Watford

Image source, Rex Features

Watford manager Tom Cleverley hailed his youthful back four as they secured a clean sheet, and three points, at Middlesbrough.

After the Hornets picked up just their second win in 11 games, Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio: "The average age of our whole back four was 21 so it was a big call from me on the team selection.

"Mattie Pollock has been outstanding for us this season but I felt on Tuesday night (v Leeds) he looked like it had caught up with him a little bit.

"It was a decision I didn't take lightly with it being his home-town game but Kevin (Keben) came in and did fantastic.

"We were challenged in the last 15-20 minutes but I don't want that to cover over what I thought was a fantastic performance. It was by no means backs to the wall, we really should have been out of sight going into that 75th minute.

"We didn't manage it as well as we could and the defence was called upon, but I'm really pleased with the clean sheet."

Two sides low on confidence face-off as Middlesbrough welcome Watford to the Riverside on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boro have lost four of their past five games in all competitions and won just twice in 11 matches overall over the past two months to slip to ninth in the Championship table.

The Hornets have also lost four of their past five Championship games and have only one win in 11 games in all competitions since Boxing Day to lie three places but just two points behind Boro.

The clash pits Michael Carrick against his former teammate Tom Cleverley, with the pair having played together 59 times in the Man United midfield.

• Middlesbrough have won three of their past four league games against Watford (L1), though did lose the reverse fixture 2-1 in October.

• Watford are looking to do the league double over Middlesbrough for the first time since 1989-90, though have lost on each of their past two league trips to the Riverside Stadium.

• Middlesbrough are looking to avoid losing successive home league games for the first time since February 2024 after losing 3-2 to Sunderland in their most recent home game.

• Since beating Sheffield Wednesday 6-2 in November, Watford have won only one of their past nine away league games (D4 L4).

• Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney has been involved in three goals in his past two league games at the Riverside Stadium (2 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 24 home outings in the Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Cleverley insisted there were positives to take from his side's performance despite the Hornets' heavy 4-0 home defeat by Leeds on Tuesday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Three Counties on Tuesday night, Cleverley said: "A tough night? Absolutely. We were in the presence of a very strong Championship side. It is one of the best teams I have seen at this level.

"It should give us inspiration that they are the levels we want to get to.

"There were some positives with the character we showed to try and play so I cannot criticise my players.

"It would have been easy to chuck the towel in or start looking towards Saturday and protecting yourself when the game is done, but they kept going."

Image source, Rex Features

Taking on Championship leaders Leeds United is a tough enough assignment without a number of key players being absent.

But there is some good news for Watford boss Tom Cleverley ahead of tonight's game with young forward Rocco Vata now recovered from a virus - and he is also hopeful that Yasser Larouci and Angelo Ogbonna will shake off illness in time to be considered for selection.

The Hornets ended a three-game losing run with Saturday's draw at Sunderland, but face a Leeds side unbeaten in 13 league games, and who have won four of their past five.

Cleverley was delighted with Watford's display for the first 80 minutes on Wearside and believes his team will rise to the occasion against Daniel Farke's Whites.

"We can take heart from that performance, and belief, and the better teams do generally bring out our best stuff," he said.

"I feel like the players are really galvanising around me and around each other. The more things that seem to go against us, the better and more resilient we get.

"Can we see the 80 minutes (against Sunderland) for 95 minutes (against Leeds)? That's what it will take to get a result."

Forward Vakoun Bayo is again absent because of his three-match ban and transfer-window signing Caleb Wiley is still working on his fitness before being considered for a place in the squad.

Watford welcome Championship leaders Leeds United on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT) looking to end a run of four games without a win (D1 L3).

The Hornets have won just one of their past nine matches (D2 L6) but are still only three points off the play-off spots.

Meanwhile, Leeds are two points clear at the top and are undefeated in their previous 13 league games (W9 D4).

• Watford are winless across their past five league games against Leeds United (D1 L4), conceding 2+ goals in each of their past four meetings with the Yorkshire side.

• Leeds United have lost just two of their past 10 away league games against Watford (W5 D3), despite only scoring one more goal in total (14) more than the Hornets across that time (13).

• Watford have lost their past four home league matches, losing every game by a one-goal margin. Outside of the top-flight, the Hornets haven't lost five in a row at Vicarage Road since December 2013.

• Leeds United are unbeaten in their past 13 league games (W9 D4), keeping five clean sheets in a row. The Whites last kept six clean sheets in a row in August/September 2017.

• Manor Solomon has been involved in nine goals in his past nine Championship appearances (4 goals, 5 assists) for Leeds United. His six overall assists are the joint-most of any Leeds player along with Junior Firpo and Daniel James.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford head coach Tom Cleverley feels it was two points lost after coming so close to what would have been an excellent win at Sunderland.

A Tom Dele-Bashiru penalty and a wonder strike from Imran Louza had seen them come from behind to lead.

