Watford

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Watford chief executive Scott Duxbury has hailed Javi Gracia as a "fantastic" success since returning to Vicarage Road as head coach.

The Spaniard, previously in charge from January 2018 to September 2019, was reappointed in October when Paulo Pezzolano was sacked.

The Hornets have won seven of their 15 games since then, including the past three, and are sixth in the Championship table before Thursday's home game against Birmingham City.

"Javi has been fantastic since he returned," Duxbury told the club website., external

"We knew from his first spell at the club that he just gets what Watford is all about; he understands the culture, the people, and recognises what it means to the fans.

"There is a connection which has been reflected in the way the team now plays with adventure and attacking intent."

Watford have one of the youngest squads in the second tier and Duxbury vowed that none of their players would leave in January without Gracia's approval.

"Recruitment underpins pretty much everything about the club, and our track record of signing young players, and seeing them shine in a Watford shirt as they develop before going on to bigger things, has been clear for all to see in recent years," he added.

"The rich pipeline of talent continues, and that's why our recruitment strategy in the summer was based around a particular age profile.

"With (Kwadwo) Baah and (Rocco) Vata to return soon, it's clear there will be even more competition in the matchday squad and other players may have to leave, but they will only be the ones Javi believes would benefit from a fresh start.

"Nobody will leave that Javi doesn't want to lose. That being said, we are in constant discussion with Javi about squad strength and if an opportunity presents itself, we will move."

Watford will look to extend their good run of form as visitors Birmingham City hope to end their winless spell as the two sides meet at Vicarage Road on New Year's Day (15:00 GMT).

The Hornets have won their past three successive games to put themselves into the play-off places and are undefeated across their last six, though the last team to beat them were Blues.

However, the West Midlands side haven't been able to find another win since that victory at St Andrew's in December.

Can they end a six match winless streak to deliver a league double against their hosts?

• Watford have won each of their last six home league games against Birmingham City without conceding; only against Portsmouth between 1962 and 1989 have they kept seven clean sheets in a row on home turf.

• Birmingham City had won just one of their last 12 league meetings with Watford prior to this season (D1 L10) but won the reverse fixture 2-1 last month; the Blues last completed a league double over the Hornets in 2008-09.

• Watford have only won their opening fixture in two of the last 14 calendar years (D2 L10), beating Wolves 2-1 in the Premier League in 2020 and Norwich in the Championship in 2023.

• Birmingham City haven't won a league game on New Year's Day since 1991 away at Mansfield Town (2-1), going winless in 15 such matches since then (D5 L10), which is the longest ongoing winless streak on January 1st of any team in England's top four tiers.

• Watford have only lost one of their last nine home league games against newly promoted opposition (W4 D4), winning all three such games last season.

Christian Fuller
Watford fan writer

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Watford are becoming a team known for never giving up.

Whether it is conceding early in games and fighting back or scoring late to snatch a win, Javi Gracia has created a team you feel could always be on for three points, no matter the circumstance.

In the Hornets' 2-1 victory over Leicester City, it was an all-too-familiar start as the Foxes scored with their first shot on goal.

But as has been the case on many occasions this season, Watford dug in and turned the game around.

Othmane Maamma's equaliser made him the first player since Troy Deeney in 2015 to score in three consecutive away games for Watford – not bad company to be in – before some questionable decision-making from the Leicester keeper gift-wrapped a Boxing Day victory to Watford by misjudging a cross, which Mattie Pollock gladly headed home.

As much as supporters would prefer not to always go behind to kickstart momentum, it has been a winning strategy of late.

Meanwhile, in the absence of Mamadou Doumbia, whose Africa Cup of Nations journey is to be extended with Mali qualifying for the last 16, it was Vivaldo Semedo who sent the away end into bedlam with a last-gasp winner in Watford's 1-0 win against Norwich City.

And while it was Semedo who stole the headlines this time, it is that sharing of the workload that supporters can be excited about, with goals and chances shared among an array of attacking talent week by week - soon to be even more bolstered with the imminent return of Kwadwo Baah.

