Watford 1 Sheff Utd 0: Hornets off to flier in Championship with Pedro on target as front three give Blades nightmares
NEW boss Rob Edwards made a dream start to his Watford career with the Hornets’ first home win since last November.
The home front three of Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis gave Sheffield United a torrid night, with Brazilian Pedro firing the winner.
It was the perfect start to the new era at Vicarage Road, after 39-year-old Edwards had replaced Roy Hodgson, 74, who left in the summer after failing to save the club from relegation.
Edwards was welcomed to his first match with rapturous applause.
There were clear comparisons with the career of the Hornets’ greatest manager, Graham Taylor. Both arrived at the club in their 30s after winning the title with clubs in the bottom division.
But while Taylor started Watford’s rise from the old Fourth Division, former Forest Green Rovers boss Edwards is tasked with returning the club to the top flight at the first attempt — with his opening match against a side who reached the play-offs last season.
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Early signs were good as Dennis steamed through the middle in the fifth minute to slip the ball to Sarr, who fired into the side netting.
Watford, bristling with attacking intent, were stretching the Yorkshire side, who collected their first yellow card just before the quarter-hour mark.
On-loan defender Ciaran Clark dumped Dennis on his backside and was promptly booked by ref Josh Smith.
On 20 minutes, Watford were given a sharp reminder that the Blades have a cutting edge when Sander Berge fired in a 20-yarder that brought home keeper Daniel Bachmann to his knees.
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Then, five minutes later, the high-tempo match boiled over into a touchline bust-up that brought two bookings.
Home skipper Tom Cleverley and Iliman Ndiaye were first to tangle. Men from both sides piled in and after ref Smith had brokered a peace, he booked Watford’s Francisco Sierralta and Blades’ John Fleck.
Soon after Ndiaye almost got his own back when he broke clear, only to shoot straight at Bachmann.
Opposite number Wes Foderingham kept United level four minutes before the break as he swooped to gather Joao Pedro’s downward header.
For all Watford’s pressure, United went nearest to scoring in the opening period but Bachmann saved Daniel Jebbison’s dipping shot from the edge of the box.
Watford started the second half as they had begun the first — and stormed into the lead on 56 minutes.
Hassane Kamara led the high-paced breakout down the middle from a United corner, then switched the ball to Dennis, who passed to Sarr.
The Senegalese completed the move with a peach of a pass into the path of Pedro, who did not break stride as he swept the ball low past Foderingham.
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Next in the book was United boss Paul Heckingbottom — apparently unhappy with the build-up to the goal.
The Blades chief sent on all five subs, but this was Watford’s night — and a super debut for Edwards.
