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| Watford v Middlesbrough: Championship – live! | Watford v Middlesbrough: Championship – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.20pm BST13:20 | |
| Half-time: Watford 1-0 Middlesbrough | |
| It’s been a decent 45 minutes of football and Watford go in for their half-time brew a goal to the good. Troy Deeney scored his 20th league goal of the season after capitalising on a Jonathan Woodgate error and as things stand, his team will go top of the Championship table unless Middlesbrough score in the second half. | |
| 1.18pm BST13:18 | |
| 44 min: Having been camped inside their own half for about two minutes, Boro finally get on the ball, only to concede a throw-in on the back of some sloppy play. George Friend finally hoofs the ball out of Boro’s half, as the crowd pays tribute to their fallen comrade Nic Cruwys, who was attackled after his team’s match at Wolves several weeks ago. The 44-year-old remains in a specialist care unit as a result of head injuries sustained in the attack. | |
| 1.14pm BST13:14 | |
| 40 min: Middlesbrough look a little rattled by that setback, having dominated possession for long spells of the first half without ever taking control of the game. Now Watford are looking comfortable on the ball as they pass and probe in a bid to turn the screw. Guediora plays another good pass up the inside right to Odion Ighalo, but George Friend dispossesses him. | |
| 1.11pm BST13:11 | |
| 38 min: Jonathan Woodgate will be feeling rather glum about that goal, as he was largely responsible for gifting the opportunity to Deeney. With Adlene Guedioura sending in a splendid cross from the right, he misjudged the flight of the ball and completely missed his header. Lurking behind him in acres of space, Deeney was waiting to capitalise and made no mistake, shooting left-footed through the legs of Dimitrios Konstantopolous from a tight angle. | |
| Updated at 1.12pm BST | |
| 1.08pm BST13:08 | |
| GOAL! Watford 1-0 Middlesbrough (Deeney 37) | |
| The home side take the lead, with an opportunist strike from Troy Deeney, who scores his 20th goal of the season for the third consecutive season. | |
| Updated at 1.17pm BST | |
| 1.07pm BST13:07 | |
| 35 min: Boro win a free-kick wide on the right, which Leadbitter curls into the penalty area. Watford clear and embark on one of their lightning fast counter-attacks and almost get a lucky break when the nervy looking Tiendalli makes a mistake. Adomah bales out his team-mate. | |
| 1.05pm BST13:05 | |
| 32 min: Chance for Middlesbrough. An unmarked Lee Tomlin ghosts into the Watford penalty area to stick out a leg and get his toe on the end of a cross from George Friend on the left flank. His poked effort is well saved by Huerelho Gomes | |
| 1.03pm BST13:03 | |
| 31 min: Boro win a corner and Leadbitter arrows the ball towards the back post. Watford clear. | |
| 1.02pm BST13:02 | |
| 29 min: George Friend performs heroics to keep the ball in play as Middlesbrough go on the attack and his forced to hurdle an advertising hoarding in the process and land sprawling on the ground on the other side. In any other ground, he might have seriously hurt himself and an unfortunate spectator or two, but there’s a gap between the hoarding and the crowd on the sideline at Vicarage Road. | |
| 12.59pm BST12:59 | |
| 28 min: Ikechi Anya gallops down the left flank and tries to take on Dwight Tiendalli, but the Dutch debutant is equal to the task and doesn’t let him past. | |
| 12.58pm BST12:58 | |
| 27 min: Troy Deeney tries a shot from distance after having the ball played back to him from the edge of the penalty area by Odion Ighalo. He drags his effort wide. | |
| 12.57pm BST12:57 | |
| 26 min: Lee Tomlin wins the ball just outside his own penalty area but misdirects his pass to Adam Reach, who gets booked in his efforts to win it back. | |
| 12.55pm BST12:55 | |
| 24 min: Gabriele Angella goes close for Watford, leaping highest to win the ball in the Boro penalty area at a corner, only to steer his downward header wide of the left upright. | |
| Updated at 12.55pm BST | |
| 12.53pm BST12:53 | |