That is three wins on the bounce and a first away clean sheet in nearing a year.

But most importantly, the recent string of victories puts us into the play-off places – with momentum going into what will hopefully be a year to remember for all the right reasons.

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Watford boss Javi Gracia was full of praise for his side's unity after the 2-1 comeback victory away against Leicester City.

"We know the quality of their team and the individuals well. We were aware about the way to prepare knowing we needed to defend well but also show our quality - and we did," Gracia told BBC Three Counties Radio

"We conceded an early goal; they scored with their first opportunity but we kept believing in our plan and in the end we got what we wanted. I am really happy for the players and the supporters.

"It is always difficult to play away but all the members of the team are improving. We are growing as a team.

"Many people speak about solidarity and helping each other and we have to show that on the pitch.

"Today we showed a good face and the spirit we need. It means we could show our quality."

Leicester City and Watford will look to shake ghosts of Boxing Day's past when they meet at the King Power on Friday (15:00 GMT)

Watford could make the top six with a win if they are also fortunate with results elsewhere but they'll need to repeat their success from last year's Boxing Day triumph, something they've struggled to do in recent club history.

Though Leicester's luck the day after Christmas has been worse and only one can turn around their Boxing Day form.

• Leicester have won each of their last four league games against Watford, their longest ever winning run against the Hornets.

• Watford have won just one of their last 14 away league games against Leicester (D2 L11), losing each of the last seven in a row.

• In English Football League history, only Newcastle (47) and Burnley (45) have lost more games on Boxing Day than Leicester (43). Indeed, the Foxes have won just one of their last 11 such games (D2 L8), beating Man City 2-1 in 2018.

• Watford beat Portsmouth 2-1 on Boxing Day last season but haven't won consecutive Boxing Day matches since a run of six between 1988 and 1994.

• Watford have won just one of their last 16 away league games (D5 L10) and haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 15 on the road, last having a longer run between April 2012 and January 2013 (16).

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Watford midfielder Edo Kayembe started for DR Congo as they got their African Cup of Nations campaign off to a winning start by beating Benin 1-0 in Rabat.

The 27-year-old won his 37th cap for the The Leopards before being substituted in the 55th minute.

DR Congo, who have twice lifted the title, won the game with a goal from Spartak Moscow winger Theo Bongonda after 16 minutes.

Kayembe is one of two Watford players featuring at Afcon with forward Mamadou Doumbia part of the Mali squad.

DR Congo are next in action on Saturday when they meet Senegal before completing the group stage against Botswana on Tuesday, December 30.

Watford assistant sporting director Valon Behrami does not expect any bids in January for 'wonderkid' forward Othmane Maamma.

He has made a big impact at Vicarage Road, scoring twice in nine appearances, since helping Morocco win the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in October.

"We are not used to selling in the January transfer market unless they come with something crazy, a different kind of valuation," Behrami told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"A player like Maamma - now comes the difficult part because the expectations are higher game by game. That's something we need to pay attention to, especially on a young talent like this.

"The only priority is to keep him growing and doing the right things because when the expectations are higher, the pressure is higher. It's an exciting moment for him and we are here to support him through this process."

Behrami said the 20-year-old's talent had never been in doubt, which is why they signed him from Montpellier in the summer.

"We didn't get to see him so much [at the start] because he had some injury problem when he arrived here," Behrami added.

"He's a perfect example of hard work pays off. I remember two months, he was working every day double session.

"We saw his quality, of course, but his growth was so fast when he arrived (back) here after the World Cup. What surprised me wasn't the quality, but how fast he did this process."

Sam Fletcher
BBC Final Score reporter

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Imran Louza wasn't credited with the assist for Watford's goal against Stoke, it was Hector Kyprianou's header that set up Luca Kjerrumgaard, but without him it's hard to see where opportunities would come from for the Hornets.

It was a perfectly-placed free-kick from captain Louza that resulted in the home side's winner.

He was everywhere, involved in nearly every aspect of the game and certainly both the lynchpin and the creator.

