When Good Friday 3rd April 2015 19:45ko Where iPro Stadium, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8XL Brief Recent History Derby County were the nearly there men last season in the play-off final and Watford fans will empathise with Derby fans seeing as both teams finished 3rd and lost out in the play-off final. Derby however lost to QPR and fell to an 89th minute strike. Most people had their money on Derby to reach the promised land but they failed at the final hurdle. So far this season, Derby County has lived up to their billing but have found tough hard in their past 5-6 games and have dropped away. They will look to dropping a 2 goal lead at home to Birmingham City as a catalyst for their poor form which also includes losing at home to promotion rivals Middlesbrough. They were however fortuitous in picking up a point at Carrow Road against Norwich. Derby's most recent foray into the Premier League was in 2007/8 season which saw them break a number of records (and not in a good way) Form Table Last 6 games – Watford (3rd in Form Table) Away – LWWWDW. Home – WLWWWL. Combined – WWDWWL Derby County (21st in Form Table) Home – WWWWDL. Away – DDLLDL. Combined - LLDDLL Notable matches (Bogey Team Alert) At Derby – 4W, 6D, 10L At Watford – 8W, 7D, 7L Total – 12W, 13D, 17L Derby County have been a recent bogey team for us with Watford only winning 3 of the last 11 meetings between the sides. Derby won the remaining 8. The last Watford win was 2-1 at Vicarage Road in 12/13 season. The last away win for the Hornets was in 11/12 season with a 2-1 victory. Notable matches – Derby 5-1 Watford (1/9/12) – Following what anyone attending this match witnessed; someone with a crystal ball prophesised that Watford would finish the season in 3rd and play in the Play-off final you would have thought they were delusional. Ex-Players One Ex-Player that needs no introduction is former skipper John Eustace, probably one of Boothroyds better signings (despite seeming an odd one at the time). Eustace was much maligned initially obtaining the nickname of Euseless, his performances following his contract re-negotiation at Watford changed most fans opinions of him as he became vital in the Hornets midfield. Eustace eventually moved to Derby County for the 13/14 season despite Zola wanting to keep him on in a more backroom role, understandably, he wanted to continue to play football. The other Ex-Horn is Craig Forsyth. Primarily employed as a left-back, Forsyth can play further up the pitch. He was somewhat hit and miss for the Hornets which included a loan stint at Bradford but has become a regular for Derby County since his move signing a four year contract with the Rams in June 2014. He will also want to put a recent dismal performance against Wolves behind him. Another ex-Horn is George Thorne (unintentionally rhyming there) - George only played 8 games for Watford on loan from West Brom before he was loaned out to Derby County. The rangy midfielder impressed the Derby faithful and management as they subsequently paid a reported £2.6 – £3.2m for his services. Unfortunately for the Rams, Thorne suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury (his second injury of this type) in July 2014. Some sources have him back in contention for the Watford game. One to Watch Will Hughes is my pick of the Derby County team. He played for Mickleover Jubilee and joined Derby County as a first year scholar in 2011. He made his debut against Peterborough not long after in November 2011 aged a mere 16. Now aged 19, Will Hughes has already chalked up over 100 appearances for Derby County in the Championship and has been courted by numerous 'massive' clubs including Liverpool and Man Utd (usual fare). His role models include Xavi and Iniesta and he certainly has a very good technique and range of passing. The concern for Derby fans would be that if they don't go up this term that he'll be poached but he's still under contract with the club so will likely command a decent fee. Former Watford target Jeff Hendrick has been playing regularly for the Rams and is dangerous in midfield plus they have a number of decent loanees – Jesse Lingard, Tom Ince, Darren Bent and Omar Mascarell from Real Madrid. Team News To follow Ramblings and Prediction It has been highlighted numerous times on this forum about Watford's inability to beat a team in the top 8 (aside from Brentford). Watford need to put this hoodoo to bed over the next two games if they are serious about automatic promotion. Should Derby win, that'll move them to within 2 points of Watford, so, realistically, we need to avoid defeat. Derby will be no pushovers however despite their recent bad form and will likely be fired up for this match. The Watford players will need to match their desire if they want to come away from Pride Park with a draw or snatch a win. With the two week break, you would hope that some of Watford's key players will be back notably Almen Abdi and Fernando Forestieri. Watford's problem is in the full-back/wing-back department with a number of changes of personnel by Jokanovic. We don't seem to possess a consistent full-back that is able to put in a decent cross and defend/attack when required. Marco Motta looks the part and will be hoping to stamp his authority on the Right-back berth. Left-back seems to be the issue with Jokanovic chopping and changing personnel. Hoban and Anya have played there but neither have impressed particularly although Hoban seems more suited to the role. Miguel Layun can play in that position but has been employed in midfield to little effect. Daniel Pudil is the obvious choice but again his consistency is the issue and he has a tendency of losing his man. I wonder what Neuton is doing these days? Ha! Matthew Connolly – Will we see Matthew make his Watford debut against Derby? With Joel Ekstrand's serious injury we could see Matthew make his bow alongside either Gabrielle Angella or Craig Cathcart in the heart of the defence. Prediction – my heart says 0-1 win to Watford; my head says 2-1 to Derby – tough day for the Hornets. Promotion Rival Watch Middlesbrough face a tricky home game against a relegation threatened Wigan at 3pm on the 3rd April but you'd expect them to bag the 3 points. Ipswich and Bournemouth play each other at 17:15, 'Muff's away form has been patchy of late and Ipswich has seen an upturn in form. Let's hope that Tractor Boys wipe that smug grin from Howe's face – at least for a day. Wolves face a tricky away game at Nottingham Forest which could go either way. Norwich play Brighton away which on paper looks like a banana skin for the Canaries. Norwich will overtake Watford if they win and we fail to win (due to superior goal difference) Brentford and Fulham play each other in the West London derby. Brentford need the win and will probably get it. Famous Fans Graham Coxon Blur's guitarist hails from Derbyshire originally and supports the Rams, interestingly band-mate Alex James hails from Bournemouth but I do not know whether he supports the Cherries. Mr Tumnus The Satyr/Faun, Mr Tumnus is a regular at Pride Park (when he's not prancing about in Narnia) and is a season ticket holder. He's usually a placid person but do not cross him if Derby lose; he regularly charges down the road head first in a rage, butting random people.
