Watford Well Beaten By Huddersfield

Watford endured a disappointing end to the season as they humiliated, losing 4-1 at home to Huddersfield Town. After a drab opening first half the visitors took the game away from Watford after the break with a first professional goal from Joe Lolley and a hat trick from first half substitute Danny Ward. One consolation for the Hornets was Troy Deeney’s 90th minute penalty which saw the striker hit 25 goals for the season

Beppe Sannino made four changes from the Watford side that lost 3-1 at Charlton on Tuesday. Marco Cassetti returned from suspension in place of Lloyd Doyley and Gabriele Angella came in for Essaid Belkalem. Daniel Pudil replaced the suspended Albert Riera, whilst youngster Alex Jakubiak made his first start for the Hornets in place of Davide Faraoni with Ikechi Anya reverting to right wing back.

There was a place in the Huddersfield starting XI for former Jonathan Hogg, the midfielder making his first appearance at Vicarage Road since leaving last summer. Mark Robins picked youngster Joe Lolley from the start again whilst captain Peter Clarke continued to sit out on the bench.

The Hornets started the game very brightly, passing the ball crisply and should have taken the lead when a neat passing move saw Ikechi Anya play the ball through to Alex Jakubiak but the striker shot straight at Alex Smithies.

At the other end Nahki Wells looked lively and had an early effort on goal that was saved comfortably by Jonathan Bond.

Huddersfield then began to find their feet but were restricted to a number of long range efforts. Paul Dixon fired well over from 30 yards, and substitute Danny Ward also shot wide from outside the box.

Watford then came close to taking the lead when Troy Deeney played in Cristian Battocchio but his effort from a tight angle was saved by Smithies and the rebound was scrambled behind for a corner.

Half Time: 0-0
Second Half

Watford started the second half extremely poorly and found themselves behind after just 40 seconds. Gabriele Angella gave the ball away in the Watford half and Adam Clayton got on the ball and found Joe Lolley in the box and he finished low into the far corner.

Things got worse for the Hornets after 54 minutes when the Terriers doubled their lead through Danny Ward. Another move forward from the visitors saw Joe Lolley find Ward in the box and his shot went through Jonathan Bond and into the net.

The Hornets livened up slightly after the introduction of Samba Diakite. The midfielder made a good run just after the hour and saw things open up for him but his shot was blocked.

Huddersfield then added a third after 65 minutes through Danny Ward’s second of the game. A long ball forward wasn’t dealt with by the Watford defence and Ward hit it left footed from the edge of the box into the net off the post.

Watford did have a chance to get a consolation goal when substitute Davide Faraoni made a run down the left and got the ball in space but shot straight at Smithies.

A bad afternoon got worse for the Hornets when they conceded a fourth after 87 minutes, a goal which completed first half sub Danny Ward’s hat trick. A free kick on the left corner of the area was taken by Ward and it somehow beat Bond at his near post.

There was some consolation for the Hornets supporters though as they pulled a goal back in the final minute through Deeney, his 25th goal of the season. Deeney was fouled in the penalty area following a corner and the Hornets striker stepped up from the spot and sent Smithies the wrong way.

Full Time: 1-4

Watford: Bond, Hoban, Cassetti, Angella, Anya, Battocchio (Doherty), Tozser, Murray (Diakite), Pudil, Jakubiak (Faraoni), Deeney

Subs Not Used: Almunia (GK), Doyley, Belkalem, O’Nien

Huddersfield: Smithies, Smith, Lynch, Gerrard (Clarke), Dixon, Norwood, Hogg, Clayton, Lolley (Scannell), Hammill, Wells (Ward)

Subs Not Used: Bennett (GK), Woods, Holmes, Gobern

Att: 15,370

Ref: Mr David Coote