please log in to view this image Watford Vs West Bromwich Albion please log in to view this image Saturday 15 August 2015 3PM Vicarage Road Stadium Last season our first home game of the season against Bolton Wanderers saw supporters arriving at a sunshine bathed Vicarage Road full of optimism for a good season ahead in the Championship. Tomorrow sees our ground, with a now completed facelift on the East side, hosting top flight football for the first time since 2007. please log in to view this image We go into the game on the back of a very encouraging 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park with goals from Migeul Layun (his first for the club and what a cracker it was!) and Odion Ighalo who is now the leading goal scorer in the top four divisions in 2015 with 17 goals. Our visitors, Tony Pullis’ West Bromwich Albion had one of the hardest starts possible losing 3-0 at the Hawthorns to Manchester city but can perhaps take comfort form the fact that in each of the last 5 seasons the eventual champions opened their campaigns on a Monday night. Given the activity in the transfer market in the summer, doubtless the media’s favourite game will be “guess the Watford starting line up” and this week the focus has been on whether Matej Vydra will be in the starting 11 against the club who he spent a year on loan with in the 2013 / 2014 season. Meanwhile, Alessandro Diamanti’s loan move to Watford from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande is unlikely to go through in time for the attacking midfielder to feature in this match. The visitors’ close season has been dominated by speculation over striker Saido Berahino but as things stand he remains at the Hawthorns. Yesterday they paid Zenit St Petersburg a club record for Venezuelan forward Salomon Rondo and have also signed James Maclean and Callum Mcmanaman from Wigan, Rickie Lambert from Liverpool, Darren Fletcher from Manchester United and James Chester from Hull. Head to head This is our first top flight meeting with West Brom since 1985. In that season we ran out 5-1 winners at Vicarage road on 24 August and were beaten 3-1 in the return at the Hawthorns on 22 December. Overall we have played each other 33 games with West Brom winning 16, Watford emerging victorious in 9 and 8 ending in draws. At Vicarage Road Watford have won 6, West Brom 7 and 4 have been drawn. Our last league win was in the 1994 / 95 season where we actually completed the double over them. The last win we had was on 24 January 2003 winning a 4th round FA Cup match 1-0 in a season where we reached the semi-finals. Man in the middle The match referee is Paul Tierney and the Assistants P Kirkup, and D Bryan. Mike Dean is the Fourth Official. This is only Tierney’s second premier league match in charge having officiated the Swansea vs West Brom match in August 2014 with Swansea winning 3-0. He took charge of 17 championship games last season including our fixtures away at Norwich City where Joel Ekstrand was red carded, Fulham where their keeper Marcus Bettinelli was dismissed and at Nottingham Forest where Kelvin Wilson was sent off. Rather ominously, 3 of the 5 red cards he dished out were in games we were involved in! Team news None as yet.
Great thread, Dan. Given what you report about the ref, I don't think we will finish the game with 11 players.
I was thinking that - this is where we could do well from having different options on the bench. Play them at their own game then inject some real pace / flair towards the end if we need to. Was impressed by Flores' use of the bench last week.
It's 60 years since I saw my first professional football match. We lived in Birmingham then and West Brom were at home, I think against Portsmouth. In the Albion team that season were Don Howe and Bobby Robson, both of whom also became well known managers later. Seems rather a long time ago now but I remember arriving at 1.30 so we could stand against the wall behind the goal.
Nice one Dan, if I could work out how to do it, I would give you 5*'s! Cannot wait now, it seems an age since that week-end in Brighton..I predict a 2-1 Watford win. Now we are in the Prem, I will have to trim my usual 3-1 prediction!
From me as well. I believe we will have a great atmosphere at the revamped Vic. There are supposed to be a 1000 flags to be issued and with a full house there will be plenty of noise. Just how well the team has come together remains to be seen, but I thought I witnessed some very promising signs against Everton.
In Cornwall on holiday for this one but just bought Southampton tickets for next week. Like OFH, I was really encouraged by last week so let's hope it continues tomorrow. Will try and get updates from the beach! COYH!
Just got back from Cornwall and our season tickets were waiting. Bring it on. Did you go to Lands End A1? The guy who does the photos is a Watford fan.
Nice one, Dan. I'm feeling confident that we shall lay the West Brom hoodoo to rest in spectacular fashion. Bring it on.
Enjoy! I cannot go today because of a family do but am going to Southampton. Think we will give a good account of ourselves today.
Good stuff, Dan. Except you've reminded me of the 1985 away fixture when I was on the receiving end of a kicking from some WBA louts. So I hope we stuff them royally today- I have a long memory! Can't wait to see the ground on MOTD. Yooorns!!!
http://cricfree.sx/watch/live/watford-vs-west-bromwich-albion-live-streaming http://crichd.in/live/live-football-streaming http://firstrowsportes.eu/ http://www.realstreamunited.com/football-live-streaming-video.html No idea which will work, but if desperate I guess one might.
WatfordFC please log in to view this image : Gomes; Nyom, Cathcart, Prödl, Anya; Behrami, Capoue; Ighalo, Jurado, Layun; Deeney. Watford substitutes: Gilmartin, Angella, Holebas, Watson, Berghuis, Abdi, Vydra.
West Brom side v WatfordFC please log in to view this image : Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt; Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison, Berahino; Lambert. West Brom subs WatfordFC please log in to view this image : Rose, Chester, Lescott, McClean, McManaman, Anichebe, Rondon. #WBA please log in to view this image
