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It has been almost 13 weeks since Southampton were unceremoniously expelled from last season’s Championship play-off final, but the full fallout from the scandal remains to be seen.
Saints were docked four points as part of their punishment – and after this defeat, that deficit remains – but the FA’s investigation into head coach Tonda Eckert rumbles on.
BBC Sport has been told that an FA hearing is likely to
With half an eye on the play-offs if they fail to claim second spot, Hellberg rested four of his regulars, including Scotland forward Conway.
Whittaker’s superb curling free-kick from close to 30 yards out put Boro in front after six minutes, although they were fortunate to retain that lead as Luca Kjerrumgaard spurned two chances to score an equaliser, including one effort that was fingertipped on to the post by
Before the match, recently appointed Watford boss Ed Still had described his side’s 11-day break between matches – because of their early FA Cup exit – as like a “mini pre-season”, giving him prolonged time to work with the squad and allowing players some time off.
That freshness told in the first half as they registered 10 shots to Wednesday’s four and dominated possession.
Chances missed by striker Luca Kjerrumgaard
Watford ended a run of seven Championship games without victory by beating play-off rivals Derby County.
Luca Kjerrumgaard gave the hosts an early lead at Vicarage Road, reacting quickest to convert from close range after Othmane Maamma’s low cross caused confusion in the Rams box.
Derby enjoyed decent spells of possession but failed to register a shot on target before the break.
Watford had chances to extend their lead after
Preston wanted a win to climb into the play-off places and instead remain seventh with just one win in their last six matches.
Watford remain 12th – three points outside the top six – and Still can take heart from his side’s point at Deepdale.
Preston took advantage of some slack defending to open the scoring on 19 minutes when Imran Louza failed to track back and Benjamin Whiteman fired
Saints nearly gifted the visitors a goal in the opening moments when keeper Daniel Petetz passed the ball straight to Watford’s Edo Kayembe on the edge of the box but the shot that followed was a tame effort.
The hosts had their best chance just before 20 minutes, Flynn Downes crossed a ball into the area from the right which found its way to Ross Stewart in a central position
Watford have signed former Roma and Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove on a five-and-a-half-year deal.
The 23-year-old collapsed on the pitch two years ago during a loan spell with Fiorentina and was taken to intensive care.
He was later fitted with a cardiac defibrillator, and has not played a senior game since then.
Footballers are barred from playing in Italy with a defibrillator and Roma released him from his contract to
And they continued their fine record against Birmingham, beating them for the seventh successive home league game without conceding.
The outcome rarely looked in doubt from the moment Ince fired the hosts into a ninth-minute lead, calmly finishing first time from eight yards as Chakvetadze’s pass over the Birmingham defence dropped into his path.
Ince then chipped into the side-netting from a tight angle following an overhit Chakvetadze pass before
Watford are really close to being a decent Championship team. But the nagging feeling remains this young group under progressive head coach Javi Gracia probably need another 12-18 months together before we see the best of them.
The problem with that is some of the talent may not still be at the club and the other problem is nor may the head coach.
That’s not to say Gracia’s done much
For Watford, who moved up to 10th, it was their fourth successive home win and Javier Gracia’s second victory from his four games since returning as manager last month.
He will be hugely satisfied with the result as the Hornets also registered their first clean sheet at the 13th attempt.
Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik denied Hayden Hackney to set the theme for the day before Kwadwo Baah crossed for Louza