SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 7 hrs 26 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
WL
Championship | Gameweek 41
Apr 9, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
Vicarage Road
RL

Watford
2 - 0
Reading

Sarr (12', 14')
Zinckernagel (17'), Hughes (75'), Success (90+2')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Rinomhota (56')

Watford 2-0 Reading: Ismaila Sarr brace propels Hornets to crucial win

:Headline: Watford 2-0 Reading: Ismaila Sarr brace propels Hornets to crucial win:
The Hornets were 2-0 winners at home to Reading.
Sports Mole

Watford moved a step closer to an instant Premier League return after two goals in as many first-half minutes from Ismaila Sarr earned a 2-0 win at home to Reading.

The Hornets moved to within five points of leaders Norwich as well as establishing a 12-point lead over third-place Brentford.

Reading remain in the final play-off slot but are in danger of being bumped down by Bournemouth, who now have two games in hand.

Watford were unchanged from the side that drew 1-1 at Middlesbrough on Monday while Reading opted to leave top scorer Lucas Joao on the bench despite a goal in the 3-1 win at home to Derby that day.

The game's first chance, after two minutes of silence to mark the passing of Prince Philip, was created by Watford in the fifth minute.

Sarr chested down a clearance from goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and set up Joao Pedro for a low drive across goal that was just wide.

Sarr decided to have a go himself six minutes later and was rewarded with a high-quality opener. The winger was involved in hustling Reading out of possession but still had plenty to do when he accepted Kiko Femenia's pass on the right of the box. The Senegal star cut inside at pace before planting a curling left-footed effort beyond goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.

Sarr was back to double the lead 77 seconds later after a combination of Nathaniel Chalobah and Philip Zinckernagel had dispossessed Lewis Gibson. The angle was tight for the 23-year-old but his rising drive was too rapid for Rafael even to touch.

Zinckernagel was booked for hauling Ovie Ejaria back, with Reading eventually replying with a decent chance for Josh Laurent, who pulled his shot wide of the far post.

George Puscas passed up a great opportunity to halve the deficit when he hit a post rather than a gaping net from close range. Michael Olise ran at the Watford defence and slipped Yakou Meite in on the right but somehow his team-mate could not finish.

Sarr soon had the ball in the net at the other end but a raised flag denied him a hat-trick before half-time.

There was another let-off for Watford just before the break when William Troost-Ekong gave the ball straight to Meite, who could only fire into the side-netting.

Reading made a strong start to the second period but saw Andy Rinomhota booked for hacking Sarr down to stop a swift counter-attack.

Lucas Joao replaced Puscas just after the hour mark as the Royals attempted to turn some encouraging approach play into goals.

Watford were forced into a change at the back when Troost-Ekong was hurt, with Craig Cathcart coming on for the final 20 minutes.

Zinckernagel headed a rare Hornets chance wide and then blasted a much better one over as the hosts remained unable to kill the game off.

Substitute Carlos Sanchez fired wide from distance for the hosts and fellow replacement Omar Richards was off target at the other end before Sarr saw a shot deflected just wide.

Another sub, Sone Aluko, was denied by a smart save by Bachmann as time finally ran out for Reading.

body check tags ::

amp_article__442570 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-04-09 21:07:40:
html db last update - 2021-04-09 21:04:23 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Neil Warnock backs Watford to "walk it" in promotion push
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Portsmouth392411463323183
2Derby CountyDerby402461069353478
3Bolton WanderersBolton39228971432874
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough38218974462871
5Barnsley382011770482271
6Oxford UnitedOxford Utd391891262521063
7Stevenage3917111151401162
8Lincoln CityLincoln3916131056332361
9Blackpool391791357421560
10Leyton Orient391610134444058
11Northampton TownNorthampton40158175160-953
12Wigan AthleticWigan39177155348550
13Wycombe WanderersWycombe381311145049150
14Bristol Rovers38148164857-950
15Exeter CityExeter39138183352-1947
16Charlton AthleticCharlton391015145758-145
17Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury39135212955-2644
18Reading39139175557-242
19Burton Albion39109203151-2039
20Cambridge UnitedCambridge38109193255-2339
21Port Vale3899203661-2536
22Cheltenham TownCheltenham3798203050-2035
23Fleetwood TownFleetwood39713194161-2034
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle3959253569-3424
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Friday's Primeira Liga predictions including Estrela vs. Sporting Lisbon

1

FP

Preview: Torino vs. Monza - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PT

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

3

A'

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PB

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

5

MC

Preview: Chelsea vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PC

How Chelsea could line up against Burnley

7

HC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

8

KM

Barcelona could be missing seven players for Las Palmas clash

9

BC

Preview: Lazio vs. Juventus - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PL


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .