watford wins
Football

Watford demolish Stoke city 4-0, perfect start for Manager Slaven Bilic

In his debut match in command, Slaven Bili led Watford to their first away win of the 2022/23 season, defeating Stoke City 4-0 at the Bet365 Stadium. Alex Neil’s team entered the game with four points from their previous two games, including a 3-0 win against Hull City. However, Ismaila Saar scored the opener for Watford after just 12 minutes, putting Stoke down 1-0.

The score remained 1-0 until the half-time break. However, three more goals in the second half heaped misery on Stoke, with Ken Sema, Keinan Davis, and Vakoun Issouf Bayo scoring.

Following a fast start, Ismala Sarr put the Hornets ahead following some nice movement from Edo Kayembe and Hassane Kamara, however the Potters had plenty of possession and kept Daniel Bachmann vigilant in the away goal.

After both teams had opportunities, Ken Sema doubled Watford’s lead in the 64th minute, before Keinan Davis and Vakoun Bayo added gloss to the scoreline with late goals.

Bili’s men are seventh after 11 games, thanks to their first three points since late August, and they travel to Vicarage Road on Wednesday night, October 5, to play Swansea City.

Christian Kabasele, Francisco Sierralta, Mario Gaspar, and Sarr were all recruited into the starting line-up as Head Coach Bili made four changes to the XI that had drew at home to Sunderland in the Hornets’ previous game.

In a feisty beginning, Kabasele did well to snuff out a home opportunity created by Dwight Gayle with a brilliant last-ditch challenge, and then Bachmann responded well to beat Gayle to a threatening ball over the top.

Aden Flint then threatened for the Potters with a poor header from Will Smallbone’s looping cross, but Watford took the lead in the 12th minute after gradually acquiring a footing in the game.

After releasing Kamara in space on the left, the Ivorian defender produced a wonderful cross into Sarr, who had escaped his opponent and headed coolly past Josef Bursik to score it 1-0.

With the momentum still in their favor, the Golden Boys pushed forward, and a Kayembe piledriver whistled just past the post via Davis’ leg, only for the offside flag to be waved.

A series of Stoke corners provided as a reminder of the hosts’ brilliance, and Bachmann was brought down by Liam Delap after beating the Manchester City loanee to a superb Gayle flick-on.

Sarr nearly doubled his score in the 24th minute with a looping header that rocked the crossbar, before Sema struck the post with a fizzing drive from a tight angle.

Delap reacted to Alex Neil’s charges on the half-hour mark by heading off target, and the 19-year-old was back in the action 10 minutes later after beating Kabasele, but he lifted his shot just too high over the bar.

Stoke had the final say of the first half when the ball fell at Delap’s feet after a scuffle in the area, but his close-range effort bobbled wide, ensuring the Golden Boys headed into the break one goal up.

After the restart, Watford raced out of the blocks, with Sierralta going close with a header from Gaspar’s tempting free-kick, but Bachmann was soon forced to paw away a curling Lewis Baker set-piece that was bound for the top corner.

Stoke captain Baker then sent a half-chance over, and Choudhury was forced to deflect a Smallbone effort away from danger seconds later as the home side pressed for a leveller.

Sarr led Watford’s counter-attack, with the Senegal international having another header saved by Morgan Fox, before Imrân Louza came off the bench for his first appearance of the season soon before the hour.

And it wasn’t long before the Hornets made it 2-0, with Sema scoring his second goal of the season on the second attempt after Choudhury had first picked out Davis in the home box.

Gayle and Smallbone tried their hardest to get Stoke on the board, but both were unable to bother Bachmann with attempts around the 70-minute mark, and then Davis forced a Bursik save in pursuit of a third for the visitors.

The third goal did come 12 minutes before the finish, with Davis getting in on the act with a powerful low shot after cleverly shifting the ball onto his left foot, putting the result beyond question.

Then it was Bayo’s turn six minutes later as Watford finished the game with a bang, Louza – who had excelled since coming in – finding his fellow substitute at the far post to tap in and seal the 4-0 onslaught.

Kajal S

Kajal S

kajal

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