Nigel Pearson is perhaps most famous, with regards to the Premier League, for masterminding Leicester City’s great escape, the season before they famously went on to win the title. During that campaign, the Foxes found themselves bottom of the table with just six games to go, and after the 29th match week, they had only 19 points. Seven wins and a draw in their final eight games ensured that Leicester City ended up finishing the campaign 14th having been previously cut adrift.
Watford, Pearson’s current side, currently find themselves on 12 points after 18 Premier League matches, the good news for the Hornets is that Leicester City had just ten points at this stage of the season when they beat the drop. Defeating Manchester United at the weekend was a massive statement of Watford’s intent, and if they are to continue to pull off shock results, they will need the help of record signing Ismaila Sarr.
Since arriving from Rennes, the Senegalese winger has been largely disappointing, starting just six matches, while appearing as a substitute in a further five. Those 11 appearances have yielded only two goals in the Premier League – including the opener against Manchester United – with no assists and Pearson must get him back to the form he showed in France to ensure survival. Last season the 21-year-old scored 12 times in all competitions, providing a goal threat from out wide, the sort Watford have desperately missed this campaign. In total, the Hornets have found the back of the net just 11 times in 18 Premier League appearances.
Meanwhile, Sarr also boasted a crucial creative influence while in Ligue 1, in his past two seasons he has provided nine assists averaging over a key pass per game. But in the yellow of Watford, those numbers have dropped stratospherically, and he is yet to register an assist and is playing a key pass every other game. What will also concern Pearson is that his shots per game are not down on his time in France, but he is scoring significantly less.
Sarr’s issues are likely to be primarily confidence based, there is clearly a very talented winger in him, but he has joined the Hornets at an unfortunate time. Pearson will need to build his confidence fast, but if he can, then the second great escape could be on the cards.
