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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
1Sunderland139222391429
2Leeds UnitedLeeds137512281426
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd138321661025
4Burnley126511751223
5Watford137152221122
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom13562148621
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn135441614219
8Bristol City134721717019
9Norwich CityNorwich134632318518
10Middlesbrough135351415-118
11Millwall124441512316
12Swansea CitySwansea13445109116
13Coventry CityCoventry134361717015
14Derby CountyDerby134361617-115
15Hull City133641517-215
16Stoke CityStoke134361518-315
17Cardiff CityCardiff134361319-615
18Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds134361524-915
19Oxford UnitedOxford Utd133551617-114
20Preston North EndPreston133551420-614
21Luton TownLuton133371521-612
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth133371325-1212
23Queens Park RangersQPR131751119-810
24Portsmouth131661326-139


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