Daniel Bachmann helped keep a 20th clean sheet of the season for the team, moving them joint third in the club's all-time list for league shutouts, and then immediately switched his attention to next week's derby game with Luton Town and securing another three points in this relentless pursuit of automatic promotion.
The keeper made it 11 clean sheets in just 19 games with a blank against Reading and now joins the teams of 1949/50 and 1994/95 in keeping 20 for the season. While the club high of 25 league clean sheets, set by Ken Furphy's side set in 1968/69, looks a long shot, the points needed to make sure the Hornets go up in one of the two automatic promotion spots are well within the team's grasp.
“We’ve got five games to go and we’ve got to keep picking up points, but we’re in a good position now and it’s a very good win,” said the Austrian after the Hornets opened up a 12-point gap. “Now we’ve got to stay focused, prepare for next Saturday against Luton and try and get three points again.
“You always want to go into a derby off the back of a win. At this stage it doesn’t matter who you play, every game is difficult regardless of league position, but it’s just that extra bit special being a derby. We’d love to have fans there and to get three points in a big derby with them there, but hopefully it won’t be too long.”
Luton will be fearing playing against Ismaïla Sarr on this showing. He cracked in goal number 11 and 12 of the season inside 107 seconds by caressing one in with his left foot and then slamming the second in with his right.
“That’s what he gets paid for, scoring goals,” said Bachmann. “He’s been brilliant all season. He’s scored two absolutely brilliant goals; I don’t know which was better, they were both outstanding. He’s been big for us all season, he causes teams problems, even on an off-day when he’s not at his best, he occupies people. He helps us a lot and to get two goals to win us the game is just brilliant.”
Bachmann has done his bit at the other end and is really enjoying an extended run in the side.
“As a keeper sometimes you have to be patient, but I always knew I was ready and that when chances come you have to take them, and I’m glad I’ve done it,” he said. “Now it’s about seeing the season out well, picking up as many points as we can and then focusing on next year.”
