton: Who makes your Hornets side?published at 15:06 9 May 2022

    Watford team selector graphic

    Watford return to action on Wednesday when they host Everton in the Premier League.

    With the Hornets only playing for pride after relegation was confirmed by Sunday's defeat at Crystal Palace,, who should Roy Hodgson start against the Toffees to avoid a seventh successive defeat?

    It's time to pick your Watford side to face Everton

  2. Have your say on Watford's relegationpublished at 12:00 9 May 2022

    Craig CathcartImage source, Getty Images

    We want to hear from you after Watford's relegation was confirmed after Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.

    Where did it all go wrong this season? And are you confident you can bounce straight back?

    Looking forward to next year, who do you want to see succeed Roy Hodgson as manager?

    Have your say here

  3. Get your weekend Premier League fixpublished at 11:31 9 May 2022

    Match of the Day

    You can now watch all the highlights and analysis from Saturday's six matches in the Premier League.

    Stream the action now on BBC iPlayer

  4. Watford form under Hodgson 'surprising'published at 10:23 9 May 2022

    Roy HodgsonImage source, PA Media

    Ex-Spurs and Fulham full-back Stephen Kelly admits he is "surprised" his former boss Roy Hodgson has been unable to make Watford tougher to beat.

    The Hornets' relegation from the Premier League was confirmed by defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday and Kelly says he expected them to put up more of a fight under the former England bosss.

    "I worked with Roy for a long time and I know exactly what he does," he said. "He is so drilled with team shape, it's monotonous but it works and makes you really hard to beat.

    "It puts you in a situation to win games but for some reason he's not been able to cement it at Watford."

    Hodgson was the third manager at Vicarage Road this season after Xisco Munoz and Claudio Ranieri and Kelly thinks the revolving door policy at Watford is beginning to backfire.

    "When you're changing managers so often, at some point it comes back to bite you," he said. "When Roy came in, it was probably already too much to get them out of the mire they were in."

    For more discussion on Watford's future, and their attempts to be promoted next season, listen from 12'55 on BBC Sounds

  5. Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford: Pick of the statspublished at 08:35 9 May 2022

    Hassane Kamara is sent off for WatfordImage source, Getty Images
    • This is the first time in his managerial career that Roy Hodgson will end a Premier League campaign in the relegation zone with a team.

    • Crystal Palace have kept a clean sheet in four consecutive home games in the top-flight for the first time since a run of five between March and April 1992.

    • Hassane Kamara became the first Watford player to both concede a penalty and be shown a red card in a single Premier League game since Christian Kabasele against Bournemouth in October 2018.

    • The Hornets have been relegated in consecutive top-flight campaigns for the first time since a run of three seasons ending in relegation (1987-88, 1999-00 and 2006-07).

  6. 'Thank you'published at 08:01 9 May 2022

    This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip X post by Watford Football Club

    Allow X content?

    This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of X post by Watford Football Club
  7. Watford bow out as Eagles continue to impresspublished at 07:24 9 May 2022

    Watford defender Craig CathcartImage source, Getty Images

    Matthew Gault, BBC Sport

    In the end, Watford's latest Premier League relegation felt strangely low-key.

    It is a bitter end to what is sure to be Roy Hodgson's last hurrah in management. Now 74, the former England boss said he is unlikely to return to top-level coaching having taken in spells at 17 clubs and four international sides across a 46-year stretch.

    But Hodgson was always up against it at Vicarage Road. When he replaced Claudio Ranieri in January, the club sat 19th and hadn't won a game in two months. Hodgson says Watford's current crop are capable of securing an immediate return to the Premier League - like they did last year - but having mustered just two home wins all seasons, fans will certainly be sceptical.

    Things are looking much brighter for Hodgson's former side Palace, of course. While the Eagles hit a sticky patch in April that included an FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea, victory over Watford gave Patrick Vieira's team back-to-back league wins for just the second time this season.

    Having secured a fourth successive home clean sheet, Palace now sit on 44 points and need just another six to secure their highest-ever tally for a single season.

    Were they to continue this strong finish to the campaign, Vieira will feel as though he has seen more than enough in his first season in charge as he looks to take the club to the next level.

  8. Watford 'fought to the last minute' - Hodgsonpublished at 19:00 7 May 2022

    Roy HodgsonImage source, Getty Images

    Watford manager Roy Hodgson speaking to Match of the Day: "It wasn't the result we wanted but I think we were rather hard done by because the players are convinced that Hassane Kamara was pushed in the back and that's what provoked the penalty decision.

    "But I don't feel hard done by by the team's performance. I thought they did extremely well against a very good Crystal Palace team and we remained competitive right to the end. Given our situation, I think that's a sterling effort from the players."

    On whether he felt relegation had been inevitable for a while: "I don't think so. I think after missing our chances in those three home games we realised we were making life extremely hard for ourselves.