| 22 min: Watford have a shot on goal, with Anya taking advantage of a slip by Dwight Tiendalli to get on the ball, gallop towards goal and bring a good save out of Konstantopolous with his low drive. Great positioning by the goalkeeper. | |
| Updated at 12.54pm BST | |
| 12.52pm BST12:52 | |
| 20 min: Adam Clayton fouls Ighalo needlessly, with the striker heading back towards his own goal. | |
| 12.51pm BST12:51 | |
| 19 min: Speaking of weighty matters, Sky Sports commentator Daniel Mann reveals that Tomlin has lost a stone-and-a-half since joining Middlesbrough from Peterborough in a state of affairs “that probably raises more questions than it answers”. Nice. | |
| Updated at 12.51pm BST | |
| 12.49pm BST12:49 | 12.49pm BST12:49 |
| 17 min: Middlesbrough win a free-kick wide on the left courtesy of a Gabriele Angelia tug on Patrick Bamford. Rather than swing the ball into the penalty area, they play it across the field to Lee Tomlin, whose delivery into the box is too weighty. The ball rolls wide. | 17 min: Middlesbrough win a free-kick wide on the left courtesy of a Gabriele Angelia tug on Patrick Bamford. Rather than swing the ball into the penalty area, they play it across the field to Lee Tomlin, whose delivery into the box is too weighty. The ball rolls wide. |
| 12.47pm BST12:47 | 12.47pm BST12:47 |
| 15 min: Amorebieta concedes a free-kick for a shove on Ighalo, who was struggling to control a bullet-pass from Parades. | 15 min: Amorebieta concedes a free-kick for a shove on Ighalo, who was struggling to control a bullet-pass from Parades. |
| 12.45pm BST12:45 | 12.45pm BST12:45 |
| 13 min: Boro win a free-kick about 40 yards from the Watford goal, well right of centre. Despite the distance, Grant Leadbitter decides he fancies his chances and does enough to get Heurelho Gomes scampering across his line to save his sterling effort, which looked like it was going to go wide of the left upright, but not by much. | 13 min: Boro win a free-kick about 40 yards from the Watford goal, well right of centre. Despite the distance, Grant Leadbitter decides he fancies his chances and does enough to get Heurelho Gomes scampering across his line to save his sterling effort, which looked like it was going to go wide of the left upright, but not by much. |
| 12.43pm BST12:43 | 12.43pm BST12:43 |
| 11 min: From midfield, Troy Deeney sends a long ball down the inside left channel for Ighalo to chase. Goalkeeper Konstantopolous is quick off his line to win the ball and avert the danger. | 11 min: From midfield, Troy Deeney sends a long ball down the inside left channel for Ighalo to chase. Goalkeeper Konstantopolous is quick off his line to win the ball and avert the danger. |
| Updated at 12.45pm BST | Updated at 12.45pm BST |
| 12.42pm BST12:42 | 12.42pm BST12:42 |
| 9 min: Guidioura sends a cross into the Middlesbrough penalty area from the right flank, but Amorebieta heads it clear. The ball is returned to the penalty area from the left, courtesy of Ikechi Anya, and Troy Deeney attempts to head it goalwards. Over the bar. | 9 min: Guidioura sends a cross into the Middlesbrough penalty area from the right flank, but Amorebieta heads it clear. The ball is returned to the penalty area from the left, courtesy of Ikechi Anya, and Troy Deeney attempts to head it goalwards. Over the bar. |
| Updated at 1.03pm BST | |
| 12.39pm BST12:39 | 12.39pm BST12:39 |
| 8 min: Troy Deeney wins a bouncing ball halfway inside the Boro half and hares towards goal, but Jonathan Woodgate is quickly out to dispossess him. | 8 min: Troy Deeney wins a bouncing ball halfway inside the Boro half and hares towards goal, but Jonathan Woodgate is quickly out to dispossess him. |
| 12.38pm BST12:38 | 12.38pm BST12:38 |
| 6 min: It’s a lively, entertaining start. Watson plays a long ball forward for Watford striker Odion Ighalo to chase, but Albert Adomah closes him down. Middlesbrough are looking pretty comfortable on the ball thus far. | 6 min: It’s a lively, entertaining start. Watson plays a long ball forward for Watford striker Odion Ighalo to chase, but Albert Adomah closes him down. Middlesbrough are looking pretty comfortable on the ball thus far. |
