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Watford logo
Championship | Gameweek 21
Dec 26, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
Vicarage Road
Norwich logo

Watford
1 - 0
Norwich

Sarr (39')
Capoue (18'), Cleverley (63'), Sarr (78'), Hughes (87')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Ismaila Sarr scores winner as Watford beat table-toppers Norwich

Norwich should have been awarded a penalty late on.

New Watford manager Xisco Munoz celebrated victory in his first match after Ismaila Sarr's first-half goal was enough to earn a 1-0 win at home to leaders Norwich.

Watford created the majority of chances but required referee John Brooks to fail to award a stonewall Canaries penalty late on.

The Canaries are now four points clear of second-place Swansea, with Watford two points further behind in fifth.

Xisco, Watford's fifth manager since the start of last season and their 14th in the last eight years, made three changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Huddersfield the week before in what proved to be Vladimir Ivic's final game in charge.

Captain Troy Deeney, who had been dropped for disciplinary reasons the player insisted had been a total mystery to him, was instantly reinstated after his new manager had called him a "legend" earlier in the week.

Max Aarons launched the game's first shot at Watford keeper Ben Foster as Norwich bossed the early exchanges in terms of possession.

Watford repeatedly went long in search of Andre Gray or Sarr, who was brought down 20 yards out by Kenny McLean for a free-kick that Etienne Capoue fired over via the wall.

Norwich left Sarr free on the right in the 13th minute and were relieved when Gray lashed wide with the goal at his mercy after the winger's cross reared up off a defender.

Capoue was booked for fouling Emi Buendia but Foster was behind Kieran Dowell's free-kick as another lengthy spell of Canaries passing and moving began.

Watford managed to soak up the pressure however and were rewarded by taking the lead through a 39th-minute counter attack. Norwich allowed Ken Sema's delivery from the left to find Sarr at the back post, who tapped in before Jacob Sorensen, who had switched off, could intervene.

Norwich were rattled and were fortunate Gray's finishing let him down again just before the break when a cross bounced to him off Deeney but once again he could not hit the target from close range.

Watford began the second period confidently with Tom Cleverley seeing a drive deflected behind off Oliver Skipp, who then gave the ball to Sarr for a chance the winger could not finish.

Sema set up Sarr again for a shot that was deflected behind before Canaries boss Daniel Farke made a triple substitution with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Buendia fired a rare Norwich shot at Foster before referee Brooks failed to spot a clear penalty when Watford substitute Adam Masina tripped Teemu Pukki in the act of shooting seven yards in front of goal.

Norwich threw men forward in search of an equaliser but the Hornets held on.

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Todd Cantwell celebrates scoring for Norwich City against Cardiff City in the Championship on December 19, 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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