Aston Villa 0-1 Watford: Roy Hodgson gets first win as Hornets boss

Roy Hodgson said there is still “a long way to go” this season despite claiming his first win as Watford manager.

Villa dominated but Watford grabbed all three points when Emmanuel Dennis powered home Ismaila Sarr’s 78th-minute cross after an opportunistic counter-attack.

It ended the visitors’ four-game goal drought and lifted them up to 18th in the Premier League, four points from safety.

“The danger is now that we think we’ve cracked it and that what we needed to do between now and the end of the season has been done,” Hodgson told BBC Match of the Day. “There’s such a long way to go.”

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‘We’re going to need strong performances’

Incredibly, Watford’s past six league away wins have come under six different managers.

The managerial merry-go-round has been well reported, and Hodgson already seemed under pressure coming into this fixture after collecting just one point from an available nine since taking charge in January.

As the game went on, Watford were on course to drop to the bottom of the table and looked set to equal a club record of five consecutive games without a goal.

“We’re going to need strong performances,” said Hodgson.

“[We need] people who are prepared to chase back a bit more than they’re used to doing. [We need people] to put their foot into challenges a bit more than they’re used to doing.”

Watford soaked up plenty of Villa pressure and twice went close through Dennis and Moussa Sissoko on the break.

Sarr, starting his first match since winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, created the winner, chipping the ball up for Dennis to nod in.

Watford held on for their first victory in 12 matches, since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November.

“That’s what we’ve got to do if we are to get any more points,” said Hodgson. “We’re quite divorced from the teams above us.”

‘Villa not good enough’

Having started his reign at Villa with four wins from six matches, manager Steven Gerrard has now seen them lose four of their past eight.

They are closer to the relegation zone than they are to European place.

“The results are the same. That’s the reality so the feelings are the same,” Gerrard told Match of the Day.

“I am very much aware of our recent form. We’ve taken one point from the last three from teams behind us.”

Villa should have gone in front in the 34th minute when Danny Ings struck the base of the right post when clean through after a good move from Emi Buendia.

They continued to create half-chances, with Phillipe Coutinho curling a looping effort on to the roof of the net midway through the second half. But once they fell behind the opportunities dried up.

Despite coming into this fixture as one of three teams to have scored in every home game this season, Villa failed to find a leveller and stay 12th in the table.

“We just need to keep believing in ourselves and stick together,” said Gerrard.

“We need to have more quality in the final third – that was clear today. We’ve only had one shot on target. That’s not good enough at home.”

Villa face Brighton next Saturday, while Watford will host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Player of the match

FosterBen Foster

with an average of 7.77

Aston Villa

1. Squad number23Player namePhilippe Coutinho

2. Squad number7Player nameMcGinn

3. Squad number1Player nameMartínez

4. Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey

5. Squad number10Player nameBuendía

6. Squad number2Player nameCash

7. Squad number27Player nameDigne

8. Squad number16Player nameChambers

9. Squad number20Player nameIngs

10. Squad number5Player nameMings

11. Squad number11Player nameWatkins

12. Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz

13. Squad number31Player nameBailey

14. Squad number18Player nameYoung

Watford

1. Squad number1Player nameFoster

2. Squad number29Player nameCucho Hernández

3. Squad number27Player nameKabasele

4. Squad number25Player nameDennis

5. Squad number23Player nameSarr

6. Squad number7Player nameKing

7. Squad number12Player nameSema

8. Squad number19Player nameSissoko

9. Squad number14Player nameKamara

10. Squad number15Player nameCathcart

11. Squad number22Player nameSamir

12. Squad number6Player nameLouza

13. Squad number8Player nameCleverley

14. Squad number21Player nameKiko Femenía

Line-ups

Aston Villa

Formation 4-3-3

1Martínez

2Cash16Chambers5Mings27Digne

7McGinn6Douglas Luiz41J Ramsey

10Buendía20Ings23Coutinho

• 1Martínez
• 2CashBooked at 57minsSubstituted forYoungat 65′minutes
• 16Chambers
• 5Mings
• 27Digne
• 7McGinn
• 6Douglas LuizSubstituted forWatkinsat 58′minutes
• 41J Ramsey
• 10BuendíaSubstituted forBaileyat 71′minutes
• 20Ings
• 23Coutinho

