Summary

  • Result: Watford 3-2 West Brom

  • Ken Sema gave the Hornets the lead with their first shot of the game

  • Conor Townsend hooked in second-half equaliser from a corner

  • Ismaila Sarr restored Watford's lead after earlier hitting a post

  • Jed Wallace brought Albion level for the second time

  • Sema's shot deflected in off Erik Pieters for his second goal

  • Slaven Bilic's Hornets climb to fifth in Championship

  • West Brom remain 10th, four points outside play-off places

  1. goal

    GOAL - Watford 2-1 West Brompublished at 66 mins

    Ismaila Sarr

    Ismaila Sarr scoresImage source, Getty Images

    Watford wrench back the lead!

    West Brom boss Carlos Corberan had his head in his hands after that Okay Yokuslu miss a moment or so ago, and he'll be even more aggrieved with this one as his defence make a mess of what should be a routine clearance from a bobbling Ismael Kone shot.

    Ismaila Sarr is given ample time to pick up the loose ball and pick his spot with a neat low finish, racing over to the left-hand corner flag to celebrate.

  2. Postpublished at 21:24 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Watford 1-1 West Brom

    Tony Brown
    West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

    Yokuslu will be annoyed. He knows he should have done better.

  3. CLOSE!published at 61 mins

    Watford 1-1 West Brom

    All three of West Brom's attempts on target have come in this second half. Now they win another corner, swung in by Dara O'Shea from the right, and Okay Yokuslu heads over from the ensuing attack after Watford clear.

  4. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 59 mins

    Watford 1-1 West Brom

    Jed Wallace heads a cross from the right wide at the far post, and then Brandon Thomas-Asante, who's been a nuisance to Watford tonight, makes way for Daryl Dike.

    US international Dike has spoken in recent weeks about his history of injuries, so West Brom are handling him carefully.

  5. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 21:19 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Watford 1-1 West Brom

    This game has exploded pyrotechnically into life!

    Ismaila Sarr skips inside the penalty area after Keinan Davis causes trouble, then pings in a low diagonal shot that hits Josh Griffiths' left-hand post and away.

    That was a crafty finish. West Brom napping after equalising.

  6. Postpublished at 57 mins

    Watford 1-1 West Brom

    Tony Brown
    West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

    Molumby was appealing for the foul but Albion deserve that for the way they've started the second half. They've come out with a meaning and that's come from the manager.

  7. goal

    GOAL - Watford 1-1 West Brompublished at 56 mins

    Conor Townsend

    Conor TownsendImage source, Rex Features

    West Brom have had a shot on target now!

    Jed Wallace robs Wesley Hoedt on the right and immediately finds John Swift with a cross after his teammate hangs back.

    Swift's shot is brilliantly parried behind by the diving Daniel Bachmann, but Watford make a mess of clearing their lines from the resulting corner and, with an instinct belying his usual defensive duties, Conor Townsend hooks in from close range!

  8. Postpublished at 55 mins

    Watford 1-0 West Brom

    Brandon Thomas-Asante turns just inside the penalty area on the right, looks up and sees himself crowded out by two attentive defenders.

    That doesn't put the man most likely to score for West Brom off, shifting inside the box and hooking a shot over the crossbar.

    It would have taken something special to score from there, but that may reflect what his side have been reduced to as they await a first attempt on target.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

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    Anon: Hi, Simon in Newark (20:45) - can you bet on Man U on Sunday please? Ta, every Newcastle fan.

  10. Postpublished at 48 mins

    Watford 1-0 West Brom

    Jed Wallace has been lively for the visitors. He bounces another cross from the right into the penalty area, and again there is no-one there to meet it.

    Daniel Bachmann gathers as easily as a man grabbing a balloon on a breezeless day.

  11. Postpublished at 47 mins

    Watford 1-0 West Brom

    A roar goes up from the away end as Jed Wallace tries to enter the penalty area on the right and wins a corner off James Morris.

    Darnell Furlong rises highest to meet the delivery, heading it firmly over the crossbar.

  12. Postpublished at 46 mins

    Watford 1-0 West Brom

    No sooner has the action restarted than Hamza Choudhury is booked for a bad tackle on John Swift.

    Nathaniel Chalobah hasn't made a happy return to the scene of so much of his club football, as he's one of the players - alongside Marc Albrighton - to have been hooked for Grady Diangana and Jayson Molumby for West Brom.

    Nathaniel ChalobahImage source, Rex Features
  13. Reinforcements for West Brompublished at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    HT: Watford 1-0 West Brom

    West Brom concede a goalImage source, PA Media

    Grady Diangana and Jayson Molumby are being readied to come on by West Brom when the action resumes.

    There were jeers from the away end as the whistle sounded - perhaps understandable for a team who've won one of their last five in all competitions and didn't manage a shot on target in 45 minutes.

  14. Postpublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    There's been news regarding another Championship club today, as Birmingham City and a "number of individuals" face an EFL charge of alleged rule breaches linked to a proposed takeover.

    Blues face EFL charge after takeover investigation

    Birmingham City and a "number of individuals" face an EFL charge of alleged rule breaches linked to a proposed takeover.

    Read More
  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

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    Stuart: I think Watford are a seriously over-rated team. They are safe and boring, playing side-to-side passes with little attacking intent at home or ideas.

    Sarr is a shadow of the player people would have you believe, too. Watford are the quintessential mid-table Championship team these days. The Premier League years are a distant memory.

  16. Sema on the scoresheetpublished at 20:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    HT: Watford 1-0 West Brom

    That was Ken Sema's third goal of the season and first since October. Bravo!

    Ken Sema scoresImage source, Getty Images
  17. Postpublished at 20:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    HT: Watford 1-0 West Brom

    Tony Brown
    West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

    Albion have lost that midfield battle most of the time. Watford have dominated that area.

    But Albion have had two good half-chances and not taken them. They can be the difference.

    Albion's manager won't be happy with that performance, but he'll have his say in the dressing room and hopefully they can come out and get a result. I still think there's something there for them.

  18. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Watford 1-0 West Brom

    Cagey and tough to call, that was not a half for the highlights reel - not that either head coach might have expected it to be with so much at stake.

    Ken Sema will rarely claim an easier goal than he did for that 23rd-minute tap-in, while Keinan Davis will be sitting in the dressing room rueing that golden opportunity to make it two when he broke free after some shocking defending and was denied by Josh Griffiths.

    West Brom have had their chances, failing to respond with sufficient attacking edge inside the box. They'll be four points off the top six if they lose tonight, so Carlos Corberan might well be contemplating changes.

    Watford's Ismael KoneImage source, PA Media
  19. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Watford 1-0 West Brom

    Better from West Brom. Brandon Thomas-Asante is almost on to a bouncing ball inside the penalty area on the left, Wesley Hoedt acting decisively to head the ball behind after Daniel Bachmann comes out and thinks about punching clear.

    The Baggies have successive corners on either flank but can't get any closer Bachmann's goal.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:45 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Tweet using #bbcefl or Text 81111 (UK standard rates apply)

    Simon in Newark: Apologies to West Brom fans tonight. The Baggies are the first part of my weekly accumulator, which probably condemns them to defeat. I'll make up for it by betting on Wolves at the weekend.