Saturday’s early kick-off saw Watford face Leicester in a game of different importance to each side. Only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, a win was urgent for Watford and less so for Leicester. Despite an uninspiring 90 minutes, wonder strikes in added time by Ben Chilwell and Craig Dawson gave some excitement. Although, neither side will be particularly pleased with the 1-1 result.
BEST PLAYER - CRAIG DAWSON
Unsurprisingly, Leicester dominated the game, keeping 68% possession and taking 15 shots. Thus, Watford relied on superb defensive workrate to keep them out until late on. Craig Dawson was their star man. Showcasing his perfect positioning, Dawson intercepted Leicester’s counter attacks and blocked 3 shots (more than any other player). He was then able to effectively remove the danger, clearing the ball 8 times (!) and completing 6 long balls. Oh, and to top it all off, he equalised with a bicycle kick in the 93rd minute to net his first goal of the season.
WORST PLAYER - JAMIE VARDY
You may be surprised to see Jamie Vardy’s name here given that he leads the Premier League with 19 goals. However, his performance today was underwhelming to say the least. Vardy only completed 5 passes and only attempted one dribble, which he failed to complete. He also took only two shots, missing the target with both of them. Whilst you may argue that he simply received little service, I would argue that his decision making and quality on the ball was poor. Leicester will hope that Vardy returns to form on Tuesday against Brighton.
UNDERRATED PLAYER - WILL HUGHES
Another Watford player who put in a colossal performance was Will Hughes. Hughes played a vital role in disrupting Leicester’s flow, making 6 tackles and interceptions (a team high) to regain possession for his side. He also played a pivotal role when his side was in possession. With the joint most touches (56), he sprayed passes all over the pitch, attempting 30 with a 77% passing accuracy to help his teammates move up the pitch. He even created goal-scoring chances, completing 2 key passes. With these numbers, Hughes may be vital to Watford’s survival hopes.
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