Watford Starts Championship on a Perfect Note
Former English Premier League side Watford has started their back to the English Premier League journey on a very good note as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in the Championship Matchday 1 encounter. It was a hard fight for the two teams but an early goal from defender Craig Cathcart in handed Watford the victory aa the game ended 1-0.
Defender Craig Cathcart opened the scoring in first 11 minutes of the game, he headed past Middlesbrough goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. The Hornets, who were just relegated from the Premier League last season and now under new boss Vladimir Ivic, should have made it 2-0 up but Joao Pedro sent a header wide.
Middlesbrough on the other had plenty of the ball but failed to seriously test Ben Foster in the Watford goal, with even captain Assombalonga’s effort from 20 yards only drawing a relatively straightforward save. Watford keeper Ben Foster kept out another Assombalonga shot with his feet, while Grant Hall wasted their only other clear sight of goal, sending a close-range effort over the bar from a corner.
At the other end of the day Watford was able to hold Boro even without their key players who out through injury, the likes of former Barcelona man Gerard Deulofeu, former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck and their skipper Troy Deeney.
Watford head coach Vladimir Ivic after the game said: “It is a good start, a clean sheet and we won the game so we can be satisfied with the result and the three points.” “I believe that we didn’t do good things in our attacking moments, we didn’t play very well with the ball, we have to work a lot to improve this part of the game. “Sometimes in a game, things don’t go in the direction you prepare it but it was the first game. “There wasn’t enough time to work and improve, especially in this attacking part, we need to be much better.”
Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock also spoke about the match he said: “[On Cathcart’s goal] It’s a Sunday League goal, what can you say? I don’t expect to concede them at any stage of the season, you can’t say we don’t practice enough.” “That is football, isn’t it? I don’t think our goalie had a shot to save but it is all about putting the ball in the back of the net so you have got to give them credit.”
The manager also said: “I don’t think they had a clue how to break us down, I think the goalkeeper played centre-half in the second half so I can’t be happier with that, but which dressing room would I rather be in tonight? The winning one.”