Watford initially sat deep and looked to smash and grab a result on the counter. What followed was a cagey affair, and, as the wind swept around Villa Park, Watford kept the constant Villa storm to a few half chances, before they then went closest to opening the scoring on the break. Watford’s best chance of a goalless first half saw Emmanuel Dennis cut through the Villa defense, only to be denied by a fabulous save from Emiliano Martínez, who sprung to his right to tip Dennis shot wide of the post.
The second 45 minutes continued to play out similarly, as Watford let most of the action unfold inside their half. But despite having little possession, Watford again went closest to taking the lead when Moussa Sissoko ran onto a beautiful through-ball from Joshua King, before his rushed effort found the side netting.
As Watford remained resolute, frustrations around Villa Park only grew, when Lucas Digne struck a free-kick wide from the edge of the area just past the hour mark, and Phillipe Coutinho clipped the top of the Hornets net from range. Yet, it got worse for the home side, as Watford once again broke, but this time they reaped the reward of Roy Hodgson’s master plan on 78 minutes. Dennis rose highest to head home his ninth goal of the season, and bolster Watford’s unlikely bid to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Whilst Dennis will take the plaudits for Watford’s fifth win of the season, the Hornets’ defense was key to the result, which moves them to 18th and just four points of 17th placed Newcastle United. It’s also the first time Aston Villa has failed to score this season in the PL at Villa Park.
