A display of counter-attacking brilliance was served up at lunchtime for the Sky Sports viewers, as Rovers managed to pay tribute to Matt Sillitoe in perfect fashion, by grabbing all three points at Vicarage Road for the first time in over 20 years.
After Rovers fell to defeat last week, with Hull City coming from behind to win 2-1 at Ewood Park, Rovers were forced into one change ahead of their trip to Hertfordshire, as Callum Brittain came in from the start to fill in at left-back, to replace the suspended Harry Pickering. There was some shuffle on the bench as new signing Andy Moran – signed yesterday from Brighton and Hove Albion – made the bench, alongside youth graduate, Patrick Gamble and summer signing, Thomas Bloxham.
Ahead of the midday kick-off on Sky Sports, both side were paying respects to former Watford goalkeeper, Andy Rankin, just prior to Rovers’ kick-off, as they looked to try and get back to winning ways and grab their first victory at Vicarage Road since 2001. Rovers were also paying tribute to one of their own, Matt Sillitoe, who sadly passed away recently, with a lovely tribute by the players and the supporters before kick-off.
The game started slow, with neither side able to really grab hold of the game, with the first opportunity to test either goalkeeper, coming in the 20th minute. Harry Leonard slid Sammie Szmodics through, with the attacking midfielder holding off his defender before trying to find the back of the net, yet he only found the gloves of Bachmann.
Watford were soon up the other end causing havoc, as Matheus Martins’ close effort was fantastically saved by Aynsley Pears, before his back-four hooked the ball away to safety.
Wesley Hoedt became the first player to be booked after he brought down Ryan Hedges in the 24th minute.
Martins was again threatening Rovers down the left-hand side as he skipped in onto his right, as he released a rocket of a shot that had Pears left for dead, but the crossbar came to the aid of the Rovers defence.
In the 30th minute, the whole of Vicarage Road came together as they all participated in a minute of applause to pay tribute to Matt Sillitoe. You will be missed, Matt.
Joe Rankin-Costello was out looking for an assist as he played a delicious cross into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ as the delivery proved an inch too high for Szmodics to turn home, as Rovers had to settle for a corner.
From the set-piece, Rovers managed to keep possession of the ball as Hedges tried to cause havoc with another cross, but despite Dom Hyam being flagged for offside, Harry Leonard’s back-post attempt was sliced wide.
As half-time edged near, Matheus Martins tried to net a set-piece from quite a distance, but his effort from range failed to test Pears as it settled into the stand that housed the Rovers fans.
As referee Gavin Ward allocated a rather modest three minutes of time onto the end of the first period, Watford nearly managed to break the deadlock, as Dom Hyam came to Rovers’ rescue. As Yáser Asprilla tiptoed into the box and found Tom Dele-Bashiru with the former Manchester City midfielder’s effort denied by the Rovers vice-captain.
Hyam’s block proved to be the half’s final notable act, as Mr. Ward brought the first period to an end.
Valérien Ismaël would have wanted more from his side in the second-half. Whilst they had shown some positive signs in attack, they lacked any clinical edge that really troubled Rovers. He would have also been frustrated with the half-chances that his side had given Rovers, despite their domination of the ball.
Jon Dahl Tomasson would have wanted his side to try and be more decisive with their rare attacking moments. Whilst Rovers had shown good defensive prowess, they had lacked any real bite at the top end of the park.
Just before the start of the second-half, Watford made a change, as Imran Louza replaced Ismaël Koné as Watford got the ball rolling as they were looking for their first win in three, following defeats to Stoke City and Stevenage in the Carabao Cup, as well as a goalless draw with Plymouth Argyle.
In the 47th minute, Watford came out again looking to dominate the ball as Matheus Martins hit a first-time loose ball aiming to find the top right-hand corner of the goal, but his attempt had too much power on it.
Another Martins attempt in the 54th minute saw Watford win a corner as the ball deflected behind off Lewis Travis, before Watford made a double change as Giorgi Chakvetadze and Mileta Rajović replaced Tom Dele-Bashiru and Vakoun Issouf Bayo.
Rovers weren’t to be upstaged as Sam Gallagher and Andrew Moran also joined the fray, replacing Harry Leonard and Tyrhys Dolan.
In the 58th minute, Rovers broke away as Ryan Hedges burst through the heart of the Watford defence and slipped through Andy Moran whose first touch saw him try and beat Daniel Bachmann, but the tame shot was easy service for the Austrian goalkeeper.
Dom Hyam became the first Rovers player to see yellow as he scythed down Ryan Andrews in the 62nd minute.
From the free-kick, Watford played a short one-two to surprise Rovers, but Louza’s curling effort ballooned over the Rovers net.
Mileta Rajović was soon slipped through as his right-footed effort was skewed wide of Pears’ near-post as Rovers were awarded a goal-kick.
Imran Louza and Ryan Andrews were both booked by Gavin Ward, as Rovers looked to try and counter, with the former tugging back Adam Wharton, whilst the latter had clattered into Sammie Szmodics.
Rovers’ patience and counter-attacking mentality soon paid off, as Ryan Hedges’ determination and composure managed to put Rovers ahead after 72 minutes. Hedges slipped in Travis who burst forward through the heart of the home defence, before some ricocheting of the ball saw it fall back to the feet of Hedges. The Welshman did brilliantly to juggle the ball past the defence before beating Bachmann from an incredible tight angle, as Rovers took a surprise 1-0 lead!
Watford soon reacted to going behind as Tom Ince replaced Yáser Asprilla.
Joe Rankin-Costello was booked after going down to receive treatment, following an argument with referee Gavin Ward. That proved to be the right-back’s last involvement in the game as Scott Wharton soon came on to replace him, as Hayden Carter shifted over to right-back.
Another Watford change was soon in the offing after 79 minutes as Jeremy Ngakia replaced Ryan Andrews.
Martins was proving to be Watford’s most dangerous attacking outlet, as he again tried to curl one it, but was superbly denied by Pears who got down low to tip the ball onto the post.
As the 90th minute ticked over, five additional minutes of time were called for by Gavin Ward, as Watford ramped up the pressure and the Rovers support began to chew their nails desperately.
With Rovers looking to try and see the game out, a lapse in concentration on halfway saw Ken Sema try a long-range effort that flew high and wide.
The final act of the game, saw Jake Garrett replace skipper, Lewis Travis as Rovers added some late energy to a tiring midfield, as they looked to hold on.
Soon after, Gavin Ward soon called time on a pulsating game, as Rovers managed to secure their first away clean-sheet of 2023 and return to winning ways.
Rovers put in a fantastic shift today and managed to earn the fruits of the labour despite being under the cosh for most of the game. Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men showed their heart, desire and their commitment dig deep and earn a victory against a side that started the season in emphatic fashion before fading away in recent weeks. The ‘Sky Sports curse’ was also well and truly dashed in this game, too, with Rovers now winning back-to-back games on Sky – going back to the 4-3 win over Millwall last campaign.
Those vital three points have now seen Rovers move up to 9th place with 7 points from the four games they have played thus far, this season.
Rovers now have two more games before the season’s first international break, as they travel to Harrogate Town on Wednesday 30th August for the 7:45pm start. The final game before the break sees Rovers make the long trip to Devon to face Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 2nd September for the 3pm kick-off, before a return to Ewood Park post-break sees Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side host Middlesbrough on Saturday 16th September at 3pm.
