Sissoko helped Cleverley when he took charge of Watford
Unbeknown to most, only days after last season had ended, Tom Cleverley was feeling confident that he would bring Moussa Sissoko back to Watford.
Norwich 4 Watford 1 – the game as it happened at Carrow Road
Norwich handed Watford a hefty lunchtime beating at Carrow Road, and there were no real excuses for the 4-1 defeat.
Another early goal set the tone, and although the Hornets got level, the home side were generally better and thoroughly deserved the points.
There was a first start for Daniel Jebbison while Rocco Vata made his first league start for the Hornets.
James Morris came into the defence on the left while Ken Sema replaced Yasser Larouci at left wing-back.
New signing Angelo Ogbonna was on the bench, along with fit-again Imran Louza and Kwadwo Baah.
Edo Kayembe didn’t feature as the Hornets tried to help him shake off a thigh issue that has been troubling him for a while.
For the fourth successive game Watford conceded inside five minutes, and by the time 15 minutes were on the clock both Francisco Sierralta and Dan Bachmann had gone off injured.
After a pretty torrid 15 minutes they levelled with a fine finish from Ryan Andrews and looked back in the game, but right at the end of stoppage time they were undone by a simple loing ball over the top and trailed 2-1 at the break.
The second half started no better than the first for Watford who fell further behind inside 10 minutes, and after that although the home side sat back and let Watford play, they only rarely looked like breaking through.
As time ticked down, the home side added the fourth with another goal created by a simple ball in behind the defence.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
1 – Tremendous save from Bachmann who gets across goal to deny Sargent what looked a certain goal as he slid to meet a low cross at the back post.
3 – Norwich 1 (Doyle) Watford 0
It’s getting worryingly repetitive this. Doyle runs at the defence who back off and then shoots from 25 yards, the ball seemingly deceiving Bachmann who appeared to tip it into the net.
5 – Chakvetadze’s corner drops to Dele-Bashiru just inside the box but he shoots way over.
12 – McLean rises well at a corner but heads into the side netting.
16 – Nunez hit a deep free kick which Cordoba headed over the bar.
19 – Doyle crossed from the left and the diving Sargent headed wide of the near post.
23 – Norwich have the ball in the net again but scorer Sainz was offside when he ran onto the pass.
26 – Norwich 1 Watford 1 (Andrews)
Vata’s sublime turn saw him hit a shot that was deflected onto the post. Sema regained possession and his cross to the back of the box was met with a low sidefooted volley by Andrews that squeezed between Gunn and Duffy on the line.
29 – Schwartau surged forward but Bond pouches his long-range shot.
30 – Chakvetadze sends a shot from the edge of the box over the top.
31 – Chakvetdaze’s corner almost goes straight in, comes back off the post and Jebbison hooks the rebound wide.
35 – Sargent turns well on the edge of the box but then scuffs a shot straight at Bond.
