I can’t really criticise the performance in large parts the way that the scoreline would suggest that I should, but I’ll certainly try. We weren’t really that bad to be honest, as the midfield of Gana and Davies continue to prove vital to both our pressing and passing game, especially when Rooney is off his game like he was tonight, certainly in the first half.
Davies looked sharp from the off, pressing the Watford defence as much as possible and he looked even sharper on the ball, quickly turning any defender challenging him and driving us forward.
It wasn’t just Davies who impressed early on either, as Keane put some crunching tackles in, Gueye looked dominant and Williams was composed. Our attack couldn’t quite get going for a while, but once Walcott upped the gear, we looked dangerous towards the end of the first 45.
Unfortunately, with Tosun being introduced not at halftime but instead at the 62nd minute, and Niasse having a blunt outing, we couldn’t break Watford down enough to take the three points, and it cost us, as Deeney put one by Pickford late on.
Anyway, in a week where Allardyce is adamant that he’s staying beyond this season, hopefully, his delusion is swiftly cast aside come May as Moshiri and co. look back on opportunities such as this where we simply were not good enough against lesser opposition.