    "But anyone who'd like to say there was an inevitability about our outcome and that the players had resigned themselves to the fact that they're going to go down then they haven't watched today's game. It gave no indication of that whatsoever and we were fighting right until the last minute to try to get an equaliser.

    "I still think today there are signs that the players have taken on board a lot of the work we have done. I think the structure of the team is now as good as we can get it. There are individuals in the team who can make a difference as well.

    "Their confidence might not be at the highest but I still think this team and this club has a lot to offer in the Premier League, but they'll first have to go through the Championship to get back."

  9. Follow Crystal Palace v Watford livepublished at 14:14 7 May 2022

    Crystal Palace v Watford graphicImage source, Getty Images

    We are bringing you live text commentary of Crystal Palace v Watford, plus the rest of Saturday's Premier League action.

    Follow all the action here

    You'll be able to catch up with all the post-match reaction on this page after full-time at Selhurst Park.

  10. Crystal Palace v Watford - confirmed team newspublished at 14:13 7 May 2022

    Palace boss Patrick Vieira makes five changes to the side that beat Southampton last week, with Jack Butland, Michael Olise, Will Hughes, Odsonne Edouard and Wilfried Zaha - who scored twice in February's win over Watford - all recalled.

    Crystal Palace: Butland; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Ward, Olise, Gallagher, Hughes, Eze, Zaha, Edouard.

    Subs: Matthews, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Kouyate, Ayew, Mateta, Schlupp, Benteke.

    Palace XIImage source, BBC Sport

    The prognosis is undoubtedly bleak for Watford, whose relegation may be confirmed this weekend even if they win at Selhurst Park.

    Roy Hodgson's starting XI shows four changes from the defeat by Burnley, with Craig Cathcart, Tom Cleverley, Edo Kayembe and Josh King in.

    Watford: Foster, Kiko, Samir, Cathcart, Kamara, Sissoko, Cleverley, Kayembe, Sarr, Dennis, King.

    Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Etebo, Ekong, Masina, Sema, Gosling, Kabasele, Kalu.

    Watford XIImage source, BBC Sport
  11. Call for young players to feature with Watford all but relegatedpublished at 19:10 6 May 2022

    Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

    Watford will be relegated very soon. It will be on Saturday at Crystal Palace if they don't win. If they do win, it still might not be enough over the weekend depending on other results. In any case, everyone has accepted that it's going to happen.

    So now there are the inevitable calls for the Hornets to field a younger team for these 'dead rubber' games. Fans would like to see players who will be at Vicarage Road next season. A home-grown one would be nice - one from the academy.

    The supporters argue they have seen enough of this current lot and they haven't been good enough anyway - and they have a point. So the argument is throw in some of the kids. Give them a go. Maybe they will be more hungry.

    It's a likeable sentiment but it's risky and flawed. The Premier League takes no prisoners. This is a top league with teams full of international players. Chucking in a youngster who is used to under-23s football is unfair on him.

    The Premier League is a whole different level. Only the very best young players are thrown into top-flight games. If those young Watford players haven't been ready yet then they aren't ready now.

    However, you can understand why fans don't want to see players who won't be at the Vic next season. A rebuilding job is needed to ensure a return to the Premier League and the club might as well start now by fielding players like Samuel Kalu, who has hardly featured since joining in January, rather than some of the star names who are unlikely to be in Hertfordshire come August.

  12. Lawro's predictions: Crystal Palace v Watfordpublished at 18:10 6 May 2022

    Mark Lawrenson takes on one half of Bob Vylan duo and Arsenal fan Bobbie Vylan in the latest round of Premier League predictions.

    Lawro's predictions banner

    Lawro's prediction: 2-1

    It's nice that Watford boss Roy Hodgson is going back to Selhurst Park in the week that he has announced this will be his final season in management.

    He will get a great reception but it won't go as far as Crystal Palace allowing him to leave with the points.

    The Hornets have lost their past five games and are on the brink of going back down to the Championship. It's just a matter of when their relegation will be confirmed.

    Bobbie's prediction: 3-0

    Palace don't have anything to play for but they should get the job done here. A lot of managers don't get given enough time to implement something really different when they come into clubs, but Patrick Vieira has managed it already in his first season as Eagles boss. Palace are a team that scares everyone now.

    Find out how Lawro and Bobbie think the rest of the weekend's Premier League fixtures will go

  13. Crystal Palace v Watford: Team newspublished at 16:38 6 May 2022

    Wilfred Zaha and Tom Cleverley

    Wilfried Zaha may return to the Palace starting line-up after scoring the winner last week against Southampton.

    Manager Patrick Vieira says some academy players could feature before the end of the season.

    Watford will assess Tom Cleverley and Craig Cathcart, who both missed the defeat by Burnley because of injury and illness respectively.

    Manager Roy Hodgson is suffering from shingles but is expected to be in the dugout on his return to Selhurst Park.

