Following the international break, Watford return to action at home to Birmingham City this Saturday (September 16, 3pm KO), with Head Coach Valérien Ismaël looking to build on an entertaining draw at Coventry City last time out (Saturday September 2) and spearhead a second win of the league season.
Ahead of the mouth-watering Sky Bet Championship encounter, we take a look back at five of the best matches between the Hornets and the Blues over the years...
Birmingham City 1-3 Watford – March 10, 1984
We begin in the FA Cup, the competition where the Blues and the yellows would first meet back in 1931. The Hornets were enjoying an extended run in the 1984 contest, and were looking to take one step closer to Wembley immortalisation.
The irrepressible John Barnes opened proceedings at St Andrew’s, unleashing a powerful effort past future Watford goalkeeper Tony Coton. After the break, Birmingham equalised but the visitors would soon restore their lead through Les Taylor. Barnes would notch the final goal at the far post to confirm Watford’s place in the final four of the cup.
Following the victory in the Midlands, the Hornets would win the semi-final against Plymouth Argyle to set up a first FA Cup final against Everton.
Watford 5-2 Birmingham City – January 15, 1994
In one of only two Vicarage Road encounters featured on this list, a relegation-threatened Birmingham City were beaten 5-2 in a seven-goal thriller.
Watford’s Paul Furlong struck three impressive goals, and with the match all but decided, Andy Hessenthaler and Liam Daish’s own goal made it five, ensuring the two Birmingham goals were nothing more then consolation efforts.
It would be Watford’s seventh consecutive victory over Birmingham at The Vic, a record stretching back to 1979.
Birmingham City 1-0 Watford (agg 1-1 AET, 6-7 pens) – May 20, 1999
Despite what the full-time scoreline would suggest, this would be a hugely important night in the history of Watford Football Club. After a frantic end to the 1998/99 First Division season, the Hornets only just confirmed a play-off semi-final against the Blues.
Following a 1-0 victory in the opening leg, all Watford had to do was travel to St Andrew’s and not lose, to secure a place at Wembley Stadium for a chance to ascend to the Premier League. A ferocious atmosphere buoyed the Blues and after just 120 seconds they had levelled the match on aggregate through Dele Adebola.
After an epic game, both teams were unable to be separated after 90 minutes and extra-time, and therefore a penalty shootout was the only outcome. Goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain would go on to become a hero, denying Chris Holland and setting up a tie against Bolton Wanderers for top-flight prestige.
For more on that famous evening at St Andrew’s, click HERE.
Birmingham City 0-4 Watford – February 16, 2013
Heading into the business end of the 2012/13 season, the Hornets were flying high in the Championship under Gianfranco Zola, on the edge of breaking into the automatic promotion places.
Their form certainly didn’t falter when they met the Blues at St Andrew’s as Troy Deeney notched a brace, while Ikechi Anya and Almen Abdi completed the rout in the Midlands.
The result put Watford on course for at least a play-off position as the league’s top-scoring team marched on.
Watford 3-0 Birmingham City – March 14, 2023
The teams’ most recent meeting yielded a thumping win for the Golden Boys, in Chris Wilder’s first match in charge at Vicarage Road.
A sixth-minute strike from Imrân Louza set the tone under the lights, and Keinan Davis doubled the advantage just past the quarter-hour mark to help Watford establish full control by the half-time break.
Britt Assombalonga put the result beyond all doubt in the second period, with the result moving the Hornets up to 10th in the Championship table, and four points off the play-offs.
