2020/21 REPORT

League Position: 2nd (Championship)Top League Goalscorer: Ismaïla Sarr (13)Stadium: Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0ERCapacity: 22,200

A successful campaign for The Hornets culminated in them picking up the second automatic promotion spot in a season where they actually had two different managers. Xisco Muñoz took charge of the side on 21 December 2020 after the departure of Vladimir Ivić. At the turn of the year, Watford were able to become one of the most consistent sides in the league. Following their 2-1 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers on 1 February, they were beaten just once more in the next 14 games. They secured promotion on 24 April with a 1-0 win over Millwall at Vicarage Road.

THE MANAGER

Xisco Muñoz was brought in midway through the last campaign and has had a successful start to his time with the club having achieved the aim of promotion. The Spaniard had a playing career which saw him feature for the likes of Valencia and Real Betis and he was also capped at youth level for his country. He managed Catalonian side Pobla Mafumet on an interim basis in 2017 before taking on the Head Coach role at one of his former clubs, Dinamo Tbilisi. Only there for a few months, he then made the move to Watford and will be in charge as the side take on the Premier League.

LAST MEETING

Two second half goals enabled Brentford to record a third straight win, with Watford beaten in West London. Marcus Forss put The Bees in front before Ivan Toney converted his penalty to reach a personal landmark.

Bees: Raya; Jansson, Nørgaard, Sørensen; Roerslev (sub Stevens 89 mins), Fosu, Bidstrup (sub Goode 80 mins), Jensen (sub Marcondes 80 mins), Canós; Toney (sub Mbeumo 74 mins), Forss (sub Ghoddos 74 mins)Subs (not used): Daniels, Reid, Gordon, JaneltBookings: Bidstrup (66 mins), Canós (69 mins) (fourth of season)

Watford: Bachmann; Cathcart, Sierralta, Kabasele, Masina; Cleverley (sub Success 30 mins), Hughes (sub Wilmot 84 mins), Gosling (sub Pochettino 84 mins); Hungbo (sub Zinckernagel 24 mins), Gray (sub Perica 84 mins), SemaSubs (not used): Foster, Troost-Ekong, Lazaar, Navarro