Jake Livermore has never been much of a goalscorer. And yet he celebrated the first of two smoothly delivered strikes from the edge of the QPR area with the nonchalance of the regular marksman. The second, too, was greeted with a knowing smirk.
“The big man turns up and scores an absolute belter,” said Watford’s goalkeeper Ben Hamer, equally without whom Watford would not have claimed three points in their chase for the Championship playoffs. “Giving it the Cantona, wasn’t he?”
A player taken to Hornet hearts after years of diligent service to West Brom – and Hull before that – was a most popular scorer among fans and teammates alike. During a Sunday lunchtime win in west London Livermore showed why his talents once won him England caps. His goals left QPR where they had kicked off, on the danger list, badly struggling. The new year of 2024 has begun with three defeats, their attempted late comeback falling short.
News last week from a club that have oscillated between crisis and farce for most of the 21st century was the appointment of 26-year-old data expert Christian Nourry as chief executive. Described as “extremely competent” by Lee Hoos, the predecessor who remains as chairman, Nourry arrives from the company behind the recruitment of the director of performance, Ben Williams, and the head coach, Martí Cifuentes. “He has a lot of experience,” Cifuentes said afterwards of his new boss, 15 years his junior. “Age for me is not relevant.”
That Cifuentes’s team, second from bottom, have picked up one point from the past six matches suggests the underlying numbers must be the focus of the suits’ stats‑based approach. Watford were on the end of 16 shots to nine but from 22 QPR league goals all season, their top scorer is Lyndon Dykes on four. Kenneth Paal, a left-back, is joint‑second on three.
Considering previous case history, that Valérien Ismaël remains Watford manager at this point of the season, his team starting Sunday in 13th position, is a huge outlier. He was thankful to both Livermore and Hamer post-match. “It is not his job to score goals but we are pleased for him. He has a great mentality. He has found his rhythm.”
Such is Championship football that a high-commitment whirlwind threw up occasional shards of class. QPR’s returning Chris Willock showed off tricks and flicks, while Livermore conducted Watford’s midfield matters from deep. There was an early call for a penalty but Jake Clarke-Salter’s tackle was adept; Rhys Healey and Matheus Martins fell only after colliding with each other. Ilias Chair dipped a free-kick over that had home fans, unsighted by winter sun, celebrating a goal that never was.
QPR’s Jack Colback, a player of vast experience at this level and higher, might have been glad for a lack of VAR when crunching into Yáser Asprilla. The flame-haired veteran was at least apologetic but less well disposed to Sinclair Armstrong when the striker, just one league goal all season, failed to make a run. As a motivation tool, that seemed to work. Soon enough, Armstrong forced a save from Hamer after which only Healey’s interception stopped Chair knocking in the rebound.
The same young striker’s power was in evidence within 10 seconds of the second half beginning when he bundled through to test Hamer. Next, when Watford’s Ryan Andrews slid across to intercept a lobbed pass to Armstrong from Willock he too came off second-best, only for Hamer to come to the rescue.
As the entertainment level lifted, it fell to Livermore to launch his first right-foot missile past an unsighted Asmir Begovic after Martins had laid the ball up. Five minutes later the trick was repeated.
Watford fans taunted their opposite number but were soon back to fretting about their less than watertight defence. Paul Smyth, a substitute, found Dykes unmarked at the far post to set up a tense, chaotic final flurry. Livermore had been subbed off, Watford losing control of midfield with his departure. Armstrong twirled and shot into Hamer’s hands, Jimmy Dunne headed a corner wide, and then had a late, skidding effort saved by Hamer. “A great save,” an approving Livermore said, before sidestepping his own plaudits. “I’ve been getting a bit of stick from some of the boys for not chipping in with enough goals.”
In holding off a desperate, determined QPR, the exemplary Hamer assured the away fans could regale their other match-winner Livermore, to the tune of Status Quo’s/John Fogerty’s Rockin’ All Over The World and head back to Hertfordshire with the spoils.
