Watford have a first win of pre-season under their belts after beating Fortuna Dusseldorf 3-1 to end their week-long training camp in Austria on a victorious note.
Isaac Success put the Hornets in the first half ahead against the Bundesliga newcomers, who equalised soon after. But Javi Gracia’s men pulled away after the break to secure the victory through further goals from Troy Deeney and Jerome Sinclair.
Like he did for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against FC Koln, the Watford head coach once chose to give two different teams 45 minutes each.
Daniel Bachmann and Pontus Dahlberg were given a half each, meaning all four of the Hornets’ senior goalkeepers got some match minutes in Austria, Tommie Hoban played his second 45 minutes of the trip in an unfamiliar central midfield position, while the second half saw Jack Rodwell make a first appearance in a Watford shirt.
The former Everton and Manchester City midfielder is on trial with Gracia’s side after having his contract at Sunderland cancelled and is hoping to secure a contract to again kick-start a career that promised so much when he was younger.
The Hornets made the breakthrough after 20 minutes when Tuesday’s scorer Andre Gray broke away on the right and delivered a low cross for Success to convert at the far post.
However, the 2. Bundesliga champions equalised in stunning fashion five minutes later when Rouwen Hennings struck with a fantastic volley from the edge of the penalty area that gave Bachmann no chance.
The all-changed Watford side regained the advantage 19 minutes after the restart when Deeney headed home a Daryl Janmaat cross at the far post.
After Adrian Mariappa had forced the Dusseldorf keeper into a good save with a header from a Jose Holebas free-kick, the Hornets netted their third four minutes from time when Sinclair was the beneficiary of a fine one-touch passing build-up between Ken Sema and Deeney.
Watford first-half XI: Bachmann; Navarro, Kabasele, Prodl, Masina; Hughes, Capoue, Hoban, Pereyra; Success, Gray.
Watford second-half XI: Dahlberg; Janmaat, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas; Sema, Wilmot, Rodwell, Lukebakio; Sinclair, Deeney.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel