Defeat at home in the Sky Bet Championship
- Huddersfield Town 0-2 Watford
- Two goals from João Pedro in the second half the difference
- Last game before Christmas
Town were beaten 0-2 by Watford in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Two João Pedro goals in the second half were the difference despite the bright start from our Terriers at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Our first shot came in the fourth minute as Danny Ward fancied his chances from range, his shot from outside the box travelled past the defenders but it went wide of goal and out for a Watford goal kick.
Our early momentum continued through an excellent pinpoint pass from returning captain Jonathan Hogg to Sorba Thomas and he drove the ball down the right side to the corner flag, where he was tackled, and a corner was awarded for Town.
As Town held onto possession, they pushed forwards and had another chance to take the lead as an initial cross from Jack Rudoni was cleared by Watford to Hogg, who headed it back into the box and found Ward on the edge. The forward turned and shot, but the ball took a deflection and went out for a corner to the Terriers. Thomas stepped up to take to the corner and found the head of Josh Ruffels – his chance bounced off the floor in front of the goal and went over the crossbar.
After this, the Hornets had their chance to go ahead as Keinan Davis was heading into a one-on-one challenge with Lee Nicholls, but his Tom Lees got back in time to make a brilliant block.
Ismaїla Sarr then fancied his chances from range as he shot from 25-yards on his right foot, and the power behind it meant that Nicholls had to react quickly, and he managed palm the danger away to concede a corner.
After we regained possession from the previous Watford chances, Thomas sent the ball to Brahima Diarra and he carried the ball forwards and towards the box and then sent Rudoni on the outside of the opposition area – he then earned a corner. Thomas’ corner found the head of Michał Helik, but the ball went just wide.
The Hornets had two quick chances before the end of the first half as Kamara’s shot from the side of the box was anticipated and saved by our shot-stopper. The second shot came from Davis just outside the box, but this went across the face of goal and out wide for a Town goal kick.
The visitors came out brighter in the second half as they were awarded a free kick just outside the Town box after Etienne Camara fouled Leandro Bacuna, but the cross into the box was deflected out for a corner, which amounted to nothing.
Town had two successive crosses into the box from Thomas after the chance from Watford, but the first one was blocked and cleared back to him and his second was saved by goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.
Watford scored their first goal in the 54th minute following an error, as Tom Dele-Bashiru carried the ball from their defensive half and to the box where he passed to the right and found an unmarked João Pedro on the edge of the box - he slotted it between Nicholls and the near post to put his side ahead.
As we tried to find the equaliser, second half substitute Tyreece Simpson sent the ball to Ben Jackson on the left and he carried it towards the box, but his shot from just outside the box went high and over the bar.
Despite Town’s battles to get the equaliser, Watford scored their second from a corner, which was taken by Sarr and found the head of Pedro in the centre of the box, which sent the ball into the top corner to score his second.
Town’s last chance of the game to get a goal back came in the 94th minute as Simpson nodded a deep cross back to an unmarked Jordan Rhodes around 10 yards out, but his volley went high over the bar.
Town’s Team (3-4-3)
Lee Nicholls; Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Will Boyle (Kaine Kesler-Hayden; Sorba Thomas, Jonathan Hogg (c), Etienne Camara, Josh Ruffels (Ben Jackson, 62’); Brahima Diarra (Tyreece Simpson, 62’), Danny Ward (Jordan Rhodes, 81’), Jack Rudoni
Unused Subs
Nicholas Bilokapic, Connor Mahoney, Loick Ayina