| 12.36pm BST12:36 | 12.36pm BST12:36 |
| 5 min: Adomah picks up the ball in the centre and runs up a blind alley, but wins a corner for Boro. Grant Leadbitter sends the ball towards the edge of the penalty area and Watford clear their lines. The ball finds its way back to Leadbitter, who is flagged for offside. | 5 min: Adomah picks up the ball in the centre and runs up a blind alley, but wins a corner for Boro. Grant Leadbitter sends the ball towards the edge of the penalty area and Watford clear their lines. The ball finds its way back to Leadbitter, who is flagged for offside. |
| 12.35pm BST12:35 | 12.35pm BST12:35 |
| 3 min: George Friend picks out Bamford in midfield as Middlesbrough play the ball out from the back. With play swtiched to the right, Adomah gets in behind Parades, who was ball-watching and darts towards goal. Ikechi Anya slides in to rob him off the ball and spare his left-back’s blushes. | 3 min: George Friend picks out Bamford in midfield as Middlesbrough play the ball out from the back. With play swtiched to the right, Adomah gets in behind Parades, who was ball-watching and darts towards goal. Ikechi Anya slides in to rob him off the ball and spare his left-back’s blushes. |
| 12.33pm BST12:33 | 12.33pm BST12:33 |
| 2 min: From a Dimitrios Konstantopolous hoof out of the Middlesbrough penalty area, Bamford wins the header in midfield and sends the ball skidding towards the Watford penalty area. After some minor dithering in the defensive ranks, it’s cleared before Adam Reach can pounce. | 2 min: From a Dimitrios Konstantopolous hoof out of the Middlesbrough penalty area, Bamford wins the header in midfield and sends the ball skidding towards the Watford penalty area. After some minor dithering in the defensive ranks, it’s cleared before Adam Reach can pounce. |
| 12.31pm BST12:31 | 12.31pm BST12:31 |
| It's game on at Vicarage Road ... | It's game on at Vicarage Road ... |
| 1 min: Middlesbrough get the ball rolling on what could be one of the most significant days in the season of both teams. Patrick Bamford and Lee Tomlin do the honours, with the former rolling the ball back to George Friend, who lumps the ball forward. Craig Cathcart wins the header for Watford. | 1 min: Middlesbrough get the ball rolling on what could be one of the most significant days in the season of both teams. Patrick Bamford and Lee Tomlin do the honours, with the former rolling the ball back to George Friend, who lumps the ball forward. Craig Cathcart wins the header for Watford. |
| 12.28pm BST12:28 | 12.28pm BST12:28 |
| Not long now: The sun is shining and Vicarage Road is rocking as Troy Deeney and Jonathan Woodgate lead their teams out to the theme tune of Z Cars. Kick-off is imminent. | Not long now: The sun is shining and Vicarage Road is rocking as Troy Deeney and Jonathan Woodgate lead their teams out to the theme tune of Z Cars. Kick-off is imminent. |
| Updated at 12.29pm BST | Updated at 12.29pm BST |
| 12.23pm BST12:23 | 12.23pm BST12:23 |
| One to watch ... | One to watch ... |
| Watford have scored 44 goals at home this season, a feat that hasn’t been bettered by any team in the English league. Odion Ighalo has been responsible for many of them and is currently on a scoring streak of 15 in his past 13 league games. He starts alongside Troy Deeney in a two-pronged attack. | Watford have scored 44 goals at home this season, a feat that hasn’t been bettered by any team in the English league. Odion Ighalo has been responsible for many of them and is currently on a scoring streak of 15 in his past 13 league games. He starts alongside Troy Deeney in a two-pronged attack. |
| 12.14pm BST12:14 | 12.14pm BST12:14 |
| Both Middlesbrough's new loan signings start | Both Middlesbrough's new loan signings start |
| Dwight Tiendalli and Fernando Amorebieta start at right back and centre-back respectively for Middlesbrough this afternoon, in what one could argue might constitute a gamble for Aitor Karanka at this stage of the seasons. Amorebieta will play alongside Jonathan Woodgate, who makes back-to-back starts after returning from a toe injury. | Dwight Tiendalli and Fernando Amorebieta start at right back and centre-back respectively for Middlesbrough this afternoon, in what one could argue might constitute a gamble for Aitor Karanka at this stage of the seasons. Amorebieta will play alongside Jonathan Woodgate, who makes back-to-back starts after returning from a toe injury. |