But just when it looked like they would claim a first win in four games, Dennis Cirkin claimed an 89th minute equaliser.

And it left Cleverley frustrated after so much good work during the match at the Stadium of Light.

"For 80 minutes, we were absolutely outstanding,2 Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"We showed character, we wanted to get on the ball. We suffered a setback, but we responded brilliantly.

"I thought the game-plan was executed perfectly for 80 minutes but then we had a really poor last 10 minutes.

"It was schoolboy stuff and we're much better than that. We've managed to see games out much more efficiently than that.

"It's disappointing as it feels like we've lost two points as the performance was so strong up to then."

Image source, Rex Features

Watford supporters should not judge the transfer window as a failure because they did not sign a forward, according to boss Tom Cleverley.

The Hornets missed out on the deadline day signing of Fulham winger Martial Godo but strengthened their defensive set-up.

"I think the one that tipped the balance into what other people thought was the Godo deal not materialising and it was a bit disappointing on the final day not being able to get that one over the line," Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"We're a team that's scored in 80 or 90 per cent of the games we've played this season but not kept enough clean sheets, so we brought in [defender] Caleb Wiley, and James Abankwah looks a very capable centre-half, and the goalkeeper [Egil] Selvik will also stengthen us."

Forward Kwadwo Baah is out for a number of weeks with a thigh injury, leaving Cleverley short of options up front with Vakoun Bayo suspended for three games after being sent-off against Norwich.

"We have back-up targets, but are they going to strengthen us and I thought no, I have a lot of trust and faith in the players we have. You can say numbers are thin at the minute but it's fairly unprecedented.

"I will never judge a window in numbers and I think that's a mistake everyone can make, but when you're strengthening the less sexy part of the pitch it doesn't get supporters [excited] - but I'm probably more happy than you think with the window."

Watford visit Sunderland in the Championship on Saturday looking to avoid a fourth successive league defeat.

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On Wednesday we asked what you made of Watford's business in the transfer window.

The injury-plagued Hornets signed 28-year-old Norway international goalkeeper Egil Selvik from Italian 'sister club' Udinese, brought in 20-year-old American left-back Caleb Wiley on loan from Chelsea and defender James Abankwah on loan, also from Udinese.

However, they lost midfielder Festy Ebosele after he was recalled from loan by Udinese, while Ryan Porteous has joined Preston on loan and Ken Sema has been released.

Here are some of your responses:

Roger: Diabolical. Disgraceful. Shameful. I believe we are the only club in the Championship not to have spent any money this season yet our best three players last season left during the summer for substantial profit and other players have departed not to be replaced. As Elton John would no doubt sing "it's a sad sad situation and it's getting more and more absurd". For the sake of the fans, Gino, please sell the club as soon as possible so we can all move on.

Aaron: I feel Tom Cleverley massively over-achieved with the squad we had during the first part of the season and is now on a hiding to nothing, as we are likely to face a tough few months. Our squad is lower mid-table at best and is now weaker than before the window. I believe most fans want to see Tom continue because he has brought back a true connection with the team. But I fear what Gino Pozzo will do when it is clear that we will have no chance of reaching the play-offs. Our club desperately needs a re-set and I would love to see Tom leading that.

Stephen A: Pozzo deprives Cleverley of the players the squad badly needs, in the hope that in a few matches' time, the run of defeats will be so bad there will be no opposition when Cleverley is sacked. Sorry Gino, we're not falling for it.

Simon: Clearly the owners don't have the money to progress this club, so we should enjoy what we have (things could be a whole lot worse).

Geoff: Here we go with that sinking ship feeling again and the only one who is going to get the blame is Tom Cleverley. You can only work with tools you have. Why do we as Watford fans have to put up with this time and time again?

Patrick: It seems as if the Pozzos are deliberately staging a managed decline. If they honestly believe this group of players can get into the play-offs they are deluded. Crying out for a forward with Bayo suspended. The next few games will show how much they have weakened a poor squad.

Matilda: Desperately short on numbers. We already had a very thin squad and it's now worse. We have no strikers for the next three games and after that we have a striker who has scored in seven games out of 30. We were looking at the play-offs a month ago. Now I'm certain we'll finish nearer the bottom than the top.

Stephen T: Absolutely appalling, we've been crying out for a striker for three or four seasons and have done absolutely nothing - no passion, no desire, no strategy!

Stuart: Disastrous! The world and his dog knew we needed a right winger and a centre forward. What did we get? Two full-backs (one of whom may as well have arrived in an ambulance) and a goalkeeper. It was shambolic.

Maurice: Pozzo has no ambition for Watford. Should never have bought Watford in the first place. Stick to Udinese. Sell Watford to someone who can take us where we should be - Premier League. Stop wasting Cleverley's talent.

Sunderland welcome Watford on Saturday (12:30 GMT) looking to keep their automatic promotion bid alive.

