The Man in The Shed

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2nd November – VAR

So another tea-time away fixture on a Saturday for the Blues.

As Watford’s last home game before remembrance Sunday there was a minute’s silence which was well observed. Pulisic’s hat-trick had earned him a start ahead of Hudson-Odoi with the only other surprise being the return of Emerson for Alonso – always a positive for me in a back four.

Somehow Watford, with pretty much an unchanged squad from last season, had managed to become relegation material. Perhaps losing the cup final 6-0 was more significant than anyone could have imagined. They were already on their second manager, never a good sign.

Abraham seemed to have taken fashion tips from John Terry by wearing his socks like tights – never a great look in my eyes.

Well we started brightly and very much in control so it was no great surprise when a fantastic through ball by Jorginho was met by Abraham who deftly looped the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net.

The only surprise over the next 40 minutes was that we failed to score again. It took Watford 25 minutes to get any kind of possession. Would we pay for our lack of clinical finishing ?

At half time I noted how enthusiastically the players had chased back after losing the ball. There was plenty of vocal away support coming across over the TV. And was Dave now the only Chelsea player to tuck his shirt in ?

The main reason for not being further ahead really was Ben Foster. A player I had always liked and the backup keeper in my Fantasy team. Every week on Match of The Day he seemed to keep Watford in the game. He was still saving plenty but his teammates weren’t keeping their end of the deal up and popping a few in at the other end.

The second half began as a more even contest. Zouma blocking well at one end then another Foster save at the other.

And then another incisive move from Chelsea with Abraham crossing into the 6 yard box for Pulisic to score a poachers goal.

Everything was now nicely under control. A two goal cushion just in case so it should be just a matter of playing out the game.

Whilst I have become a big fan of the passing interaction between Jorginho and Kovacic I was less than impressed when they chose to do this in our penalty area. Screaming at the TV screen to them to just “leather it” was wasted effort as Jorginho promptly lost the ball and deftly tripped the Watford player who of course collapsed in a heap.

It looked pretty innocuous but good old VAR promptly turned it into a penalty. Watford scored and all of a sudden momentum had shifted completely.

The final ten minutes was now completely at odds with the previous 80. Would we hold out ? Another great Zouma block as the game moved into injury time.

The last kick of the game was a Watford free kick. Ben Foster was in the Chelsea area. The ball floated in and Foster headed it towards the bottom corner…..

No……… somehow Kepa gets a hand to it and sends it wide. Game over.

We’d sneaked another win.

My abiding memory of the game though was another Ben Foster masterclass. And his comment afterwards was fabulous : “If I score at the end that's me retiring”.