Because the floodlights flickered and dimmed at Vicarage Street, so too did the sunshine seem to expire on Claudio Ranieri’s Watford tenure. Norwich’s win on this essential relegation six-pointer, delivered by Josh Sargent’s elegant backheel flick and towering header, lifted the Canaries out of the Premier League’s backside three and dropped Watford into deeper bother.
Sargent’s first Premier League aim on 51 minutes was a superb second of high quality that had been desperately missing till he turned Teemu Pukki’s cross off the underside of the bar. Moments later, play at Vicarage Street was halted for round 9 minutes as a consequence of a partial floodlight outage. It wasn’t resolved, because the pitch was nonetheless coated in sufficient gentle to proceed, however when play resumed Sargent rose to depart Ranieri staring into the gloom.
Emmanuel Dennis’ late purple card, which got here after he had been lucky to remain on the pitch earlier than half-time, and Juraj Kucka’s calamitous personal aim ensured this was a depressing night time for Watford. At this membership, that normally leads to swift motion.
Ranieri has solely been in cost for 109 days but it surely appears inevitable that Watford will now pull the set off on the Italian and enact a second managerial change of the season. Ten defeats in 13 Premier League video games beneath Ranieri leaves the membership little to no choice as they dropped into the underside three for the primary time this season. Earlier managers at Vicarage Street have been sacked for a lot much less.
In the meantime, by the character of this being a six-pointer, Norwich emerge with their odds of survival trying that bit brighter beneath Dean Smith.
The Canaries nonetheless have an extended option to go to pull themselves clear, by the actual fact they’ve performed probably the most video games of the groups round them, however back-to-back wins lifts them to inside touching distance of Everton and ensures they’ve essential factors on the board. Defeat right here might have sealed their destiny. It is going to as a substitute go away Smith feeling as if their Premier League standing may very well be salvaged.
(Getty Photographs)
This was an enormous night time for each golf equipment, enhanced earlier than kick-off by a show of fireworks and flames that warmed a freezing night and added some extravagance to a fixture that was basically a relegation scrap. It was exhausting to decorate it up as the rest, and the first-half performances from each groups confirmed why.
Norwich began brighter and benefited from having 4 forwards gamers on the pitch in Pukki, Adam Idah, Milot Rashica and Sargent in shut proximity. Pukki and Idah have been at the least a handful and the guests’ finest likelihood got here when Jacob Sorensen pounced on a unfastened move from Moussa Sissoko and Sargent rolled it again to Rashica, who curled over.
It was nearly as good as Norwich bought within the first half and Watford settled, with out significantly threatening. They regarded brief on concepts apart from taking part in direct to Dennis, who quickly grew to become concerned within the two notable incidents of the opening interval. He was lucky to flee an early purple after coming down on Pierre Lees-Melou’s ankle for a yellow card after which tumbled over Grant Hanley’s outstretched leg within the field. Referee Mike Dean was unmoved as Watford appealed for a penalty – but in addition took no motion on Dennis for the dive that will have seen Watford diminished to 10.
It was a fortunate escape but it surely didn’t take lengthy till Watford themselves have been feeling aggrieved. Kenny McLean burst ahead for Norwich however his move in the direction of Pukki was overhit. Defender Samir regarded to information the ball out of play as Pukki gave chase and went down searching for the foul. Dean allowed the play to proceed as Pukki stored it alive on the byline. His ball throughout the field was behind Sargent however the American’s instinctive contact to flick it off the underside of the bar with an outstretched heel was impressed.
The 21-year-old needed to anticipate his first Premier League aim to be confirmed because it went to a VAR verify for Pukki’s push on Samir, earlier than each groups needed to undergo an extended stoppage. The underside halves of the floodlights above the Graham Taylor stand went out, leaving the gamers standing on the touchline within the freezing night time.
(Getty Photographs)
Play was ultimately allowed to proceed however Watford got here out chilly. Rashica’s cross discovered Sargent on the again submit and the striker added his second with a downward header into the nook. Dennis ultimately bought the purple card he had been lucky to keep away from when he caught Max Aarons with a late problem. It means the membership’s high scorer will miss the essential journey to backside facet Burnley on 5 February.
Because the lights have been lastly restored to their full brightness, there could be additional embarrassment for Watford as Kucka turned Idah’s cross previous Daniel Bachmann on the entrance submit in entrance of the travelling Norwich followers – who loved a uncommon away win. “You’re getting sacked within the morning,” was their cry in the direction of Ranieri. It was exhausting to disagree with them.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
