Watford

Marc Webber
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

An actual headache has caused a defensive headache for Watford and puts more pressure on the club to go back into the transfer market before deadline day.

A nasty head clash between Omar Traore and Wrexham's George Thomason just before half time in Saturday's 1-1 draw now leaves the Hornets with just three senior defenders.

Traore's contribution before he came off injured was key. He provided the cross from which Luca Kjerrumgaard's headed the opener 13 minutes in, and won a number of challenges in a first half where Watford were more resolute in both defence and turning over the ball to the counter-attacking speed required under the style of play demanded by new manager Alessio Dionisi.

Traore — or someone of his level — was missed in the second half, as Wrexham got more time on the ball and crafted the better half-chances.

So, while the pre-match conversation may have been around Watford's attacking options in the Kjerrumgaard v Doumbia choice, the immediate challenge now lies at the other end of the pitch, and the transfer market may have to provide the solution.

Watford must focus on their upcoming Championship game against Wrexham and not any potential moves in the transfer market, says head coach Alessio Dionisi.

The Hornets visit North Wales on Saturday (15:00 BST) after beating Southampton 2-1 in their opening game of the season.

They will be without injured full-back Marc Bola, which leaves Dionisi with another selection headache from his relatively small squad.

"I am sorry for Marc because he is an important player, he is a leader, but there is also Jordan (Zemura), who is a good player," Dionisi told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Probably there will be a chance for another player."

Watford finished 16th in the Championship last season, with Italian Dionisi replacing Ed Still in June, and, while he accepts they need to strengthen the squad, he is leaving that to the club's recruitment team.

"I don't want to talk about the transfer market. I respect the question but for me it's important to speak about my players and my team - for us it's better to speak about Wrexham," said the former Sassuolo boss.

"The market is important but my job is different. Now there is Wrexham, then three days later there is the Carabao Cup (v Peterborough), so for us it's Important to focus on that - and for the club the transfer market."

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Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

After ending last season so poorly, resulting in another head coach departure, and then a worryingly thin summer recruitment drive, it was heartwarming to watch Watford put in such a positive performance against Southampton.

Before the match, expectations were as low as they have been for years, not just with the game but also the season - which made the outcome even more of a delight.

The fans deserved it. They've been long-suffering for a while and needed some cheer at Vicarage Road. And it really was an impressive performance.

In the first half, the Hornets worked much harder than Southampton leading to their rewards. They won their duels and their press was much better than their opponents, who looked like they had turned up just expecting to win.

Then having scored two good goals through Iker Bravo and Amin Nabizada, the team showed great spirit and determination to hang onto their lead.

Much has been said about the poor culture at Watford in recent years. The club are trying to address that and so are the team, with captain Mattie Pollock insisting the leadership group among the players are trying to cut out poor behaviour and create a united atmosphere.

So to see the battling qualities on Sunday bodes well. Watford now need to back this up.

Good teams show this type of attitude all season. In recent years, the Hornets have let themselves down by tailing off as the season progresses.

New head coach Alessio Dionisi deserves large praise for the way he set up his team and some of the calls he made.

Choosing Mamadou Doumbia upfront worked well, giving Nabizada his first Championship start obviously was a success, and leaving out last year's captain Imran Louza seemed to have a positive effect on the team.

Technically, Louza is one of the best midfielders in the Championship but, with his future unclear leading to uncertainty and unhappiness in the player, Dionisi put the team before the individual and dropped the talented Moroccan.

Dionisi has already won many admirers for the way he's learnt English within two months, how he has already formed warm relationships with supporters, and his down to earth attitude highlighted at the recent fans' forum, where he bonded with the fans and then helped pack the tables and chairs away at the end.

Watford still need players in. The Hornets still only have two recognised centre-backs, although I'm expecting two to come in shortly from overseas.

Watford could also do with another midfielder and a striker but the hierarchy won't be rushed and won't pay over the odds in terms of a fee or wages, and so deals close to the transfer window deadline could easily happen.

No-one's getting carried away with an opening day win just yet, but it's given everybody associated with Watford a real tonic.

Wrexham will hope to bounce back from the disappointment of conceding a stoppage-time equaliser at Cardiff on Monday when they host Watford on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Watford raised a few eyebrows on the opening weekend by beating Southampton 2-1.

