Nine months of impregnability ended in one lousy 90 minutes
It had to happen eventually. It was inevitable. But when Watford’s 17-game unbeaten run came to an end against Cardiff yesterday, it was the sheer limp, listless manner in which so many months of hard work tumbled down that made it such a bitterly disappointing afternoon.
Had the Hornets suffered their first defeat at Vicarage Road under Tom Cleverley at the end of a thrilling spectacle, or been undone by a vastly superior team then it would have stung.
But to offer so little resistance, creativity and energy against a Cardiff side that last won an away league game on April 10 was akin to prising open a wound and slathering it with fish and chip-sized portions of salt and vinegar.
Former Hornets first-team coach and Under-21’s manager Omer Riza must have been as surprised as he was delighted at just how simple it was to take three points back across the Severn Bridge.
In fact, the Bluebirds could have headed home with a more comfortable victory as it required a fine second-half save from Dan Bachmann to stop them going 3-1 ahead.
Tom Cleverley spoke after the game about trying to make this game one where the Hornets surged to a dominant victory, the likes of which have been the only obvious element lacking during that 296-day, 17-game unbeaten run.
The Hornets tore MK Dons apart in the Carabao Cup, but given the divisional difference that was perhaps likely.
And the 3-0 league win over Stoke was a commanding and well-deserved victory where the margin reflected the superiority.
However, other successes have often been hard work, sometimes laboured and, on a couple of occasions, a tad fortunate.
Yes you make your own luck in football, but Cleverley’s comments about wanting a resounding victory mirrored what we have all become aware of: Watford had turned Vicarage Road into a fortress made of plywood rather than brick.
The warning signs were there against Portsmouth on Boxing Day.
Put aside the bitterness of Pompey boss John Mousinho and the seemingly never-ending tears of their fans, and the reality is the Hornets only just won that game.
Of course, there isn’t a column in the league table for ‘nearly lost’ or ‘almost won’, but the trend of recent home wins was for the Hornets to just about do enough,
Like a horse that has triumphed in a series of photo finishes, or a boxer that has won his last few fights on split points decisions, there was that nagging doubt at the back of the mind that next time things might not go our way.
What didn’t help, at all, was conceding a goal in less than 60 seconds.
There have been some clumsy, tawdry starts to games this season, but yesterday was particularly bad.
Cleverley is right in pointing out teams are punishing Watford at the first opportunity of late, but if that first opportunity is so early and gift-wrapped as it was for the Bluebirds then they are almost obliged to take it.
Callum O’Dowda had three players in front of him and one behind when he received the ball inside the Watford half, but with nobody attempting a challenge he had the time to look up and see Callum Robinson.
The striker didn’t need to do much to make space a couple of yards inside the box, and having a touch to move the ball left he then netted with aplomb, striking low across Bachmann and inside the far post.
Very good finish, made far too easy by the lack of any pressure.
It was a horrendous start, particularly against a team that hadn’t won in nine previous games.
Cardiff confidence must have been low and yet with not a minute on the clock they had a goal and something to cling onto.
It also released any pressure to push too far forward, allowing the Bluebirds to sit deep, get bodies behind the ball and attempt to frustrate.
To be fair, Watford responded well and although they didn’t pepper the visitors’ goal with shots, they did boss the ball and spent a lot of time across the halfway line.
When the equaliser arrived in the 38th minute, it certainly felt justified and earned.
Once more Rocco Vata was involved, and although his overall contribution was cut short because of the need to avoid a calf issue becoming something more serious, the 19-year-old now has five goal contributions in his last five games.
He’s such a livewire. A popular phrase in football is ‘great feet’, and that certainly applies to Vata. He’s quick, he’s tricky and, best of all, he’s brave.
Maybe it’s youthful exuberance, but when you’re a goal down against a team with a low block, you need someone like Vata to try the unexpected . . . to gamble in the final third . . . to unleash a flick or trick which, if it comes off, gains you that yard and few seconds.
He had to tussle for the ball on the right, retrieved it and then just knocked it past his full back and ran.
Growing up watching John Barnes, it was easy to take for granted that ability to create just enough space in a tight area to deliver a cross that led to a goal.
Vata clearly has that ability among a bag full of skills.
His chipped cross was too high for Moussa Sissoko but Giorgi Chakvetadze got it under control and finished confidently for only his second goal of the season.
It felt like order had been restored and Watford fans could safely breathe out again in expectation of their team now going on to win the game.
Except the players went asleep. Again.
Only three minutes later the Hornets lost possession on halfway and simply did not do enough to stop Cardiff capitalising.
The Bluebirds played four quick passes in a crowded space to work a bit of room. Yasser Larouci had tracked back to get goal-side of Cian Ashford but then didn’t pay attention to what the Cardiff youngster did next.
It wasn’t all that much to be frank, a simple run behind the Watford defender, who was oblivious to it, and when the ball was slipped in Larouci had been overtaken by Ashford, who calmly squared the ball.
Robinson had peeled away from Mattie Pollock and had the relatively simple task of side-footing the ball home.
A bad goal to give away and a terrible time to concede it. Cardiff had only experienced parity at Vicarage Road for a combined total of four minutes since kick-off and suddenly they again had something to cling onto and fight for.
The second half performance was so typical of that period between Christmas and New Year, when you’re not sure of what day it is, what you should be doing and as a result stumble around looking a bit clueless and weary.