Derby 3-0 Watford Tough night for the Hornets as they go on to lose every remaining game and finish 7th.
Marco Cassetti has gone, it's finished, he has retired, the love affair is over, we all miss him, his beard has grown long, he's not coming back... I know it's tough but life goes on, Watford WILL survive without him, Watford WILL win again ... Counselling is available somewhere I'm sure that can help your condition ....:doom:
Going to this game. Last away game I went to was 5-0 Watford vs Fulham. Alas my mum is tagging along so that may scupper things.
I had a dream.... It's only a dream... But we played a young centre back at left back and put 3 current international full backs on the bench. We played another international wing back in the centre of midfield and whilst he ran his socks off he didn't actually do anything... I saw a slightly younger not as good Cassetti playing on the other side that remarkably managed to ping a ball to every part of the ground OTHER than their penalty area... When it got sticky we put a forward on in midfield and took a wing back off and brought a different wing back on and played that wing back in a different un recognisable wing back position.... Anyway we drew !!!!!! (insert shakey head icon) Mainly due to the fact Jokas new tactic of putting 11 men our box to defend corners was expanded on and we all laid in the goal on top of each other like a human wall... The positive was we had this midfielder on loan who was absolutely brilliant.... But he leaves before the play offs and Abdi still isn't fit so Connor Smith gets brought in for Wembley !
The half fit Bent puts Derby in front early on, before fading badly and being replaced at half time. Somewhat fortunate to have come in only one down at the break, Watford start the second half well. Within five minutes of the restart, Motta clatters Forsyth and sends a cross over which Deeney smashes home to the fury of McClaren and the Derby faithful who believe they should have had a free kick. The perceived injustice galvanises Derby, who tighten up at the back and begin attacking robustly, only to find Angella and Gomes in fine form. With the game approaching stoppage time, Derby are camped in the Watford half, but they fall behind to a breakaway goal from Guedioura, who rifles home from just outside the box after being teed up by Vydra, and the game finishes Derby 1 Watford 2. A wide eyed Joka looks daggers at the BBC reporter and sends a chilling warning to Middlesbrough that Watford's Easter Job is only half done.
FIFA Predicts... Derby County 0 - 1 Watford 3' - Tozser - Tozser capitalises on a mistake in the box and half volleys it with his right foot Watford substitutions: 55' - Forestieri off/Munari on Man of the match: Daniel Tozser Odds: TBC --------------------------------- P40 W25 D8 L7 Pts83 GD23 We would be 1st in the table Top scorers: Deeney (12) Vydra (8) Ighalo (7) Most assists: Abdi (7) Tozser (7) Ighalo (5)
Its quite pleasant not having a serious issue with the teams around us for once this season. The exchange of messages between fans in zola's season were toxic. Derby are a decent club and would be a solid team to get promoted to the premier league.
Half of me thinks it'll be another disasterous outing against a top side, the other half thinks it could be similar to our demolition of Fulham in front of the cameras and we'll shock everybody (even ourselves!) by romping to an emphatic victory. Uff my indecision. I'll be back on the day of the match to vote one way or the other!
Out of curiosity, does anyone know when we last had two consecutive games televised on Sky? Not counting playoffs, obviously.
Derby are done. If the season started 6 games ago they would be near the bottom and their form beforehand matters for little. We have better players and will overwhelm them 3-1.
Not long ago that we were saying that Derby have one of the best squads in the division, and that was before they signed Bent, Ince and Lingard. Not going to be an easy game, they'll be determined to ensure their run stops at 6 games. Still just about fancy us. 2-1 Watford.
Leicester (A), Leeds (H), Leicester (A), Leicester (H), Crystal Palace (N) was quite a run. 5 games in a row - doubt that has ever happened to us before!
Funny how Leicester have featured so much in those sequences, yet all being well we won't be playing them this season and next!
I have a bad feeling about the Derby game because of one arrogant, horrible little man...Tom Ince. Always seems to score against us. I hate him and his 'home and away' eyed pr1ck of a father. Please Troy and the boys, don't let Ince have the last laugh again. DO HIM! DO DERBY! DO THIS LEAGUE! COME ON YOU 'ORNS!
