Watford v Blackburn 26/10/24
Tom Cleverley’s mission to make a fortress of Vicarage Road took another tentative step forward against a hapless Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Watford’s home form is impressive, but fears remain that closer inspection of the foundations may yield the discovery of little more than sand.
Coming into the game the visitors brought with them an away record as dismal as that of their hosts. Yet for much of a fairly drab encounter it was the Lancashire side who seemed the most likely victors.
Watford’s victory owed plenty to Blackburn’s profligacy, which was highlighted by an extraordinary escape early on for the Hornets.
With eight minutes on the clock Daniel Bachmann parried a cross directly into the path of the oncoming Dominic Hyam. Unleashing a shot that appeared to defy the laws of physics, the Blackburn defender’s close range effort cannoned from crossbar to post without ever crossing the goal line.
Bachmann then pushed away a headed effort on goal but his save did little to quell the first mutterings of discontent. The beleaguered Austrian has become a lightening rod for disgruntled elements in Watford’s support.
Returning from injury to replace the blameless Jonathan Bond against Luton Town Bachmann arrived just in time to participate in a debacle.
The M1 rivalry was apparent in the stands at Kenilworth Road but not on the pitch, where the hornets were outmuscled and outfought by a hungrier, sharper home side.
The team’s senior players and manager felt the wrath of Watford’s travelling support at full time, and while not at fault for any of Luton’s three goals the Austrian caught more than his fair share of the flak.
Hampered by a thigh injury he had been unable to kick the ball. Being desperate to play in the game that matters most to Watford fans cuts no ice with his detractors. Not with a jilted Jonathan Bond sat on the bench.
Three days later Cleverley chose to stick with the Austrian for the trip to Elland Road. Against Leeds the goalkeeper’s discomfort in getting a pre match soaking from a sprinkler was as nothing compared to the cosmic shit storm that engulfed him after the match.
It was a game where Tom Cleverley needed his team to show a response following their callow showing in the derby. They were up against tough opposition.
Culpable for two goals in the first ten minutes, his goalkeeper did little to help the cause. The team rallied, as did Bachmann, but the hole was too deep for the team to get out of.
Facing the press to make a post match public apology did little to quell the opprobrium being heaped on the Austrian. But then when you are a hate figure your every move is grist to the mill. Compilations of his errors are spliced together for social media hits. Kill the witch.
Udinese’s Vakoun Bayo is another player currently ripe for social media ridicule. A bowl of carrots is among the least offensive options offered up by Watford fans as an alternative in the side to the Ivorian.
Bayo came on in a flurry of second half substitutions that helped tilt the game in Watford’s favour against Blackburn.
He worked tirelessly, he pressed, he held up the ball and won crucial, time eating free kicks as the minutes ran out for the visitors. The team were better for him being there.
The match was won with the games first shot on target, Edo Kayembe cooly stroking home the decisive penalty.
Watford made it over the line, claiming their first clean sheet since the opening day of the season. Bachmann was between the sticks on both occasions.
Before kick off a tifo was displayed in the Rookery Stand in honour of Tom Cleverley. Player, captain, and now coach.
While the banner lauding the coach was passed above the heads of those in the Rookery End there were still plenty of metaphorical pitch forks tucked away under the seats for his first choice goalkeeper.
For now it seems their fortunes are tied at the hip. The torches are out for the Austrian, and his manager could still yet get burnt.