The Black Cats are unbeaten in six matches (W4 D2) following a dramatic 3-2 win at local rivals Middlesbrough on Monday night and are three points behind both Burnley in second and Sheffield United in third.

A run of just one win in eight (D1 L6) has seen the Hornets slip to 12th but they are still only three points off the play-off spots.

• Sunderland have won six of their past eight home league games against Watford (D1 L1), including victory in this exact fixture last season via a 2-0 scoreline.

• Watford have won each of their past two league games against Sunderland and will be looking to win three in succession for the first time since January 1993.

• Sunderland are unbeaten in all 14 of their Championship home games this season (W9 D5) – they last had a longer unbeaten home run from the start of a second tier (or higher) campaign in 1979-80, when they were unbeaten in all 21 at Roker Park.

• Watford have lost six of their past eight league games (W1 D1), including each of the past three in a row. They've not lost four consecutively in the second tier since November 2014.

• Wilson Isidor has scored in four of his past six league games for Sunderland, including the past two in a row. He last scored in three consecutive league games in July 2023, in the Russian Premier League with Lokomotiv Moscow.

Image source, Rex Features

It's time to talk about Watford's transfer business...

Watford signed 28-year-old Norway international goalkeeper Egil Selvik from Italian 'sister club' Udinese for an undisclosed fee, brought in 20-year-old American left-back Caleb Wiley on loan from Chelsea and defender James Abankwah on loan from Udinese.

However, they lost midfielder Festy Ebosele after he was recalled from loan by the same Italian club, Ryan Porteous has joined Preston on loan and Ken Sema has been released.

With Tom Cleverley seemingly under pressure and a host of injuries to deal with, particularly in attack, will Watford keep pace in the race for the play-off places?

We want you to tell us what you think about the Hornets' transfer dealings...

Let us know your thoughts here.

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

In the end, it was a disappointing January transfer window for Watford.

It started slowly with one or two comings and goings but head coach Tom Cleverley assured us that was the norm and last week promised two new signings - one of them a "ready-made" Championship player.

What Watford fans got was a young Chelsea left-back with undoubted potential but unlikely to be fit for a while due to a shoulder injury. And that was it. The experienced signing didn't materialise, leaving Hornets supporters deeply frustrated.

In all, across the month, the outgoings outweighed the incomings. Centre-back James Abankwah looks a good signing but the business, or lack of it, leaves Watford painfully light and lacking in real depth.

The striker situation is deeply concerning, particularly with Vakoun Bayo suspended for the next three games. Teenager Mamadou Doumbia is the only other recognised striker and, despite showing promising signs of potential, he's 18.

With Kwadwo Baah out injured for another couple of months, Watford are also lacking creativity and pace. Any injuries down the spine of the team would really hurt the Hornets too.

Player trading has been limited and it's been an underwhelming transfer window. Supporters have expressed their concern and Cleverley hasn't got what he thought he was getting.

It's going to take some effort to get Watford back involved in the play-off race and one does wonder why there appears to be a lack of ambition from the club's board and owner.

There have been stories Gino Pozzo is open to selling the club and this window does nothing to dampen those rumours.

Commentary on Sunderland v Watford on 103.8FM Saturday 12.30pm

Image source, Rex Features

Watford boss Tom Cleverley said referee Lewis Smith was taken in by Norwich City's "dark arts" in the home defeat against Norwich City.

Cleverley said: "Unfortunately the referee has been played. I thought Norwich were good at the dark arts. Every time someone made contact with their players they fell to the ground.

"I can't justify Vakoun Bayo's reaction [which got him sent off]. He knows he's let his team-mates down. He's pushed Marcondes in his chest - and it's a disappointing reaction from him.

"If you counted the amount of times Marcondes fell to the floor you'd have a decent tally.

"I'm proud of my players. We've reduced them to very little. The work-rate and togetherness and spirit was excellent."

Image source, PA Media

Watford head coach Tom Cleverley says he prefers the weeks without midweek games so he can spend more time working with the squad on the training ground.

The Hornets have played a midweek game followed by another at the weekend for the past two weeks.

Saturday's home fixture against Norwich is the first time since the 2-1 loss at Burnley on 21 December that Cleverley has had the luxury of more than five days between matches to prepare his players.

"I really do enjoy these Saturday to Saturday weeks where you can get some good, quality time on the training pitch with the players," Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio in his pre-match press conference.

"Selfishly, it's what I enjoy about the job. Obviously everyone loves matchday but actually being able to work on things you're trying to get out in the games is nice.

"Through the period we've had, you're sort of rest, recovery, picking the team, dealing with other stuff and then it's all about matchday. But I do enjoy these weeks where you can really focus on your job and what you love.

"It's a big incentive to get to the promised land because there, it's even more of that where there are eight games less, but there's a lot to be said about the league that we're in, the chaotic nature of it and how enjoyable that can be.

"But I've enjoyed the calmer week with some real quality time with the players."