Blues 1-1 Watford

The XI

Two changes for Blues. Josh Williams made his full debut. George Hall made his second ever start. Marc Roberts missed out with injury. Alfie Chang dropped to the bench. Sam Cosgrove made his first squad appearance of the season. 

The game

A contest in which the favourites had most of the ball and the best chances but were never allowed to rest easy against plucky opposition. 

Both sides were full of beans from the off but chances not forthcoming with Asprilla & Kabasele blazing over from distance. The game opened up on 14, Pedro beating two and crossing for Bayo who should have done better, Bacuna's wicked delivery found Hogan who couldn't turn the ball past Bachmann then Bayo hit the post having flicked on Cathcart's header goalwards.

On 19, a goal. Hogan was found in behind Cathcart in the right channel. He composed himself and found Hall who slotted home from 18 or so yards. A lovely finish and a first senior goal for the 18 year old. 

Watford came close soon after, Gaspar denied on the line by Sanderson. The half petered out with Placheta and Deeney unable to test Bachmann from distance. 

A tight opening 15 with Hogan's weak effort the only chance of note. Watford equalised on 62, Asprilla's clever flick finally undoing Placheta and Trusty to set Gaspar away. His cross was palmed to Sema whose first time shot was deflected in. 

The game opened up again. Bacuna fired wide. Kabasele and Kayembe came close from set-pieces. Deeney drilled a shot into the ground. Pedro blazed wide late on having got the better of Sanderson and after Bacuna almost produced a moment of brilliance, Cathcart just headed over from a free kick.

Tactics

This was essentially 3-5-2 v 3-5-2. 

For Blues, it started as a 3-1-4-2 shape with Hall and Juninho Bacuna advanced eights ahead of Jordan James and behind Troy Deeney and Scott Hogan. For Watford, Hamza Choudhury and Edo Kayembe started as a two with Yaser Asprilla more advanced. 

To begin, Blues' strikers dropped off the front, allowing the back three to play and cutting out the balls into the centre of the pitch, rather than allowing them as usual. We didn't want the switch of play to be allowed. 

However, Watford found some joy early on, particularly with Pedro and Asprilla popping up either side of James into pockets behind the front four. It allowed midfielders and defenders to step forward. 

The change appeared to be made prior to the goal but became evident after. Blues switched to something more akin to a 3-4-2-1. Deeney was tasked with sitting on Choudhury and keeping him under pressure. Hall & Bacuna were tasked with sitting on Asprilla and Pedro whenever they dropped deep while James had a dual role, either to close Kayembe if he found space in the centre or to be ready for the second ball when Sanderson put Bayo under pressure. 

Having initially tried to get Pedro and Asprilla on the half turn, Watford showed flexibility here. Choudhury was drifting wide or stepping up the pitch and opening space for the pass into Bayo's feet from the back, albeit it was a pass that didn't succeed too often. Or, they would work a triangle and the space for Kayembe who was quick to switch play out to Sema, a slightly more successful route. 

For Blues, the tactic in possession was about the counter. The run of Hogan in behind Cathcart was exploited time and again with Cathcart less mobile & Sierralta not wanting to step out. It became about midfield runners then. Or, if we won possession deeper, Josh Williams was always on the move to charge forward and give us an outlet. With Colin, James and Bacuna around him and performing well, that option was a quick out for Blues. 

Not a huge amount changed until Blues began tiring after the equaliser. With the front four getting a little excitable but also lacking legs at a later stage, Chang replaced Hall and Blues settled back into a 3-4-2-1 shape. The substitution of Davis for Kayembe came a little too late to be of notice for Watford. 

Players

Hard to knock anybody in a Blues shirt.

Ruddy made another two outstanding saves. Colin & Sanderson were excellent. Williams had a tough test at times against Sema but never gave up & was always a willing runner. 

James excelled in the deeper role, happy to get on the ball and play & happy to step up the pitch to press. Hall has real athleticism for somebody of 18 & took his goal well. Bacuna was back to his usual self (a wicked delivery for Hogan & a lovely dink over Sema's head inside his own box to get away from danger).

Hogan was a willing runner all night and Watford didn't want to deal with him while Deeney had his best game this season, selfless and sharper in possession.

For Watford, Pedro was the standout. Just a lot of fun to watch. Kayembe is a decent midfielder with a nice passing range. Would like to see more of Bayo and Asprilla as they grow into life in England. 

Anything else? 

It was noticeable how often Deeney had something to say to the referee and it seemed he was trying to manage the game for his young side. That included a role in Hamza Choudhury's booking & ensuring things were calmed down when Williams & Sema briefly rolled over each other in a challenge.

Conclusions

This was a much, much better performance than Saturday. 

The kids certainly didn't themselves proud. James, at 18, sat at the base of the midfield and never shirked his duties. Hall was disciplined alongside him and showed real athleticism to break forward from midfield. His go was excellent. And Williams was all-action at RWB, refusing to let Sema get the better of him. They're raw and need help but they're also capable of standing up for themselves. Great stuff. 

We can't let that, and tonight's performance, affect the idea that we need bodies. We do. While the youngsters are capable and more than ready to start games, you can't expect that from them for 46 matches. They need to be looked after & Eustace needs the options to be able to do that. 

There is also a question over the left hand side. Trusty & Placheta are performing well but they are also being caught out. Neither are used to 90 minutes at Champ level, let alone while learning a new system. It's an area to keep an eye on.