Substitutes

• 8Sanson
• 11Watkins
• 18Young
• 25Olsen
• 30Hause
• 31Bailey
• 33Chukwuemeka
• 45Chrisene
• 47Iroegbunam

Watford

Formation 4-4-2

1Foster

21Femenía15Cathcart22Samir14Kamara

23Sarr19Sissoko6Louza8Cleverley

7King25Dennis

• 1Foster
• 21Femenía
• 15Cathcart
• 22SamirSubstituted forKabaseleat 90+3′minutes
• 14KamaraBooked at 82mins
• 23SarrBooked at 66minsSubstituted forHernándezat 90+3′minutes
• 19Sissoko
• 6Louza
• 8Cleverley
• 7King
• 25DennisSubstituted forSemaat 86′minutes

Substitutes

• 2Ngakia
• 5Troost-Ekong
• 11Masina
• 12Sema
• 26Bachmann
• 27Kabasele
• 28Kalu
• 29Hernández
• 39Kayembe

Live Text

1. Match ends, Aston Villa 0, Watford 1.

2. Second Half ends, Aston Villa 0, Watford 1.

3. Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Aston Villa) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by John McGinn with a cross following a corner.

4. Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Imrân Louza.

5. Ashley Young (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.

6. Foul by Ken Sema (Watford).

7. Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

8. Foul by Joshua King (Watford).

9. Foul by Calum Chambers (Aston Villa).

10. Christian Kabasele (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Christian Kabasele.

12. Substitution, Watford. Christian Kabasele replaces Samir because of an injury.

13. Substitution, Watford. Cucho Hernández replaces Ismaïla Sarr.

14. Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Craig Cathcart.