The Moroccan wasn't called up for the Africa Cup of Nations, much to the club's delight I'm sure, but it's hard to see that he won't gain attention when he's such a key part of Watford's side that are starting to push up the Championship.

Christian Fuller
Watford fan writer

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It feels like we say the same every week, but Watford are still in the hunt for a play-off spot.

With our unbeaten run extended to four games, the 1-0 victory against Stoke City may have been one of the Hornets' more forgettable matches of the season, but it is results like this that move you up the Championship table.

If you had offered Watford supporters the chance to be three points outside the play-off places going into Christmas, almost all would have accepted that offer - myself included.

The game was scrappy, but most importantly, it was another three points – and just a second clean sheet of the season.

Goalkeeper Egil Selvik was only forced into a single save in the match, with Mattie Pollock deservedly picking up the player of the match award for his defensive display.

The central defender often sets the tone, and lifts the atmosphere at Vicarage Road, with his aggressive nature and eagerness to put his body on the line – a trait which goes a long way, and one that may well end up with him named Watford's player of the season.

Also making a somewhat unexpected surge for that crown is Othmane Maamma.

While his presence in the starting XI was delayed this season, he has more than stepped up since his arrival. The young Moroccan brings the flair and excitement that fans adore, and that the squad often misses in the absence of Kwadwo Baah.

And in the week where Mamadou Doumbia left for the Africa Cup of Nations, Luca Kjerrumgaard stepped up to net his eighth goal of the season.

The giant Danish striker may not often make the headlines, but he deserves his props as he continues to go under the radar with his goal tally.

With two more matches before the turn of the year, Watford have done enough to keep supporters hopeful of what 2026 may bring.

Watford boss Javi Gracia said he was "proud" of his side's performance in their 1-0 win over Stoke City.

Luca Kjerrumgaard's second-half goal extended the Hornets' Championship unbeaten run to four matches and moved them to within three points of the play-offs.

Gracia told BBC Three Counties Radio: "We knew before the game that Stoke was playing well with good or not so good results, but always competing very well and with quality to attack.

"In my opinion today is important, the clean sheet, because [in] the last games we were conceding one or two goals. This way it's very difficult to get the three points.

"Today I'm proud because the players followed the plan. They went in the right positions to defend well, to be compact, to be solid. This way, maybe we didn't have the same options to attack - more in counters in the first half or in set pieces, but it was the plan."

Watford are on a three-game unbeaten run, coming into Saturday's game (15:00 GMT) on the back of draws with Wrexham and Sheffield Wednesday and a win over Norwich.

Stoke dropped out of the top six after three successive defeats, but returned to winning ways by beating Swansea City 2-1 last weekend.

• Watford have won three of their past four home league games against Stoke (D1), more than they had in their previous 12 (W2 D3 L7).

• Stoke have won just one of their past nine league games against Watford (D3 L5), a 1-0 home victory in August 2023.

• Since the start of November, Watford have drawn the joint-most games in the Championship (five – level with Wrexham). However, no side has lost fewer times (one) than the Hornets in this period.

• Stoke have lost their past three away games in the Championship, as many defeats as in their previous 12 away matches in the competition (W5 D4 L3). They have already had a run of four consecutive away defeats in league action this year, between February and March (four).

• Watford have gained more points from losing positions than any other side in the Championship this season (20).

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

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When the Pozzo family became involved in Watford 13 years ago, the recruitment model was to mirror that of then sister clubs Udinese and Granada, an extensive worldwide scouting network trying to uncover bright young stars for relatively small amounts of money to eventually sell on for profit.

This has proved to be successful over the years - Richarlison, Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr are some of Watford's best examples. Hornets fans enjoyed them for the few years they were at Vicarage Road and then they left for big money.

Which brings us to the present. Because Watford may well have outdone themselves.

Othmane Maamma, just 20, was signed from Montpellier in the summer for a fee thought to be under £1m. That's now looking like the bargain of the Pozzo ownership.

Maamma lit up the Under-20 World Cup with the Moroccan winning Player of the Tournament. That was followed with the African Young Player of the Year award.