| 11.58am BST11:58 | 11.58am BST11:58 |
| Watford v Middlesbrough line-ups | Watford v Middlesbrough line-ups |
| Watford:Gomes, Cathcart, Angella. Hoban, Paredes, Tozser, Watson, Guedioura, Anya, Deeney, Ighalo. | Watford:Gomes, Cathcart, Angella. Hoban, Paredes, Tozser, Watson, Guedioura, Anya, Deeney, Ighalo. |
| Subs: Connolly, Munari, Layun, Pudil, Vydra, Abdi, Bond. | Subs: Connolly, Munari, Layun, Pudil, Vydra, Abdi, Bond. |
| Middlesbrough:Konstantopoulos, Tiendalli, Amorebieta, Woodgate, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Tomlin, Reach, Bamford. | Middlesbrough:Konstantopoulos, Tiendalli, Amorebieta, Woodgate, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Tomlin, Reach, Bamford. |
| Subs: Gibson, Garcia, Ripley, Whitehead, Vossen, Kalas, Forshaw. | Subs: Gibson, Garcia, Ripley, Whitehead, Vossen, Kalas, Forshaw. |
| Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire) | Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire) |
| Updated at 12.00pm BST | Updated at 12.00pm BST |
| 11.50am BST11:50 | 11.50am BST11:50 |
| Match preview | Match preview |
| Things could scarcely be tighter at the summit of the Championship table, where the top four sides are separated by just two points and the gap between Middlesbrough in first place and Wolves in eighth is just seven. | Things could scarcely be tighter at the summit of the Championship table, where the top four sides are separated by just two points and the gap between Middlesbrough in first place and Wolves in eighth is just seven. |
| With just six games each left, Fourth place Watford entertain Middlesbrough today and a home win would catapult the Hornets to the top of the table for a couple of hours at least ahead of this afternoon’s fixtures. | With just six games each left, Fourth place Watford entertain Middlesbrough today and a home win would catapult the Hornets to the top of the table for a couple of hours at least ahead of this afternoon’s fixtures. |
| Watford’s medical staff will assess the fitness of three players before manager Slavisa Jokanovic names his team, with midfielder Almen Abdi and strikers Fernando Forestieri and Matej Vydra all hoping to be fit to face Boro. Defender Marco Motta will definitely miss out, having been sent off during Watford’s 2-2 draw with Derby County on a bad Good Friday for him. | Watford’s medical staff will assess the fitness of three players before manager Slavisa Jokanovic names his team, with midfielder Almen Abdi and strikers Fernando Forestieri and Matej Vydra all hoping to be fit to face Boro. Defender Marco Motta will definitely miss out, having been sent off during Watford’s 2-2 draw with Derby County on a bad Good Friday for him. |
| Having steered his side to the top of the table courtesy of their win over Wigan at the weekend, Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka will have to make do without defenders Ryan Fredericks and Daniel Ayala, who are bother recovering from injury, but the rotation-happy manager could play one or both of his new signings, central defender Fernando Amorebiata and full-back Dwight Tiendalli, who have come in on loan from Fulham and Swansea City respectively. Kick-off is 12.30pm (BST), but we’ll have team news and build-up from noon. | Having steered his side to the top of the table courtesy of their win over Wigan at the weekend, Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka will have to make do without defenders Ryan Fredericks and Daniel Ayala, who are bother recovering from injury, but the rotation-happy manager could play one or both of his new signings, central defender Fernando Amorebiata and full-back Dwight Tiendalli, who have come in on loan from Fulham and Swansea City respectively. Kick-off is 12.30pm (BST), but we’ll have team news and build-up from noon. |