Second half goals from Lloyd Dyer and Gianni Munari gave Watford their first away win of the season as they ran out 2-0 winners at Rotherham Utd. An even first half ended 0-0 but substitute Lloyd Dyer made the breakthrough with 16 minutes remaining. Following his goal he gave the Hornets bench a volley of abuse presumably unhappy at being left out. Gianni Munari opened his Hornets account late on as he had the points safe for the Golden boys.
Beppe Sannino oversaw five changes and a change of formation for Watford following the 3-0 defeat to Norwich as the weekend. The Hornets lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Tommie Hoban replacing the suspended Joel Ekstrand. Ikechi Anya, Keith Andrews, Gianni Munari and Diego Fabbrini also came in, in place of Daniel Pudil, Daniel Tozser, Almen Abdi and Lewis McGugan.
Rotherham were without Ryan Hall, the man who scored their winner over Wolves on Saturday. Richard Smallwood who signed earlier today on loan from Middlesbrough was given a place in the starting line-up while former Hornet Scott Loach again had to make do with a place on the bench.
There was lots of energy and enterprise early on in the game but precious little goalmouth action as both sides cancelled each other out. Anya and Vydra combined well for Watford but the Czech International couldn’t quite find Deeney in the box. Vydra also had a free kick from 25 yards out but his effort went well over.
The Hornets felt they should have had a penalty midway through the first half when Deeney beat Rotherham goalkeeper Adam Collin to the ball inside the penalty area before the two collided but the referee waved away Watford’s protests.
The home side started to impose themselves on the game as the first half wore on and came close to taking the lead on a couple of occasions. Ben Pringle picked up the ball just outside the Watford box and hit a shot which Heurelho Gomes had to be alert to keep out.
The home side continued to press as the first half came to a close with Paul Taylor shooting over the bar from 20 yards out. Lee Frecklington also came close when he struck a shot from long range but Gomes was equal to it.
Half Time: Rotherham Utd 0-0 Watford
Second Half:
The hosts started the second half well and almost took the lead through Paul Taylor. A good move from Rotherham saw Taylor get on the end of a cross from Pringle but he put the ball over the bar.
The Hornets also looked more dangerous going forward at the start of the second half. They came close to scoring when Vydra found Keith Andrews in space but his effort was blocked as was Gianni Munari’s follow up effort.
Watford did get the ball in the net on the hour but saw their efforts denied by the linesman’s offside flag. The Hornets broke quickly in the Rotherham half with Deeney finding substitute Odion Ighalo. He put the ball into the net but was flagged offside.
Rotherham were next to have a chance on goal when Gabriel Tamas fouled Pringle on the edge of the box but Taylor’s free kick went over.
The Hornets then broke the deadlock after 74 minutes through substitute Lloyd Dyer. Odion Ighalo ran onto Deeney’s flick on and shot towards goal. Collin parried the ball and Dyer followed it up and smashed the ball into the roof of the net before running over to celebrate by angrily shouting at the Watford bench.
Watford were then denied a good penalty shout when Ighalo broke into the box in front of Kirk Broadfoot before being pulled down but the referee waved it away.
Unlike on many occasions last season when ahead away from home, the Hornets did not sit back but continued to attack and got their rewards when they doubled the lead with three minutes to go. Sustained Watford possession saw them find Tommie Hoban on the edge of the Rotherham box. He took the ball passed Broadfoot and played the ball across for Munari to score his first goal for the Hornets.
Rotherham missed a late chance to grab a consolation when Alex Revell found Taylor in the box but he shot over.
Full Time: Rotherham Utd 0-2 Watford
Rotherham Utd: Collin, Broadfoot, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz, Smallwood, Green (Tidser), Frecklington (Swift), Taylor, Pringle (Derbyshire), Revell
Subs Not Used: Loach (GK), Wood, Newton, Bowery
Watford: Gomes, Paredes, Tamas, Angella, Hoban, Fabbrini (Dyer), Andrews, Munari, Anya (Tozser), Vydra (Ighalo), Deeney
Subs Not Used: Bond (GK), Doyley, Abdi, Forestieri
Att: 9,361 (1,088 Hornets)
Ref: Mr David Webb
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