please log in to view this image BRIGHTON v WATFORD please log in to view this image VENUE : American Express Community Stadium Date: 25th April 2015 Kick Off : 12.15 BST please log in to view this image As this is our last away game of the 2014-15 season, I thought that maybe a brief review of our matches away from the Vic might be worthwhile. It seems an age ago that with Bepe in charge we started the league season with a trip into East Anglia and a 3-0 defeat at the hands of those Canaries, yet only three days later on a Tuesday night over a 1,000 diehards made the trip up to Rotherham to see a 2-0 triumph for the golden boys. 13th September and there is a new man in charge. Oscar Garcia has now taken over the steering of the good ship, but a trip into London does not produce a happy outcome. A 1-0 defeat at the hands of Charlton does not send the 3,199 fans from Watford back home in a happy frame of mind. On to Blackpool and a backs to the wall 1-0 win with a penalty from Vydra separating the two sides, followed by another trip to Blackburn where the spoils were shared 2-2 By mid-October there is another head coach in place, (yes there was another one who never travelled away) and Slavisa Jokanovic watched his side earn three points as they defeated Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Hillsborough with 1,444 hornets in attendance. On then to Middlesbrough (clearly not an away day favourite) and our Troy comes off the bench to salvage a point for us. November was not a good month home or away, and losses at both Birmingham and Ipswich didn’t exactly make it feel that this could be a season to remember. December is here, a month when often a season can be won or lost. Despite the disappointments of the previous month 2,448 travelled down to the banks of the Thames to see Abdi score a brace and Deeney a hatrick. On to Reading with another large travelling fan base and a ten man Watford held on for a narrow 1-0 win with another goal from Almen. It is the day of my birth and there is a trip into South Wales for the last game of 2014. A good present for me as we win 4-2 and there is renewed hope that this season might yet produce something special. 2015 started with a 3-1loss at Huddersfield, but we were in the top six despite the set-back. Then at the end of the month we were down on the south coast at Bournemouth and another defeat, this time 2-0. Gabriele Angella was sent off in the first minute of the game, something that kept the forums in full swing for some considerable time after. February brought a perfect record of wins on our travels, coming back with three points from Brentford, Bolton and Leeds. The last of these wins ensured that the ‘Orns’ were now in third place in the table and people were starting to believe this just might be our season. 7th March was a day that few of us will forget. Not for the 2-2 scoreline at Wolverhampton that meant we were level with three other teams at the top of the division, but for the senseless and brutal attack on Nic Cruwys after the game. Certainly the entire Watford ‘family’ of club, players and fans drew closer together in the following days and that has been witnessed at every game since. On then to Wigan and two goals from Troy took us to the very top of the Championship. This brings us into the current month and some difficult looking fixtures. Derby who are looking for promotion 2-2, Millwall trying to avoid relegation 2-0, Forest a team that have had a might've of been season 3-1, all with thousands of fans cheering the golden boys to the top of the table. Throughout the season the encouragement from the stands has been superb, my only sadness is that I could not join them. So now for the current encounter. please log in to view this image Brighton manager Chris Hughton can begin to look to next season now following a poor campaign, which started with hopes of promotion before turning into a battle to avoid the drop. Recent form: LLLDLL please log in to view this image The Hornets are a point clear of third-placed Middlesbrough following last weekend's hard-fought 1-0 win over Birmingham, but they know that only two wins from their final two games will guarantee them a place in the top flight. Recent form: LDWWWW Brighton Team News: They have no fresh injury concerns, with Chris Hughton having a near full-strength squad to choose from. Striker Sam Baldock misses out with a knee injury. Watford Team News: They have no injury problems, with Matthew Connolly fit again. Head To Head: Brighton have enjoyed the better record against Watford down the years from 110 meetings, recording 43 victories, opposed to the Hornets' 34 wins, while 32 games have finished equal. However, Watford are unbeaten in their last four against the Seagulls after the last meeting ended 1-1 at Vicarage Road back in October. Watford's last win at the Amex came in December 2012, when a brace from Vydra and a strike from Deeney handed them a 3-1 success. Top of the Championship Table. 1 Watford 44 39 85 2 Bournemouth 44 47 84 3 Middlesbrough 44 32 84 4 Norwich 44 38 82 5 Derby 44 32 76 6 Ipswich 44 18 75 7 Brentford 44 14 72 8 Wolves 44 11 72 Match officials:KEITH STROUD Mark Mellor and Gavin Muge Fourth Official Andy Davies Wherever You Are In The World Enjoy The Game If You Can #fornicforpromotion
Perfect OFH - really nice way to round off our travels. And a massive round of applause for the wonderful away support who have been top class all season. Well, Mex asked if we would take three 1-0 victories and I am hoping he was shrewd enough to accept the deal on behalf of us all. On Saturday they started off very sharply and I am hoping for more of the same. Whether they win both games remains to be seen of course but they're definitely good enough. History beckons - COYH! #fornicforpromotion
Thanks Frenchie. This is such a big game I'm just not going to predict anything and tempt fate. All week the thought of the game pops back into my head every 10 minutes or so. All we can hope is that this week and next week, the real Watford, the one we know how they can play, turns up and gets the results we're all dreaming of. COYH!
Frenchie, you've excelled yourself with this thread. Well done I'm heading in the opposite direction on Saturday as Mini Bloother is karting in Northampton. We'll be looking for a pub for a spot of lunch and the second half. If we can't find a pub showing our game we'll be making a quick exit and listening to 3CR. Well done to those that have supported the team home and away all season and We'll be with you on Saturday...in spirit if not in person. COYH
Well done Frenchie...great thread. I've lined up a pub not too far away which promises to show the game, that's if I can bear to watch.
Excellent stuff OFH, 5*'s from me. We will be leaving early afternoon on the train direct from Bandit Country to Brighton - Mrs W_Y was very pleased at my offer to take her away for the week-end, until Little Miss W_Y dropped a hint about the football! Still, I am sure we will meet up at some point on Saturday - probably breakfast in the B&B. I am feeling confident, but nervous. I will go for my normal prediction of a 3-1 victory.
As I said privately earlier that's a great thread. Now I'm all packed and just uploading some new toons to the ipod for my journey south tomorrow. Like everyone else I have been eagerly anticipating this game, my first ever in corporate so new ground for me! I suspect I won't be alone up there!! This week has dragged its backside. It's ridiculous. When Saturday comes indeed!
Even though I live in Brighton, I'm not going to this one... We've lost the last 2 games I've attended
Great thread OFH Was too slow on the uptake and didn't get a ticket. Gone are the days you can decide that week whether to go to many of the matches! Will be up for the last game next week though Will be a tough match. Watched the Brighton v Bournemouth game. Even though Brighton lost, they did play well albeit having very little attacking threat. I do exepct Mackail-Smith will score against us though. Texeira is out which is good as he looks pretty decent Brighton should be a team that will try and play good football, so hopefully this will allow plenty of space for us to play in to. I think I'll go with a nervy 2-1 win!
My thanks for an excellent thread to you OFH and all the others who have done this job throughout the season.
From the BBC. Brighton boss Chris Hughton could look to make changes ahead of the visit of promotion chasing Watford. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32362059 Just think if we were any of the the other three promotion candidates in the top spot we would be "Championship leaders". I appreciate we are promotion chasing so factually they are correct, but it is demeaning to SJ and the teams efforts, after all we were, at the time of writing, top of the league. I think Brighton will put up a fight and cause us problems. I really hope we don't bugger things up on the south coast and go and lose; as Bournemouth, Middlesbrough and Norwich can't all be relied upon to match a poor result.
