WBA v WATFORD
Venue: The Hawthorns
Monday 8th August 2022
Kick Off: 2000 BST
Perhaps the most memorable meeting between these two sides came in March 1996. Albion had recently ended a 14-game winless streak in Division One but they were still in the relegation zone as bottom-of-the-table Watford went to the Hawthorns. On a pitch that had partially been cleared of snow, Bob Taylor opened the scoring with a strike from the edge of the box on 13 minutes before Richard Sneekes made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later after he was put through on goal by Andy Hunt. It was the Dutchman’s debut for the Baggies and the start of a remarkable run of 10 goals in 13 games. The hosts looked to have made the points safe when Taylor grabbed his second when he stabbed home a cross by Shane Nicholson. Watford had other ideas, however, and goals from Craig Ramage and Colin Foster made it 3-2 by half time. Albion restored a two goal lead with just eleven minutes left when Sneekes set up Taylor for his hat-trick, the only one of his Albion career. But such had been the porous nature of the Baggies defence that season, there was still time for Ramage and Foster to both add their second goals to make the final score 4-4.
No one expects a similar game this Monday, but many pundits are saying that the Watford front three are enough to frighten many defenders at Championship level. The usual comment is about how long the Horns can field such a line up.
West Brom are still bringing new players into their squad, and Bruce is suggesting that a couple of their signings might be fit enough to play.
Both Albion and Watford will hold top two aspirations this season, which means victory for either would be a real statement of intent.
Our Referee
Tim Robinson will be the man in charge when Watford go to West Bromwich Albion on Monday night. His first game of the season was the fiery encounter between Cardiff City and Norwich City, won 1-0 by the Welsh side but in which both teams finished with 10 men.
Venue: The Hawthorns
Monday 8th August 2022
Kick Off: 2000 BST
Perhaps the most memorable meeting between these two sides came in March 1996. Albion had recently ended a 14-game winless streak in Division One but they were still in the relegation zone as bottom-of-the-table Watford went to the Hawthorns. On a pitch that had partially been cleared of snow, Bob Taylor opened the scoring with a strike from the edge of the box on 13 minutes before Richard Sneekes made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later after he was put through on goal by Andy Hunt. It was the Dutchman’s debut for the Baggies and the start of a remarkable run of 10 goals in 13 games. The hosts looked to have made the points safe when Taylor grabbed his second when he stabbed home a cross by Shane Nicholson. Watford had other ideas, however, and goals from Craig Ramage and Colin Foster made it 3-2 by half time. Albion restored a two goal lead with just eleven minutes left when Sneekes set up Taylor for his hat-trick, the only one of his Albion career. But such had been the porous nature of the Baggies defence that season, there was still time for Ramage and Foster to both add their second goals to make the final score 4-4.
No one expects a similar game this Monday, but many pundits are saying that the Watford front three are enough to frighten many defenders at Championship level. The usual comment is about how long the Horns can field such a line up.
West Brom are still bringing new players into their squad, and Bruce is suggesting that a couple of their signings might be fit enough to play.
Both Albion and Watford will hold top two aspirations this season, which means victory for either would be a real statement of intent.
Our Referee
Tim Robinson will be the man in charge when Watford go to West Bromwich Albion on Monday night. His first game of the season was the fiery encounter between Cardiff City and Norwich City, won 1-0 by the Welsh side but in which both teams finished with 10 men.
