please log in to view this image please log in to view this image LAST TIME OUT FORM GUIDE Watford 8 PNE 7 https://www.watfordfc.com/ https://wfcforums.com/index.php?forums/the-hornets-nest-watford-chat.128/ https://www.not606.com/forums/watford.57/ Manager Slaven Bilić (pronounced [slǎʋen bǐːlitɕ];[2][3] born 11 September 1968) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player. He is the current manager of EFL Championship side Watford. Bilić, who played as a defender, began his career in 1988 with his hometown club Hajduk Split, later having successful spells with Karlsruher SC in Germany, and West Ham United and Everton in England before retiring from active football in 2001. At the international level, Bilić served as one of Croatia's most consistent defenders during the tenure of coach Miroslav Blažević, earning 44 caps between 1992 and 1999, and playing in UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup, helping the team to the third place at the latter tournament. Following his playing retirement in 2001 at Hajduk Split, Bilić coached the team in the second half of the 2001–02 season. Between 2004 and 2006, he managed the Croatia national under-21 team before taking over the senior national side. He led the team to the quarter-finals of the 2008 European Championship and left after the next edition four years later. He was praised for his long-standing service to the national side and credited with successfully overseeing the introduction of a series of young players from the under-21 squad to the senior side.[4][5] He left for the Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow in 2012 and then spent two years apiece managing Turkish club Beşiktaş and West Ham United. During the 2018–19 season he was the head coach of Al-Ittihad, and on 13 June 2019 he became the manager of West Bromwich Albion. After this he became manager of Chinese team Beijing Guoan, before becoming manager of Watford in 2022. Musical Connection to Dave Whelan tenuous in the extreme But here we go Elton John also known as Reg Dwight previously a director of Watford his cousin was Roy Dwight who scored for Forest in the 1959 Cup Final before being carried off with a broken leg llater in the game, Dave Whelan played in the cup final a year later for some crap club in East Lancashire and also broke his leg apparently, a fact Whelan rarely mentions in interviews. Elton wrote a song called I'm still standing about not breaking his leg In The Dressing Room please log in to view this image Both Ben Whiteman and Robbie Brady will be back available after serving their respective suspensions. Manager Ryan Lowe also confirmed Greg Cunningham will be in contention, having missed the midweek draw against Coventry City with a knock. Andrew Hughes is on the grass following his injury, but he is unlikely to feature, with the manager keen on not rushing the defender back to action. A Look At Our Hosts please log in to view this image Having been relegated from the Premier League last season, Watford have been in and around the Play-Off spots for the majority of the current campaign. They sit just outside of the top six as things stand – four points behind Luton Town in sixth – but they’ve had a tricky run of late, facing top two Burnley and Sheffield United within the last fortnight. With Slaven Bilić in charge, the Hornets have a man who has already tasted promotion to the top flight previously with West Bromwich Albion, and he’ll be hoping to add another to his CV come the end of the campaign. Going Head To Head Games played: 45 PNE wins: 18 Draws: 14 Watford wins: 13 Last victory: PNE 1-0 Watford, 25th August 2015 One To Watch please log in to view this image It was perhaps surprising to see Watford manage to hold on to Ismaïla Sarr following their relegation from the Premier League last season, after his impressive displays for club and country. He’s turned out to be a key man for the Hornets this season, proving to once again be a regular source of goals, while his skill and creativity on the wing is also hugely important to the side from Hertfordshire. Sarr’s contract at Vicarage Road is actually up at the end of the season, so there’s a decision to be made there between club and player, but he’ll be hoping to end the campaign strongly, whether it’s his last in a Watford shirt or not. Match Officials please log in to view this image Gavin Ward will take charge of his second Preston North End fixture of the season this weekend. Ward previously officiated PNE’s 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough at the end of October, while he has plenty of other experience officiating North End over the years. So far this campaign, Ward has refereed 30 games in total, showing 105 yellow cards and two reds in that period. MACS VIEW Tough game think we have a chance though, during the Sky game agaianst WBA, Don Goodman said the home fans needed a spark to get them going, looks like the home support are like us quick to turn when all is not well, bore them to death for 89 minutes not hard with Lowe ball then strike late there you go sorted
Watford 0 Preston North End 0 Watford line-up: Bachmann; Cathcart (Gaspar, 72), Poteous, Hoedt, Morris (Asprilla, 45); Louza, Choudhury; Sarr (Assombalonga, 88), Pedro, Sema; Araújo (Davis, 45). Subs not used: Hamer, Kone, Kabasele. PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Diaby, Cunningham; Potts, Whiteman, Browne, Johnson (Woodburn, 76), Fernández; Parrott (Cannon, 70), Evans (Ledson, 87). Subs not used: Cornell, Bauer, Delap. Attendance: 19,244 (1,130 PNE fans). Referee: Mr G Ward. Two sides who couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo played out a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road, probably a fair result. Arrived in Watford a full 2 and a half hours before kick off, absolutely no idea why the coaches set off at 8.30am. A grey day a wander round the hospital grounds then the graveyard must be one of the few grounds in the country which is virtually in the town centre. The pitch looked in fantastic shape never got those in Sunday League football, the stadium has a homely feel about it similar to QPR . Three changes for us Lindsay's suspension was a surprise hadn't realised he had picked up that many bookings, Whiteman, Cunningham and Parrot coming into the side. please log in to view this image We started well although the home side looked quick on the break, Louza chief play maker in midfield and Pedroo up front is a quality player, couple of dangerous attacks which needed Woodman to come to the rescue. We got some joy down the flanks with Potts getting acres of room, we actually had some shots at goal a rarity for us The home support were soon on the sides back with misplaced passes felt we had a chance to capitalise but our inability to put the ball in the net does cause us problems. Alvaro's can always be relied on for a defensive mistake the one before half time luckily didn't prove costly although Bambo's in the second half nearly did. Half time the kids penalty shoot out was down our end, we were given the blue team to support which meant their opponents basically a team of 10 year old girls got heartlessly booed, it worked the blue side won. A couple of changes for the home side and they looked a better outfit, step forward Mr Ward who started to play his part gave a foul against Parrot which seemed to set the tone booked Evans for an apparent dive although do feel he got Porteous tackle on Parrot correct others didn't. The home sde started to impose themselves and had efforts which were narrowly wide Sarr fired in a effort not on target doubt whether Woodman would have saved it if it had been on target. please log in to view this image Bambo's ability to dribble past the entire Watford side nearly lead to a goal, Woodman bailed out the giant defender with a good save. Watford continued to press forced a series of corners, never felt they would score, could have sneaked it at the end when Cannon's effort was blocked but settle for a point compared to some of the other nought noughts we have had this season this wwas one of the better ones Watford manager Slaven Bilic told BBC Radio Three Counties: "We are disappointed with the result but not exactly with the performance - we kept a clean sheet and they didn't threaten us at all. "We had desire but it's not enough because at the moment we are simply not creating enough chances. "They are not conceding many goals but I expected us to create a bit more today." Preston manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We knew we had to be solid and resolute today and from minute one our game plan was fantastic. "We had a couple of chances and on another day we might have scored. "We proved we're a good team on our day and we just didn't have that cutting edge to put it in the back of the net today."
