Watford and West Brom play out 0-0 draw in first Premier League game at Vicarage Road since 2007.
Quique Flores' men were in control for large portions, however it was West Brom's Saido Berahino who spurned the best opening of the game. The youngster headed wide of the post from just three yards, to make it two Premier League games without a goal for Tony Pulis' men.
The opening thirty minutes were dominated by Watford, who, due to their impressive retention of the ball in the final third, were able to peg West Brom back in their own half. Despite their territorial dominance and expansive attacking movement in the opening stages, Watford struggled to break down a resilient Albion defence. The closest the Hornets came to taking the lead in the opening half an hour was, in fact, through a Jose Jurado set piece. Jurado brilliantly curled a 25-yard free kick over the West Brom wall; however the ball subsequently curled just wide of the left post.
Watford impress
Flores’ almost scored the goal they richly deserved at the end of the first half through Odion Ighalo. After some neat interplay on the left flank, Jurado lofted the ball into the penalty area and onto the head of Troy Deeney. The Watford captain headed the ball into the path of the onrushing Ighalo; however the 26-year-old’s subsequent volleyed effort on goal flew narrowly over the crossbar.
West Brom were a non-entity in the final third during the first half. Both Berahino and Lambert were nullified as offensive threats, due to the midfield four’s inability to string two passes together without giving away a throw-in. Pulis’ decision to play a 4-4-2 seemingly back fired in the first half, as in similar vein to Monday night, Albion were completely overrun by a three man midfield.
Watford continued to dominate in the opening exchanges of the second half; however Myhill in the West Brom goal was largely untroubled. Although hugely ineffective in the attacking third, Tony Pulis’ side remained impressively compact in the defensive third. The Hornets were reduced to long range efforts on goal in this period, with Deeney and Ighalo rifling just over the crossbar from 25-yards.
Berahino miss
The visitors finally managed to venture forward in the 80th minute, however the chance created was unbelievably spurned by Saido Berahino. After Brunt chipped the ball into Fletcher in the heart of the penalty area, the former Manchester United man found Berahino unmarked at the back post. The youngster, despite being just three yards from goal, subsequently headed the ball wide of the goal.
Watford will be pleased with their performance today, but will need to convert possession into goals if they are going to stave off relegation this season.