Watford 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hornets' revival continues with third win in four
Gerard Deulofeu hadn't scored until 2 November but now has four goals making him Watford's joint top goalscorer
Watford's remarkable revival under Nigel Pearson continued as they hung on with 10 men to beat Wolves and move a point from Premier League safety.
The hosts looked to be cruising to a third win in four matches after they took a first-half lead through Gerard Deulofeu, who curled low into the bottom corner. The lead was then doubled by Abdoulaye Doucoure, who fired in on his 27th birthday.
But the game turned when Pedro Neto reduced the deficit with a deflected shot after an hour.
Eleven minutes later, Watford defender Christian Kabasele was sent off via the video assistant referee after pulling down substitute Diogo Jota.
Wolves, who had only lost twice in their previous 15 league games, pressed for an equaliser as Ben Foster saved Matt Doherty's header and Ruben Neves fired over in stoppage time.
However, Pearson's team showed grit and determination to move level on points with West Ham and sit one point behind 17th-placed Bournemouth.
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Pearson leading Watford in right direction
When Pearson took over at Watford, his team looked doomed with nine points from 16 games and a six-point gap to safety.
Now with three wins and a draw from their past five matches, it looks as though the Watford boss might be able to recreate a second great escape after he led Leicester City to survival at the end of the 2014-15 season.
The Hornets are now far more positive in their play, helped by returning striker Troy Deeney, who has scored three goals in his past four games.
And they look more solid in defence, shown in the latter stages of this game where they had to deal with Kabasele's dismissal, which was deemed a yellow-card offence by referee Andrew Madley before it was upgraded to a red.
Against Wolves, who remain seventh in the table, Deulofeu and Ismaila Sarr were outstanding as they continually caused the visitors problems.
Deulofeu did not score his first goal this season until 2 November against Chelsea, but he is now Watford's joint top scorer, finding the bottom corner with a composed finish for his fourth of the campaign.
The Spanish winger also set up Doucoure, whose shot took a deflection off Conor Coady and sailed into the top corner.
There was a collective desire and will to earn the win after the second half unravelled somewhat, which will give Watford hope that they can remain in the top flight for a sixth season.
More to follow
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Watford
26FosterBooked at 90mins
4DawsonBooked at 21mins
27KabaseleBooked at 71mins
15Cathcart
21FemeníaSubstituted forHolebasat 60'minutes
14Chalobah
29Capoue
23SarrSubstituted forPereyraat 90+2'minutes
16Doucouré
7DeulofeuSubstituted forMasinaat 73'minutes
9DeeneyBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
1Gomes
11Masina
18Gray
20Quina
22Success
25Holebas
37Pereyra
Wolves
11Rui Patrício
5BennettSubstituted forNevesat 54'minutes
16Coady
27Saïss
2Doherty
32Dendoncker
28João Moutinho
19Castro OttoSubstituted forVinagreat 54'minutes
37Traoré
9Jiménez
7NetoBooked at 26minsSubstituted forJotaat 66'minutes
Substitutes
8Neves
10Cutrone
18Jota
21Ruddy
29Vinagre
49Kilman
54Otasowie
Referee:
Andy Madley
Attendance:
20,584
Match Stats
Home TeamWatfordAway TeamWolves
Possession
Home36%
Away64%
Shots
Home9
Away16
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home4
Away7
Fouls
Home12
Away6
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Watford 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+7'
Second Half ends, Watford 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Posted at 90'+7'
Attempt missed. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
BookingPosted at 90'+6'
Ben Foster (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 90'+4'
Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford).
BookingPosted at 90'+4'
Troy Deeney (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 90'+4'
Rúben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
Posted at 90'+3'
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Romain Saïss.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+2'
Substitution, Watford. Roberto Pereyra replaces Ismaila Sarr.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 90'+2'
Troy Deeney (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Romain Saïss.
Posted at 90'
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Conor Coady.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 89'
Ben Foster (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 88'
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Craig Dawson.
Posted at 88'
Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Adama Traoré with a cross.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 83'
Etienne Capoue (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 82'
Attempt missed. Rúben Vinagre (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Diogo Jota.
Posted at 80'
Attempt missed. Etienne Capoue (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Posted at 80'
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Conor Coady.
Posted at 79'
Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
Posted at 77'
Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by João Moutinho.
Posted at 77'
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Adam Masina.
Posted at 75'
Attempt saved. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rúben Vinagre with a cross.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Watford. Adam Masina replaces Gerard Deulofeu.
Posted at 72'
Attempt blocked. João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
DismissalPosted at 71'
Christian Kabasele (Watford) is shown the red card.
Posted at 70'
VAR Decision: Card upgraded Christian Kabasele (Watford).
Posted at 69'
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Christian Kabasele (Watford).
Posted at 67'
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Craig Dawson (Watford).
SubstitutionPosted at 66'
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Diogo Jota replaces Pedro Neto.
Posted at 66'
Foul by Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Posted at 66'
Etienne Capoue (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com
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