As the dust settles on Watford’s latest outing against Wolverhampton Wanderers, preparations for Saturday’s upcoming trip to Norwich City are already firmly underway.
Carrow Road has been the setting for a number of memorable Hornets wins over the years, in both the top flight and second tier.
Here we recap on some of the Golden Boys’ most notable victories against the Canaries...
Norwich 2-3 Watford, April 2006
A crucial win in Watford’s promotion campaign of 2005/06, the Golden Boys snatched a victory despite going behind thanks to two Darius Henderson goals and a last-gasp winner from Matthew Spring.
Norwich opened the scoring close to half-time with a Paul McVeigh penalty, before the Hornets responded just after the break.
Norwich went ahead again on the hour mark through Peter Thorne, but again Henderson equalised. Spring’s stoppage time goal was one of the last kicks of the game and clinched all three points for the visitors in Norfolk.
Norwich 1-3 Watford, November 2007
Watford played “the best football all season” in a dominant win against Norwich back in 2007.
Aidy Boothroyd’s side had lost to West Bromwich Albion the week before, but remained top of the Championship.
Former Hornets boss Glenn Roeder was in the home dugout for the match, and was disappointed with how his side defended as Henderson netted the opener.
Adrian Mariappa almost got on the scoresheet too, but his header was marked down as an own goal for goalkeeper David Marshall.
Norwich got a goal back, and the game ultimately ended 3-1, with Marlon King scoring late on for Watford.
Norwich 2-3 Watford, August 2010
A 3-2 win under the lights at Carrow Road kicked off a season to remember for Watford supporters in 2010, not least because the occasion marked Troy Deeney’s debut, the first of 419 appearances for the club.
But it was a different striker who stole the limelight that evening, as Danny Graham scored two to kick off a Golden Boot winning season.
John Eustace scored the first of the new season before Graham’s double either side of Norwich’s first goal.
Michael Nelson scored in stoppage time to make it a nervy last few minutes, but Watford held on to hit the ground running in the fresh campaign.
Norwich 0-2 Watford, November 2019
Watford’s first Premier League win at Carrow Road came in 2019/20. Incidentally, it was the Hornets’ first win of that season, and sent the committed away support home happy after an early Gerard Deulofeu goal and an Andre Gray flick got Watford off the mark in the top flight.
Deulofeu’s opener was a touch of skill, stealing possession from Emiliano Buendía and slotting into the far corner.
Despite the season ending in disappointment with relegation, supporters can look back fondly on the trip to East Anglia.
Norwich 0-1 Watford, April 2021
The most recent journey east didn’t take place with fans packed inside the stadium, but the occasion will be remembered nonetheless.
A match which all-but sealed promotion for the Hornets, and a double over the league leaders, with a goalscorer who had been knocking on the door all afternoon.
Dan Gosling’s clever flick was the difference between the sides, and the three points put Watford within touching distance of the Premier League.
