On Sunday afternoon Watford travelled south to A.F.C Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium to contest a six-point clash at the foot of the Premier League table. The visitors came out on top, winning 3-0, to leap out of the relegation zone for the first time this season. Once again, the Hornets talisman Troy Deeney was at the heart of everything Nigel Pearson’s side accomplished on the pitch, and the striker is looking like he will make the difference in ensuring Watford’s top-flight survival.
Deeney was at his combative best, regularly dropping deep to contribute to Watford’s defensive requirements, making a tackle, as well as providing an interception. But the contribution that embodied his no-nonsense style was getting back amongst the thick of things to make four clearances; few other Premier League strikers would have relished the opportunity to help their defence as much as Deeney.
Despite operating as a lone striker, the 31-year-old Englishman attempted 37 passes, the fifth most of any Watford player. Deeney’s 67.6 percent pass accuracy may have disappointed his manager slightly, but it was only low due to the striker trying to hold up play and create for others in the final third. While the Englishman’s passing may have been more inaccurate than he desired, Deeney excelled at providing others with opportunities, with the Watford skipper playing four key passes for teammates. Though in spite of his best efforts, the 31-year-old was unable to register an assist.
In the final third, no player on the pitch was more threatening than the Watford ace as Deeney had double the number of shots on target of any of his fellow Hornets players. Those efforts on goal culminated in doubling the visitor’s lead shortly after the hour mark, in essence, sealing a victory to lift his side out of the bottom three.
The dramatic upturn in Watford’s fortunes under Pearson has been in stark contrast to the Cherries form of late. But once again, when it mattered most for Watford, their talisman Deeney was on hand to ensure the Hornets got the result they required to keep their Premier League survival hopes alive.