15. Attempt blocked. Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Young with a cross.

16. Foul by Danny Ings (Aston Villa).

17. Samir (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

18. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

19. Foul by Joshua King (Watford).

20. Substitution, Watford. Ken Sema replaces Emmanuel Dennis because of an injury.

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Dennis’ goal was Watford’s first since Roy Hodgson became manager a month agoRoy Hodgson said there is still “a long way to go” this season despite claiming his first win as Watford manager.Villa dominated but Watford grabbed all three points when Emmanuel Dennis powered home Ismaila Sarr’s 78th-minute cross after an opportunistic counter-attack.It ended the visitors’ four-game goal drought and lifted them up to 18th in the Premier League, four points from safety.”The danger is now that we think we’ve cracked it and that what we needed to do between now and the end of the season has been done,” Hodgson told BBC Match of the Day. “There’s such a long way to go.”Visit our Watford pageGo straight to all the best Aston Villa content’We’re going to need strong performances’Incredibly, Watford’s past six league away wins have come under six different managers.The managerial merry-go-round has been well reported, and Hodgson already seemed under pressure coming into this fixture after collecting just one point from an available nine since taking charge in January.As the game went on, Watford were on course to drop to the bottom of the table and looked set to equal a club record of five consecutive games without a goal.”We’re going to need strong performances,” said Hodgson.”[We need] people who are prepared to chase back a bit more than they’re used to doing. [We need people] to put their foot into challenges a bit more than they’re used to doing.”Aston Villa 0-1 Watford: Roy Hodgson – Villa is a difficult place to take three pointsWatford soaked up plenty of Villa pressure and twice went close through Dennis and Moussa Sissoko on the break.Sarr, starting his first match since winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, created the winner, chipping the ball up for Dennis to nod in.Watford held on for their first victory in 12 matches, since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November.”That’s what we’ve got to do if we are to get any more points,” said Hodgson. “We’re quite divorced from the teams above us.”‘Villa not good enough’Having started his reign at Villa with four wins from six matches, manager Steven Gerrard has now seen them lose four of their past eight.They are closer to the relegation zone than they are to European place.”The results are the same. That’s the reality so the feelings are the same,” Gerrard told Match of the Day.”I am very much aware of our recent form. We’ve taken one point from the last three from teams behind us.”Aston Villa 0-1 Watford: We need to keep believing in ourselves – GerrardVilla should have gone in front in the 34th minute when Danny Ings struck the base of the right post when clean through after a good move from Emi Buendia.They continued to create half-chances, with Phillipe Coutinho curling a looping effort on to the roof of the net midway through the second half. But once they fell behind the opportunities dried up.Despite coming into this fixture as one of three teams to have scored in every home game this season, Villa failed to find a leveller and stay 12th in the table.”We just need to keep believing in ourselves and stick together,” said Gerrard.”We need to have more quality in the final third – that was clear today. We’ve only had one shot on target. That’s not good enough at home.”Villa face Brighton next Saturday, while Watford will host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.Player of the matchFosterBen Fosterwith an average of 7.77Aston VillaSquad number23Player namePhilippe CoutinhoSquad number7Player nameMcGinnSquad number1Player nameMartínezSquad number41Player nameJ RamseySquad number10Player nameBuendíaSquad number2Player nameCashSquad number27Player nameDigneSquad number16Player nameChambersSquad number20Player nameIngsSquad number5Player nameMingsSquad number11Player nameWatkinsSquad number6Player nameDouglas LuizSquad number31Player nameBaileySquad number18Player nameYoungWatfordSquad number1Player nameFosterSquad number29Player nameCucho HernándezSquad number27Player nameKabaseleSquad number25Player nameDennisSquad number23Player nameSarrSquad number7Player nameKingSquad number12Player nameSemaSquad number19Player nameSissokoSquad number14Player nameKamaraSquad number15Player nameCathcartSquad number22Player nameSamirSquad number6Player nameLouzaSquad number8Player nameCleverleySquad number21Player nameKiko FemeníaLine-upsAston VillaFormation 4-3-31Martínez2Cash16Chambers5Mings27Digne7McGinn6Douglas Luiz41J Ramsey10Buendía20Ings23Coutinho1Martínez2CashBooked at 57minsSubstituted forYoungat 65’minutes16Chambers5Mings27Digne7McGinn6Douglas LuizSubstituted forWatkinsat 58’minutes41J Ramsey10BuendíaSubstituted forBaileyat 71’minutes20Ings23CoutinhoSubstitutes8Sanson11Watkins18Young25Olsen30Hause31Bailey33Chukwuemeka45Chrisene47IroegbunamWatfordFormation 4-4-21Foster21Femenía15Cathcart22Samir14Kamara23Sarr19Sissoko6Louza8Cleverley7King25Dennis1Foster21Femenía15Cathcart22SamirSubstituted forKabaseleat 90+3’minutes14KamaraBooked at 82mins23SarrBooked at 66minsSubstituted forHernándezat 90+3’minutes19Sissoko6Louza8Cleverley7King25DennisSubstituted forSemaat 86’minutesSubstitutes2Ngakia5Troost-Ekong11Masina12Sema26Bachmann27Kabasele28Kalu29Hernández39KayembeLive TextMatch ends, Aston Villa 0, Watford 1.Second Half ends, Aston Villa 0, Watford 1.Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Aston Villa) header from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by John McGinn with a cross following a corner.Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Imrân Louza.Ashley Young (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.Foul by Ken Sema (Watford).Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Foul by Joshua King (Watford).Foul by Calum Chambers (Aston Villa).Christian Kabasele (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Christian Kabasele.Substitution, Watford. Christian Kabasele replaces Samir because of an injury.Substitution, Watford. Cucho Hernández replaces Ismaïla Sarr.Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Craig Cathcart.Attempt blocked. Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Young with a cross.Foul by Danny Ings (Aston Villa).Samir (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Foul by Joshua King (Watford).Substitution, Watford. Ken Sema replaces Emmanuel Dennis because of an injury.Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment