It was difficult not to feel enormous sympathy for the long-suffering supporters of Watford at the final whistle here. Pontus Jansson’s late winner seconds after the home side had missed a golden opportunity at the other end to complete a memorable comeback not only leaves their Premier League status hanging by a slender thread but also created a most unwanted record.
Not since Birmingham’s class of 1986 has a team in England’s top four divisions suffered 10 successive league defeats at home and Watford now trail Everton by six points, having played two games more. “It’s very hard to take,” said Roy Hodgson, who has yet to pick up a point in five matches at Vicarage Road. “We have to keep believing but who knows what can happen?”
Incredibly, this was not the first time Watford had lost nine home league matches in a row, having been relegated to the old Division Three in 1971-72 the last time. Despite their struggles here, the club’s owners week reaffirmed their commitment to their home since August 1922 despite rumours that they had been considering a new 33,000-seat stadium on land at Bushey Hall golf club.
Not since the 4-1 thrashing of Manchester United in November have supporters here seen a victory – an awful sequence that has left them staring down the trapdoor with six games to play. By contrast, Brentford’s Premier League status looked assured before this match and now seems certain after a third successive win.
“It’s been a crazy and remarkable season for us,” said a delighted Thomas Frank, whose side are now 11th.
“We have had three last-minute winners this season and that shows two things: that we are unbelievably fit and the character of my players.”
Emmanuel Dennis’s previous goal this year had come in the victory at Aston Villa in February and the Nigeria forward was sprightly in the opening exchanges as Ismaïla Sarr wasted a golden opportunity to put Watford ahead from Kiko Femenía’s teasing cross.
Not for the first time this season, however, their promising start was undone by a lapse in concentration in defence. A long throw in the 15th minute from Ethan Pinnock was flicked on at the near post by Kristoffer Ajer to leave the unmarked Christian Nørgaard to tap in.
Pinnock’s match was over soon afterwards after he limped off clutching his hamstring.
Watford spurned another chance when Dennis found space on the left but the header sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
A well-worked corner routine from Brentford saw Vitaly Janelt’s cross just elude Bryan Mbeumo at the near post before Christian Eriksen shot straight at Ben Foster from the edge of the area.
If the home fans had hoped their opponents would already be on the beach then they were sadly mistaken. Several had already left in search of refreshments by the time Ajer’s sliced clearance just missed David Raya’s far post in the closest Watford had come to scoring in a miserable half, with those who remained making their displeasure known at the half-time whistle.
Their mood will not have improved with the way Ivan Toney was allowed to stroll unmarked on to a sumptuous chipped free kick from Eriksen at the start of the second half. Luckily for Watford, Toney’s scuffed shot rolled harmlessly wide and within 60 seconds Watford were level.
Moussa Sissoko’s cross from the right picked out Dennis at the far post and he smashed the ball past Raya, with VAR ruling Sarr had been marginally onside in the buildup when he flicked the ball on.
Suddenly, Watford had renewed hope. A driving run down the left from Hassane Kamara set up Samir for an effort from outside the areathat whistled just wide of the post.
Brentford were not prepared to roll over and they seemed more likely to find a winning goal until the dying moments when substitute Joshua King struck the post from a tight angle and Imran Louza somehow missed the rebound with the goal gaping.
To make matters worse, Jansson then delivered the cruellest of blows from Eriksen’s free-kick with the final act.
