Deeney’s second half performance should be very much applauded, got us through that and deserves the plaudits. That being said, that should be the standard held by us, management, and himself. You
Another great win. Full marks to Deeney tonight. Apart from penalties he doesn't look like scoring, but he was more mobile tonight with plenty of contribution going forward and at the back. Scored the pen, and made the goal, but they were the icing on the cake. If he puts in the effort like that once every two or three games we'd all be pleased as he will end up contributing. Trouble is, after he had a really good game last year, he followed up with poor performances. Still need a goalscorer, though. Pedro was good again. I thought Chalobah also did well. He was strong, mobile and looked like a credible Capoue replacement tonight. And Sarr's body language has been poor at times, but he really does put in a shift. He never stops and I hope his finish tonight gives him the confidence to be more positive when attacking. The defence are also looking good again, with just a momentary blip tonight, but their's was a really good goal. Seven winnable games next before we go to Muff, and our mindset and attitude is improving all the time. I can see us in a run of 10 straight wins. Every other team, if they have any sense, will be seeing us as they danger.
I was thinking at half time this was gonna be a good night for the bedwetter . Deeney anonymous, no attacking threat , couldn’t strong 3 passes together . Looked like another predictable away defeat, potentially to a late set piece goal! Somehow ,despite not playing very well we won it with a couple of moments of quality. Stoke are quite a limited side . They bullied us a bit but we’re just first to everything and closed us down brilliantly . Once they are 1-0 down though they did t have much attacking threat. so it’s turned into a bad night for the bedwetters. Third in the table , an away win , scored 2 goals . Deeney with a goal and assist . Thought Pedro was excellent and the one bright spark in the first half . Sarr showed moments of quality in the second half . Zincy a bit anonymous when he came on. Great result though so I’m happy tonight I’d given up on autos a few weeks ago but think it might still be possible . But there still feels a long way to go to find the right balance for this team
I'll take rotten refs over VAR every time. Let's all have a disco with Deeney, Sarr and Xisco la la la la
A Britpop quiz? How specific are quizzes these days? Coming next, a quiz based solely around Ian Dury’s first album.
Our best ever start to a second tier season continues. It's absolutely disgraceful what Pozzo and Duxbury are doing to our club. Why aren't we battling for the drop?
Stoke worked really hard and stifled us but they ran out of puff about the 60 minute mark. This may have been the plan.
If the ref was competent we would have had 3 penalties. First half felt like watching an Ivic side, 2nd half was much more like it. Thought that was the best performance from Deeney in 12 months. Great finish from Sarr and I love how Pedro doesn't care who he rows with.
When was the last time we played a league Friday night game (not counting that fateful night at the London Stadium when it wasn't a normal schedule)? Was it the 5-0 at Fulham?
Sarr often stops too early when being fouled (not tonight) but Pedro fights through it. Either way, you are spot on, neither are getting the support from refs they should do.
OK, should've remembered that, it's just not something I remember us doing often even at this level. There were some really memorable Friday night victories in 2010/11, 3-2 at Norwich on the opening day and 3-1 at QPR.
Awful first half but to be fair Stoke had very few chances . 2cnd half much better and we were always the team that looked most likely to score . We switched off a bit defensively near the end and it is unusual to make defensive substitutions. Not sure about W T-E . He makes Britos look cultured when in possession!. Turner-Overdrive looks decent between the sticks tho and can only get better You ain't seen nothing yet
Lots of mentions for Troy scoring one and creating the other. He effectively created the first too with that chipped ball through for Sarr, so could claim to have created both. Brilliant finish by Sarr for the second.
Great result that I really was not expecting us to get 3 points from tonight's game. I don't necessarily rate Stoke City but they are pushing for the play offs and I would have took a 2-1 victory at 7:45. Troy deserved man of the match he won that game for us single handedly really, the ball that he put over the top for Sarr when we won the penalty was decent and then the strike from the spot was very good the keeper was never getting it, the assist to Sarr was also brilliant and it was an excellent finish from Sarr. Troy even knocked the ball passed a defender and beat him in a race in the second half.
He got his shot on target from a difficult position and the bobble beat the GK but strange things do happen when you hit the target. A lesson for one of our other forwards ....hit the target
Think my favourite one was Norwich in that gorgeous red & black striped kit. Graham, Sordell & Deeney trio I believe. I think Norwich had just come down from the Prem, kept a strong squad and were meant to spank us and we won 3-1 or 3-2?
They’d just come up I think, but either way they were expecting to beat us. DG got two, Sordell one. It was Deeney’s debut. Good away day.
Sierelta looked to be limping a little bit just before his substitution and Cathcart could probably do with some minutes in his legs. Kiko looked to be a bit tired late on also. So.the subs were understandable.
A game of two halves for sure. First half sh1t, second half slightly better but with a couple of moments of pure quality to win us the game. Troy De Bruyne deserved his MotM tonight. Set up up both goals with Premier League quality passing. Love the way he smashes in his penalties too. Tonight's was one of his better ones as the keeper had no chance unless he dived. Keepers are just standing still now, so if he's smart he can just side foot the next one for a cheap goal as no keeper is going to dive anymore. Can't sugar coat this too much though. That first half was so, so bad. We were carrying so many players. Masina, Chalobah, WTE & Sarr all had stinkers. Masina was poor in the second half too. Hats off to Munoz. For me that was a test for him at half time and he came through with flying colours. We did improve, and those moments of quality turned the game. It should have been more comfortable than it was in the end, but then it wouldn't be Watford if we ran out easy 2-0 winners. A victory is enjoyed more when you're clinging on and escaping near misses in the final minute. Watford love a last minute goal after all. We've taken 6 points from Stoke, and that's good going as they are one of those big physical sides who bully and pull back players as a proud tactic. They were strong in both boxes from corners and got their head on everything. Still how much work did Bachmann do. Nothing in the first half, and I remember a couple of decent saves in the second, plus their goal. So not overly worked. 4 wins from 5 league games. That good run has crept up very quickly. Now the next few look a lot easier on paper. We really have to press home our advantage now. To pick up 12 points from fixtures against Norwich, Swansea, Barnsley, Huddersfield and Stoke is good going. That's definitely put us back in with a realistic shout of top two as things stand right now and there's still a lot more to come from this side.
Very impressive win that. Seemed to show something tonight that we’ve not seen for a while - a bit of grit. We weren’t particularly great but that makes it all the better. Certainly signs of improvement overall. Deeney again played deep but he ran the show second half which will upset a few. The spat between Sarr and Pedro after Barnsley seems to have kicked Sarr into life.
Deeney made his debut coming on as sub I seem to recall but didn't score. Think John Eustace got our first, Danny Graham also scored can't remember the other one possibly Graham got two.