• Wrexham have won just one of their past 11 Football League games against Watford (D3 L7), a 3-1 home win in the third tier in April 1997.

• Watford have lost only one of their past five away league matches against Wrexham (W2 D2), drawing their past two: 1-1 in 1997-98 and 2-2 last season.

• On the opening weekend in the Championship, no side attempted more shots on target than Wrexham (7), while they hit the woodwork three times – their most since against Notts County in February 2024 in League Two (also three).

• Watford have won their opening away game of a league season just once in the last seven campaigns (D2 L4), a 3-2 success over Millwall in 2024.

• Wrexham's Phil Parkinson has won only one of his six managerial meetings with Watford across all competitions (D1 L4), triumphing 2-1 in August 2012 in the second round of the League Cup with Bradford City.

Watford opened the new Championship season with a 2-1 win over Southampton on Sunday.

It provided a positive start to the league campaign for new Hornets boss Alessio Dionisi.

We asked Watford fans to send us their views on the performance and result and here is what some of them have had to say:

Kevin - A totally refreshing display, probably best in many a season. Defence was organised and strong, something lacking in previous seasons, with flair up front. One swallow doesn't make a summer and previous seasons have shown massive second half of season failure after good start.

Mark - A good performance from a young side with lots of new faces. Watford's style of play is a vast improvement from their old sideways and backwards style.

Simon - I was surprised how together and well prepared Watford appeared. The new players fitted right in and looked like they had been with the club for a few seasons. I must be honest, I was not expecting this!

Joel - If we can marry the sexy football from the first half with the intensity, grit and resilience of the final half-hour, there is plenty to build on. Get the recruitment right, keep that identity and a solid, stable season is absolutely there for us, and the miracle of a manager lasting a full season!

Teresa - The first 35+ minutes we were excellent, then we let Southampton in. We were fortunate with the two chances they missed but having said that, we should should have put the game to bed in the first half. Very pleased with the win and two great goals.

Yellotoyou - We were fantastic in the first half. In the second we defended well with Mattie Pollock immense at the heart of the defence. No one can argue with the result, the best team won.

Terry - Excellent start for the Hornets - a few doom mongers will have egg on their faces. The team look strong mentally and play to a plan which they executed to perfection. Well done Dionisi for the hard work you have put in so far, I just hope the board back you up with the two players we desperately need to complement an excellent squad.

Del Boy - Brilliant first half - well worth the lead. It was always going to be backs to the wall once Southampton scored but Watford showed a lot of resilience to see the game out.

Watford are looking to sign two centre-backs before the end of the transfer window and the Hornets may utilise the loan market, as well as their good relationship with Manchester City. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer news, read Monday's full gossip column here.

Watford head coach Alessio Dionisi spoke to BBC Three Counties Radio after his side's 2-1 win over Southampton.

"I am very happy. My team at the end was very tired because the match was difficult," he said.

"Southampton is very strong, for me they will arrive in first, second or third position [at the end of the season].

"I liked the mentality of my players, because in every moment I saw one team. They worked together without the ball and with the ball."

Image source, BBC Images

Watford striker Nestory Irankunda has left after just one season at Vicarage Road to move to Lisbon to join Portuguese giants Sporting on what the Hornets describe as "a permanent deal".

The 20-year-old Australia international arrived in July 2025 from Bayern Munich.

But, after four goals in 44 appearances for Watford, he will move on to Sporting, subject to international clearance.

Irankunda also netted five times for the Socceroos last season, including their opening goal of the World Cup in a 2-0 win over Turkey to become Australia's youngest ever scorer in the competition.

Watford host Southampton on Sunday (13:30 BST) as they return to the Championship after their dramatic seasons last time out.

The Hornets saw three different managers at Vicarage Road last season and they have a brand new one to introduce on the weekend as Alessio Dionisi makes his debut in the English Football League.

While Saints will want to show they haven't been rattled following their expulsion from the play-offs after 'Spygate', external.

• Watford have won just one of their last 14 meetings with Southampton in all competitions (D6 L7); a 2-1 away win in the Premier League in March 2022 (D3 L3 since).

• Southampton are unbeaten in their last 10 away league games against Watford (W4 D6), drawing each of their previous two visits since a 1-0 win in the Premier League in October 2021.

