The Match Thread Watford 0 v 1 Derby County Steve Davies 51.mÃn 0:1 The Hornets welcome the County for the first game at Vicarage Road this season. After a strange week where the locals game was cancelled on police advice and the Rams perhaps wish their match was. WATFORD • The Manager – Sean Dyche on the Burnley match. View attachment 6445 "During the first 20 minutes we looked a bit unsure and cagey, then we settled down and nicked a goal and things started going in our favour.” "The two goals we gave away were soft. We were expecting them to put us under pressure because they play a very wide and expansive game, we were hoping to counter like we did a couple of times." "We've come up against a well fancied club who have got a lot of big players - to give that account of ourselves like we have gives us a lot of belief and a real foundation to move forward from." • The Hornets The Watford team has had a week off and the only player to benefit was Prince Bauben whol will have been working on his general fitness. Stephen McGinn is still out on the long term list. Update on the Hornet's latest statistics DERBYCOUNTY • The Manager – Nigel Clough ” Without doubt, the first half was just a lack of desire to work as hard as the opposition and that was after we had more than matched Birmingham City on Saturday.” "What did I say to the players at half-time? It was more a case of embarrassment for them. They were embarrassed with some of the things they were doing on the pitch.” "We wanted to build some momentum with a second home win but now we are back to square one going to Watford on Saturday and that is the single most disappointing factor.” • The Rams No suspensions and no injuries, that I can find, which what is the expectation of a team in the Hoops position. Everyone wants to play and be part of the game that gets promotion or the champions seat. Update on the Rams’ latest statistics Who will win? Current form DerbyCounty won well against relegated BirminghamCity and then threw this good work away against ShrewsburyTown, Watford on the other hand slumped to a draw on their travels after taking a two goal lead against Burnley. Akureyri's Prediction: 2-1 Watford will win their first game of the season but it will be a difficult game. Derby will be eager to show their fans that the cup match was just a hiccup. skál/skÃ¥l/cheers/salut Don't forget The Hornets' Nest, drop in for some match chat. Travellers may want some information about Watford.
Well done Ak. I have this one down as a home win. I only hope the players don't suffer from a wasted journey to Bristol.
Fantastic work as usual AK, i can see us winning this now that Savage has finally retired!! We wont be bullied out of the game this time either and i would love to see Dickinson and Eustace make so leg and spirit breaking tackles!!!!
Yes, the football season has truly returned - a AK match thread! Might as well go for my usual - 3-1 to Watford with the norverners scoring first.. BTW - Great news from Cally that he has had the all clear...
Looking forward to it but at this stage of the season I have no idea what the score will be. Derby will be encouraged by their result against Birmingham but are Birmingham going to be any good this season? Equally our result against Burnley looks great on paper, even with the sloppy nature of being pegged back, but how good are Burnley going to be this season? Hopefully pick up 3 points, Marvin gets a couple and we don't have to sweat the last 10 minutes* because our next half dozen games include some tough ones. * This is Watford, never going to happen!
Good work AK..think you've got the score about right W_Y and Si I agree with you about some toughies coming up between now and xmas. Hopefully the new boys will settle in quickly..the more they play together the more understanding will develop and the defence will gel. Come On You 'ORNS
Gonna go with a 2-2 again, because I dont think we have solved our defensive problems overnight and it's also one of those £1 games i think? which we always do really bad in.
2-1 seems to be the agreeable score and I find it hard to argue with this. I think we have a better squad than Derby, who despite making lots of noises over the summer have not signed too much quality e.g. by signing Theo Robinson who couldn't get into the Watford team. Won't be an easy game mind , I can see us go 2-0 up again, Derby scoring with 10 minutes to go and thus clinging on by the tip of our fingernails
As long as we win, it's about time we wone a competitive match after Burnley and the last few of last season.
Great thread AK! I have been looking forward to this for ages, Me and my 2 young lads 5 & 7 are excited, the missus not so excited tho ..... I am going for a watford 4 - 1 win with Sordell getting 2 ... Remember this come tomorrow at 5
Managed to get to this one last season and the game was all over by half time. Had to endure the second 45 mins bombarded with Robbie Savage wind-ups from the lads around me - OK and amusing for 10 mins then got a bit predictable. I am not sure what sort of performance Derby will put in as they were half decent last Saturday but woeful midweek against Shrewsbury. I have a lot of time for Clough Junior and respect him as a manager and would never underestimate him. I think he is still coming to terms with the Championship but expect him to have Derby challenging for promotion come next April. Nine of last years squad have been released including Robbie and he has brought in ten replacements with plenty of experience and quality - On paper I think that Derby are stronger than us. However I thought we performed well against Burnley and Marvin looks to be on his game so a hard fought win for us would be my prediction although I would not be at all surprised by a high scoring draw. Sorry to say but I thought Marvin looked Premiership class last Saturday.
3-1 to the 'Orns, with big Chris Iwelumo bagging a brace to make a memorable debut at Vicarage Road. Good luck Hornets!
