Antonio Conte won the battle of the Italian managers at Vicarage Road on Saturday, as his Chelsea side earned a last gasp victory over Walter Mazzarri’s Watford.
Defeat was rather cruel on the Golden Boys, who had probably been the better side for most of the affair.
However, the introduction of Michy Batshuayi and Cesc Fabregas changed things for the Blues and two errors from Walter Mazzarri’s side gave Chelsea the three points at Vicarage Road, when a draw probably would have been a fair result.
Mazzarri decided to name the same side that drew with Southampton last week. Heurelho Gomes lined up in goal, with Craig Cathcart, Sebastian Prodl and Miguel Britos in defence.
The midfield five consisted of Nordin Amrabat, Adlene Guedioura, Valon Behrami, Etienne Capoue and Jose Holebas, while Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo started up front.
For Chelsea, Conte made just the one change, with Pedro replacing the injured Willian.
Watford’s Italian head coach Walter Mazzarri gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on August 20, 2016. / AFP / Ian Kington / GETTY IMAGES
Before the game, Watford paraded their two new signings on the pitch. The Hornets completed the signing of Sunderland defender Younes Kaboul on Friday and he was joined at Vicarage Road later that evening by Roberto Pereyra, who joins for a club record fee from Juventus.
The first half was a rather subdued affair, with Watford having the better chances. Holebas saw an early effort saved by Chelsea ‘keeper Thibault Courtois, before Ighalo stabbed the ball over the bar later on in the half, following a teasing Amrabat cross.
As half-time approached, things heated up in the technical area as Mazzarri was spoken to by referee Jon Moss, having furiously reacted to a decision to award Chelsea a free-kick.
Watford’s Italian head coach Walter Mazzarri gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on August 20, 2016. / AFP / Ian Kington / GETTY Images
The second half started fairly quietly, but the match burst into life in the 55th minute when Watford took the lead.
A Guedioura cross from the right missed everyone in the box but found Capoue at the back post. The Frenchman had time to chest the ball down before hammering the ball into the top corner to give the Golden Boys the lead.
It was a fantastic finish from the former Tottenham Hotspur man who converted his second goal of the season, having not found the back of the net at all last year for the Hornets.
From then on, Watford held Chelsea at arms-length and the Blues struggled to create many chances.
Diego Costa should have seen red for two bookable offences, as he dived to the ground to try and earn a free-kick under pressure from Miguel Britos, when already on a booking. However, Chelsea should have received a penalty, after a Craig Cathcart handball from a corner.
The match burst back into life with 10 minutes to play, as Chelsea found an equaliser out of nothing.
The ball was worked infield to Eden Hazard, who’s shot could only be parried by Gomes into the path of Batshuayi who had a tap-in.
Seven minutes later and the match had been turned on its head. Guedioura needlessly gave away possession to Chelsea sub Fabregas, who played a superb pass, which split the Watford defence, into the path of Costa.
The Spaniard’s first touch was heavy, but his second was decisive, as he calmly slotted the ball home to win the match for Chelsea and break Watford’s hearts.
In the end, Conte’s substitutes changed it for Chelsea, but Watford can take a lot of heart from their performance as they were the better side for 70-80 minutes.
Defeat leaves Walter Mazzarri’s men in 13th place in the Premier League and they face Arsenal next Saturday at Vicarage Road. They are also in action in mid-week, when they face Gillingham in the second round of the EFL Cup.
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