• Watford lost their final five Championship games last season by an aggregate score of 1-16; the Hornets last lost six in a row outside the top-flight in February 1973 (9).

• Southampton ended last season unbeaten in their final 19 league games (W14 D5), only once previously have they gone 20+ league games unbeaten, doing so in February 2024 (22).

• Despite only playing 1,800 minutes in the Championship last season (excluding play-offs), only Radek Vítek (8.5) and Carl Rushworth (8.1) prevented more goals based on Opta's expected goals model than Southampton's Daniel Peretz (7.1), conceding 18 goals (excluding own goals) from an xGOT conceded total of 25.1.

George Litchfield
BBC 3CR sport reporter

Image source, Getty Images

News that Michail Antonio is training with Watford should please Hornets fans wanting to see their club strengthen in the striker department.

Luca Kjerrumgaard and Mamadou Doumbia both have room to develop and contribute this season, but it would be a big ask for them to carry the Hornets alone.

On the surface, the addition of Antonio - a player who boasts more than 250 Premier League matches and 68 goals - seems a good fit, adding some experience to the group while helping to guide and mentor the club's younger forwards.

The bigger question is on the pitch.

Watford sporting director Luke Dowling said last week he would like to add a striker with a different profile, one to try and get in behind and stretch teams rather than come to the ball.

There was no doubt about Antonio's pace, power, and ability to score goals in his peak but the former West Ham man has only played a handful of games for Qatari side Al-Sailiya, since a devastating car crash in December 2024. Antonio was lucky to survive, and was left with a broken leg in four places.

He has done remarkably well to come back and fight to play football again, and the fact he was close to signing for Premier League side Brentford last year suggests he is physically still very capable.

The 36-year-old perhaps now has the biggest point to prove of all. That he still has the ability that got him to where he was in English football.

And it's that desire, and that hunger, that might just make this one a clever move for the Hornets, if head coach Alessio Dionisi believes that enough of that ability remains.

Matthew Cresswell
BBC Sport England

Image source, Watford FC

Former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio is currently training with Watford before the start of the Hornets' Championship campaign.

The 36-year-old made his final senior appearance for the Hammers in their 3-1 defeat by Leicester City on 3 December 2024, suffering a broken leg four days later in a car crash.

After being released by the Hammers in June 2025 following a 10-year spell, Antonio returned to the club as part of his rehabilitation and played two games for the under-21 side in Premier League 2.

He trained with Leicester City last December and had also been close to a move to Brentford but sustained a torn calf muscle the day before he was set to sign for the Bees, which scuppered the deal.

Antonio last played in April for Qatari side Al-Sailiya and made a total of four appearances for the club.

Prior to his move to West Ham in September 2015, Antonio played in the EFL for clubs including Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest.

Watford are closing in on the signing of Bradford City goalkeeper Sam Walker and the 34-year-old will provide back-up. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer news, check out Wednesday's full gossip column here.

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French Ligue 1 side Brest are in talks to sign Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik, 29, with the Hornets open to selling the Norway international after bringing in Federico Ravaglia from Bologna. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

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Image source, Getty Images

Winger Remiero Moulton has rejoined Worthing on a month-long loan from Championship side Watford.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season with the Reds, helping them to the National League South title.

They kick off their first season in the National League today away to Carlisle United.

"Once we were made aware that bringing Remiero back was a possibility, we felt it was a no-brainer to add a player of his quality back to our ranks," Worthing manager Adam Hinshelwood told the club website, external.

Worthing have also secured forward Jose Marquez on a season-long loan from fellow National League club Forest Green Rovers.

The 20-year-old spent time on loan at Alvechurch and Dorking Wanderers last season.

Image source, Shutterstock

Watford have appointed Adrian Mariappa as a first-team coach following the departure of Dan Gosling.

Former Hornets defender Mariappa played for the club during two spells between 2005 to 2012, and again in 2016 to 2020, making 340 appearances in total.

Mariappa briefly stepped in as part of the interim first-team coaching staff in February following Javi Gracia's resignation.

He leaves his position as assistant coach of the club's under-21's which he had held since last August.

Mariappa replaces the departing Gosling, another former Watford player, who has left his role as assistant after it was announced only in June he was staying at the club to assist new head coach Alessio Dionisi.