The winger has only just broken into the Watford first team but has settled in seamlessly and made an instant impact. He's started six times and you could argue in all of those games he has been their best player.

Maamma has two goals and an assist and should have had more of both. He very nearly made it into the senior Morocco team for the Africa Cup of Nations and it would be no surprise if he sneaked into their World Cup squad next year.

Why is he so good? His technical ability is exceptional and his movement is great for such a young player. He is a big influence on games and makes things happen.

Young players, particularly wingers, can sometimes try to do too much but Maamma already has brilliant game intelligence and his ability to do the right thing at the right time sets him apart from others.

You can almost count the number of starts he's made on one hand but it looks like he's made 100.

Putting a price tag on Maamma at the moment is difficult as he's had so few senior games but if he continues to develop on this upward path, Watford are going to make a vast profit and when they eventually sell him it could end up being the best business they've ever done in terms of player-profit percentage.

There are already rumours of January transfer bids for him.

Watford don't tend to sell in the winter but if a silly offer came in they would surely have to consider making such a large profit in such a short space of time.

It would be the latest success of a transfer model that in its nature can be hit or miss.

Fans would like that player profit to be ploughed back into the team but the owner would probably argue this is the money that pays Watford's costs and keeps him running the club. That argument is for another day.

Meanwhile, we must enjoy Maamma while we can and make the most of him - however long he stays at Vicarage Road.

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Watford have recalled midfielder Leo Ramirez-Espain from a loan spell at National League club Yeovil Town.

The 19-year-old joined the Glovers last month and was due to stay with them until the end of January.

But Watford say head coach Javi Gracia wants Ramirez-Espain back because several of his players have been called up for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ramirez-Espain made two substitute appearances in the League Cup early in the season, having been part of the team that reached the FA Youth Cup semi-finals in 2024-25.

Christian Fuller
Watford fan writer

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There is nothing Watford love more than conceding early and conceding late.

And once again, the Hornets ticked both boxes in the 2-2 draw away to Wrexham.

The fixture felt destined to be a turning point for Watford either way - a win and we are still in the promotion race, a loss and the season feels like it is over before it has even begun.

And yet, we have come away none the wiser.

It has felt for so much of the season that we could make a case to be a play-off contender.

And while a draw away at Wrexham is not the worst result on paper, the manner of conceding a stoppage-time equaliser cemented the feeling we run the risk of ending up in mid-table mediocrity.

The on and off nature of results under Javi Gracia has seen us float around the middle of the Championship table for a matter of weeks now, with each match seemingly a missed opportunity to lift us closer to the top six.

And with more fixtures coming up against similarly ranked teams in Stoke City and Leicester City, it feels like the festive period of matches could determine how our season will pan out.

As with many of our games this campaign, there have been positives and negatives, which is perhaps why we have drawn eight already.

Gracia's trust in youth is something to admire. And goals from Mamadou Doumbia, 19, and Othmane Maamma, 20, proves that trust is paying off.

But with Doumbia named in Mali's Africa Cup of Nations squad, only time will tell who the manager will turn to for youthful excitement in his absence.

Watford assistant boss Zigor Aranalde said the referee had made a clear mistake in the build-up to Wrexham's added-time equaliser, resulting in a red card being shown to head coach Javi Gracia.

Ollie Rathbone's 92nd-minute goal denied The Hornets three points in north Wales on Saturday as the Championship game ended 2-2, but Aranalde said the game should have been stopped for a foul prior to the corner which led to it.

"Everyone could see the free-kick the referee didn't give leading to the second goal. It was a clear foul and he [Gracia] got mad for a couple of minutes and he decided to send him off," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"For me, it was a clear mistake and he is lucky there was no VAR or that decision would have been dropped for sure. Grabbing, pulling, it was a shocking decision and it was the difference today."

Watford had fought back from 1-0 to take the lead with goals by Mamadou Doumbia and Othmane Maamma.

"Credit to the lads, they never gave up, in a difficult situation we managed to come back in the second half," Aranalde said.

"We had the game more or less under control until those last five minutes. That's life, we have to carry on."

Watford are next in action at home to Stoke City on Saturday.