Not a single goal attempt on target in the entire 45 minutes summed up the tame, toothless way in which that long unbeaten home run ended.
In fact, long before the home fans started heading for the exits they could have been put out of their misery had Cardiff punished another Watford error.
Having taken a throw in front of dug-ours, the ball went back to Larouci, who attempted to lob a pass to Francisco Sierralta
It was too hard and high, sending the ball over the Chile defender and into the path of Cardiff’s Ollie Tanner.
He strode into the box and let fly, but Bachmann was able to push the ball up and over the bar.
If that was salvation at one end of the pitch, then what followed shortly after at the other end was self-destruction.
Daniel Jebbison came with a strong reputation on loan from Bournemouth but has seldom looked anywhere close to the description on the tin.
Having long legs, looking a bit awkward and possession a loping stride are not reasons to fail as a footballer – ask Ross Jenkins or Peter Crouch.
But what those two did was score goals, assist others, stay upright.
Jebbison’s time at Watford has been one of brief, generally uninspiring appearances, each one coming with a little less confidence and assuredness than the last.
Against Portsmouth on Boxing Day, however, the striker gave his best showing so far and so perhaps it was a surprise that he was sent back to the bench yesterday.
However, when presented with a glorious chance in the 79th minute, he suffered his most horrific moment so far.
It was executed so simply. Ryan Andrews’ long throw, Festy Ebosele got the first flick, Sierralta helped it on further and the ball looped towards Jebbison who was just outside the six-yard box with an unexpected amount of space.
He was facing goal as the ball dropped in front of him, and keeper Jak Alnwick was desperately sprawling across his line to try and manufacture a save with any part of his body he could. He needn’t have worried.
Somehow Jebbison’s downward header was not only too weak to send the ball towards the net, it also diverted it away from goal and wide.
Have a look at how many pairs of hands at the end of yellow sleeves are holding their heads in the Cardiff box seconds afterwards.
Cleverley has said he will work with Jebbison both technically and mentally, the latter being particularly pertinent as the player looked not just disappointed but visibly shaken.
Having played for his parent club before moving to Vicarage Road on loan, Jebbison cannot play for another club this season.
With Bournemouth sitting sixth in the Premier League and having decent goal returns from Evanilson, Kluivert and Semenyo, it’s difficult to imagine they will see a reason to take him back.
While Cleverley’s support for the player and his desire to help him is laudable, there comes a point surely where the needs of the team outweigh the needs of the individual.
That’s not to say Jebbison should be simply cast aside, but Watford cannot afford to try and help him find his way back to his best in first-team games for too much longer.
There is understandable demand in some quarters to bring Mileta Rajovic back but Cleverley has already said the plan is for him to spend the second half of the season back at Brondby.
With the transfer window opening in a couple of days, there is always the option of signing or loaning another striker. That will depend on budget, space in the squad and some tough decisions.
Another midfielder must also be high on the list of considerations.
Sissoko’s performances have not responded to being dropped a couple of times now, and while he is well respected in the dressing room that leadership cannot be a reason to pick a player who is out of form.
With Tom Dele-Bashiru sidelined as well, a midfielder with defensive tendencies who can allow the born-again Imran Louza to continue to sparkle looks like another for the January list.
If four at the back is going to be a regular approach, then another option for the left-hand side would be desirable.
Without doubt readers will have their own ideas of where, who and what the club need if they are to sustain this unlikely but increasingly feasible bid for the play-offs.
Of course, there is only one person who knows – and importantly controls – what will happen in the January transfer window, but he was over in Italy yesterday watching Udinese draw 2-2 with Torino.
Gino Pozzo shuns the limelight (in the UK at least) but there are two months of the year when he has to emerge from his office for transfer talks, and January is one of them.
Back in August the owner saw fit to spend almost £1m on young Brazilian defender Keiky Almeida who might, given time, progress beyond being part of the Under-21s squad but that’s highly unlikely to be this season.
A similar outlay brought Kevin Keben to the club, a player recruited in the knowledge he would arrive recovering from an injury and who has since played one solitary minute of first-team football.
The third player to cost just shy of a million in the summer was Pierre Dwomoh, who has shown enough to suggest he can make an impact.
Vata, at about £230,000, has already shown he could be an absolute steal, so the players signed for cash last time round haven’t been a total let down.
Sissoko is struggling, and Angelo Ogbonna has not played enough between injuries to make a fair assessment, though he showed some class when he did feature.
The loan arrivals have all featured heavily - and Ebosele is certainly a player that offers plenty – with the exception of Antonio Tikvic, who has not registered a single minute of Championship football.
What Cleverley needs, like Slaven Bilic two years ago, are players for the here and now. Ones that can hit the ground running, make an immediate impact and fill the gaps we can all spot.
Bilic’s transfer plans were cast aside with the arrival of Ben Manga and that January window was pretty disastrous.
A year ago, stubbornness and belligerence on the part of Valerien Ismael meant the only arrival was Emmanuel Dennis, who was patently not fit. He scored some goals, but he wasn’t the same player that impressed in the Premier League.
In both 2022/23 and 2023/24, Watford have ended the season lower in the table than they were on January 1.
That’s certainly not all due to poor recruitment, but it has been a major factor.
Now the Hornets could head into 2025 in the play-off places, or at worst within each reach of them.
This January could tell us all so much about just what is inside Pozzo’s head.
In lieu of any words, we will – as usual – have to judge him by his actions.
