Watford secured a vital 1-0 win against Lincoln City at Vicarage Road on Tuesday, lifting them out of the Championship relegation zone. Stephy Mavididi's goal less than a minute into the second half proved the decisive moment in a tight contest.
The victory moves Watford up to 20th in the table, four points clear of the bottom three, and provides a key morale boost after a heavy 4-0 defeat at Norwich just days earlier. The Hornets had taken just 11 points from their first 13 games, a run that included eight defeats, making this result all the more significant.
Mavididi broke the deadlock in the 46th minute, cutting in from the left flank and whipping a curling shot that took a slight deflection off Lincoln defender Sonny Bradley on its way in. The goal came from Watford's first real chance of a match that had been described as 'pretty even' up to that point.
Lincoln responded and almost equalised just before the hour mark when a header from Danny Mandroiu clipped the crossbar. Watford manager Alessio Dionisi made a series of changes to see the game out, introducing Mamadou Doumbia and Krepin Diatta on the hour mark before bringing on Martin Payero and Branimir Mlacic later on.
The clean sheet was only Watford's second since March, a defensive solidity they will need to replicate when they host league leaders Middlesbrough on Saturday. The win was somewhat marred by a late booking for midfielder Hector Kyprianou in stoppage time, which rules him out of that upcoming fixture through suspension.
A small protest against the club's ownership, involving 11 people, was noted near the Graham Taylor mural before kick-off. Watford Football Club acknowledged the demonstration in a statement, saying, "There was another admittedly small anti-Pozzo protest ahead of tonight's game."
This was the first league meeting between the sides since 1979 and was contested for the inaugural Graham Taylor Cup, a replica of the Fourth Division title Watford won under Taylor's management in the 1977/78 season.
The Hornets' next challenge is a formidable one, facing a Middlesbrough side that sits 17 points above them at the top of the standings. The match at Vicarage Road kicks off on Saturday, 7 November.
Read the full report at Watford Observer
Watford's 1-0 win over Lincoln City was their second victory in eight games, moving them to 20th in the Championship with 14 points from 14 matches. Alessio Dionisi revealed he had spoken to match-winner Stephy Mavididi, who was unhappy with his lack of minutes. The Watford head coach said, "Stephy was unhappy that he wasn't getting enough minutes - like every player, he wants to play." The Hornets host league leaders Middlesbrough on Saturday, 7 November.
Lincoln City's management team were left furious with the officials after the 1-0 defeat. Joint head coach Tom Shaw, who was banned from the dugout, said the decisive goal came from a wrongly-awarded throw-in. "It's been taken before it was awarded either way. A big mistake has cost us," Shaw stated. The win was Watford's second in eight games, leaving them 20th in the Championship with 14 points. They host Middlesbrough on Saturday, 7 November.
Watford head coach Alessio Dionisi revealed he changed the team's shape for the 1-0 win over Lincoln City. The Italian reverted to a 4-2-3-1 system, a move many supporters had been calling for. Dionisi said the switch was needed after the collapse at Norwich. The Hornets, 20th in the Championship with 14 points, host Middlesbrough on Saturday, 7 November.