    Pick your Eagles XI

    Choose and share your Hornets side

  14. Fantasy 606: Fawlty Towers, bench boosts and St Albanspublished at 17:32 5 May 2022

    Fantasy 606 banner

    Alistair Bruce-Ball, Chris Sutton and Statman Dave discuss the latest from the world of fantasy football.

    They ask whether it is finally time to play your bench boost chip and look ahead to the double gameweek.

    European football expert Julien Laurens joins the podcast to chat about the season and play a game of Sutton Death against Dave.

    Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

  15. 'I'm still not well' - Hodgson reveals he is suffering from shinglespublished at 16:30 5 May 2022

    Roy HodgsonImage source, Getty Images

    Roy Hodgson revealed he is still suffering from the shingles which saw him miss last week's media duties.

    Ray Lewington took the 74-year-old's place in the Burnley pre and post-match news conferences and Hodgson admitted he still isn't fully recovered.

    He said: "I'm suffering from shingles, so in actual fact I wasn't actually supposed to be at the game. I wasn't well for a start.

    "I'm still not well, it really doesn't go away in a couple of days but I'm working and trying to get to it.

    "My eye is 10 times better than it was on Saturday when it was really like a balloon and my face was swollen.

    He added: "Yes (I am on the mend) but I'm not right, I'm not sure how long it will take. It's one of those things that people don't know, it could last for a week or even months.

    "I've got a very bad headache all the time, like now I've got a very bad headache and my face is still a bit of a mess, but I'm trying to get on with it as best I can."

  16. 'A lot more to come from Watford' - Hodgsonpublished at 15:50 5 May 2022

    Roy HodgsonImage source, PA Media

    Roy Hodgson admits Watford "need more than a miracle" to stay in the Premier League but still believes the Hornets are in good shape as they contemplate an immediate return to the Championship.

    Hodgson's side are 12 points from safety with four games left and would be relegated if they fail to win against Crystal Palace on Saturday or both Leeds and Burnley pick up points this weekend.

    "The writing is certainly on the wall," he said. "We would need more than a miracle so I don't think it's correct even to start suggesting and giving people false hope.

    "But the club is strong. There are a lot of very good things at this football club and a big squad of players.

    "We haven't seen the best of them and maybe there's a lot more to come."

    Hodgson revealed he was suffering from shingles and is not targeting another manager job when his contract expires at the end of the season.

    "I still feel lively enough to do something," he said. "But I wouldn't go as far as to say I would be looking for another job."

  17. Hodgson on relegation, recent form and Crystal Palacepublished at 15:06 5 May 2022

    Roy Hodgson has been speaking to the media before Watford’s game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • Hodgson will check the fitness of Craig Cathcart and Tom Cleverley after they missed last week’s defeat to Burnley. Both are back in training, as is Cucho Hernandez, who has started outside running again.

    • He also revealed he is suffering from shingles and "wasn't really supposed to be at" the game last weekend.

    • The boss admits Watford “need more than a miracle” to stay up: “I don’t think it’s correct even to start suggesting it and giving people false hope.”

    • On the Hornets' recent form: "We’ve been competitive and I think we could have taken more points than we have in plenty of games. They’ve got to show pride and that they are good players.”

    • On opponents Crystal Palace and Patrick Vieira, his successor as Eagles boss: “They are dangerous in attack and he has done excellently. They are full of running.”

  18. Crystal Palace v Watford: What does the form show?published at 11:03 5 May 2022

    Palace v Watford form - past five games
    • Crystal Palace are looking to complete their first league double over Watford since the 2011-12 Championship campaign, following their 4-1 win at Vicarage Road in February.

    • This will be Watford’s 110th league meeting with Crystal Palace, making them the side they have faced the joint-most times in their league history (also 110 vs QPR and Bournemouth). They’ve lost 47 of their previous 109 against the Eagles, only being defeated more against QPR (49).

    • The Eagles have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home league games. They have never kept four in a row at Selhurst Park in the Premier League, last doing so in any division in the Championship in December 2012.

    • The Hornets have won one of their last 29 league matches against London sides (D7 L21), a 1-0 home win over Millwall in April 2021. In the top flight, they have lost 14 matches in a row against teams from the capital, the longest losing run against London teams in top-flight history.

  19. Crystal Palace v Watford: Head-to-head recordpublished at 18:03 4 May 2022

    Crystal Palace v Watford 11 Premier League games: Palace 5 wins, Watford 3; Palace 13 goals, Watford 9; Palace 5 clean sheets, Watford 2
  20. Crystal Palace v Watford: Pick your Hornets XIpublished at 16:06 4 May 2022

    Watford team selector graphic

    Watford could be relegated this weekend regardless of the result at Selhurst Park but need a win to stand any chance of staying up.

    So who should Roy Hodgson trust to get the points at his former club?

    Cucho Hernandez has returned to training but is doubtful so do you stick with the side that ran out of steam against Burnley last week?

    Or should Hodgson bring in some fresh legs to try to get a result?

    Pick your Watford XI