Five Of The Best: The Hornets And The Terriers

Next up for Watford is an away clash against Huddersfield Town, as the Hornets travel up to West Yorkshire this Saturday (November 4, 3pm KO) looking to extend their impressive four-game unbeaten run.

Ahead of the Sky Bet Championship fixture, we take a look back at five of the best encounters between the Golden Boys and the Terriers over the years.

Before the reign of Watford’s most successful boss Graham Taylor, player-manager Mike Keen (left) was in charge of the Hornets between the years of 1973 and 1977.

The High Wycombe-born midfielder oversaw an action-packed match against the Terriers in April 1977, in what would turn out to be his final game at The Vic.

The lively encounter saw two first-half red cards, when Tony Geidmintis and Alan Mayes were dismissed, before Keith Mercer’s double secured all three points for the Golden Boys in the mid-table clash.

The 2012/13 season contained two classic Watford v Huddersfield fixtures, the first of which saw three goals after the 83rd minute. To begin, it would be the home side that would take the early lead, as Oliver Norwood converted an impressive free-kick.

After a relatively quiet first half, the game shot into life as Fernando Forestieri levelled the match at the John Smith’s Stadium, with the Italian running over to celebrate with his compatriot and manager Gianfranco Zola.

Into the final 10 minutes of the match, Fitz Hall thought he had scored the all-important winner as he turned home Mark Yeates’ cross, but the Terriers responded almost instantly through Alan Lee’s header.

The Hornets fought back and goalscorer Forestieri won a spot-kick that was typically powered home by Troy Deeney, earning a memorable victory against high-flying Huddersfield.

Not long after the New Year celebrations had finished, Watford and Huddersfield clashed once again in the second-tier. Despite the four goals from the Hornets, it would take until just before the interval for the home side to break the deadlock as Deeney converted from the spot.

A dazzling second-half display soon followed surrounded by snow, as at full-stretch Matěj Vydra poked home the second of the afternoon. Strike partner Deeney played a vital role in the next one, allowing the Czech forward to run into space before slotting the ball under the on-rushing goalkeeper.

The final goal would come from Cristian Battocchio, his first in a Watford shirt, to leave Huddersfield reeling and Vicarage Road bouncing.

On paper, a six-goal thriller certainly looks to be an extraordinary clash between the Hornets and the Terriers, but it is made all the more impressive when you learn Watford were down to 10 men for a significant portion of this Championship encounter.

Deeney’s composed finish gave the Golden Boys an early lead, before Huddersfield responded through Harry Bunn after the interval. Almen Abdi would restore Watford’s advantage, before the game turned on its head following Murray Wallace’s equaliser and Gabriel Tamaș’ dismissal.

At two goals apiece and with a man down, the Hornets refused to rest on their laurels as Keith Andrews made it 3-2 with 20 minutes left to play. As the Terriers desperately searched for a leveller, Abdi curled an effort into the far corner to earn a victory against the odds.

Having lost home and away to the Terriers in the previous campaign, the Hornets were adamant that the 2018/19 top-flight season would bring different results. Two sensational individual strikes inside the opening 20 minutes put Watford on course for the comfortable victory they were searching for.

The first came from Roberto Pereyra, who produced a jinking and jiving run to fashion an opening which allowed his shot to nestle into the net. With Watford in good spirits, Gerard Deulofeu doubled the lead moments later with an equally impressive move, as the Spaniard’s dribbling prowess allowed the winger to fire past the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Isaac Success concluded the victory 10 minutes from time with a well-placed tap-in, securing Watford’s best-ever start to a Premier League season.