Watford 0-1 Stoke: Darren Fletcher scores his first goal in the Premier League since January as his volley gives Mark Hughes his first win in three games

  • Darren Fletcher put Stoke into the lead after 16 minutes when his superb volley found the back of the net
  • It was the former Manchester United midfielder's first goal in the Premier League since January
  • The victory moves Stoke up to 14th in the Premier League, while Watford drop to sixth place in the table 
  • Troy Deeney and Joe Allen both picked up bookings as the game went deep into stoppage time 
  • It was a welcome relief for Mark Hughes who had previously watched his side lose two games on the bounce 

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Mark Hughes told Troy Deeney he should know better as the captain of a club after accusing the Watford forward of sticking his thumbnails into the face of Joe Allen.

Video footage shows Deeney laughing as he grabs Allen late in the game at Vicarage Road after Darren Fletcher’s fine volley gave the visitors a first-half lead.

Somehow, Deeney was only shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver, though Hughes’ side held on to secure their first away win of the season thanks to Fletcher.  


Darren Fletcher's superb right-footed volley gave Stoke City the lead after 16 minutes of play at Vicarage Road

Darren Fletcher's superb right-footed volley gave Stoke City the lead after 16 minutes of play at Vicarage Road

Fletcher celebrates after scoring his first goal in all competitions since January when he was a West Brom player

Fletcher celebrates after scoring his first goal in all competitions since January when he was a West Brom player

The game descended into chaos towards the end of the match as both sides clashed on the touchline

The game descended into chaos towards the end of the match as both sides clashed on the touchline

Watford striker and captain Troy Deeney was booked for his involvement in the incident along with Joe Allen

Watford striker and captain Troy Deeney was booked for his involvement in the incident along with Joe Allen

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE 

Watford (4-3-3): Gomes 6; Femenia 6, Kabasele 5, Britos 5.5, Holebas 5; Doucoure 5.5, Cleverley 5.5, Capoue 5 (Gray 58, 6); Carrillo 5 (Hughes 80), Deeney 5.5, Richarlison 5.5

Subs not used: Karnezis, Janmaat, Mariappa, Zeeglaar, Watson

Booked: Femenia, Doucoure, Richarlison, Deeney

Manager: Marco Silva 5.5

Stoke (3-4-2-1): Butland 6; Zouma 7, Shawcross 7.5, Wimmer 7; Diouf 6.5, Allen 6.5, Fletcher 7, Pieters 6; Shaqiri 7 (Adam 88), Sobhi 6 (Berahino 78); Choupo-Moting 6

Subs not used: Grant, Jese, Afellay, Ngoy, Edwards

Scorers: Fletcher 16

Booked: Choupo-Moting, Shaqiri, Diouf, Allen

Manager: Mark Hughes 6.5

Referee: Michael Oliver 6

Star man: Ryan Shawcross 

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

 

Fletcher's volley came as a result of Shaqiri's well-worked corner - see more analysis in our brilliant Match Zone

Fletcher's volley came as a result of Shaqiri's well-worked corner - see more analysis in our brilliant Match Zone

 

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They could have scored a second in stoppage time when Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes came up for a corner. A counter-attack left Charlie Adam with an open goal but the midfielder somehow missed as he hit the post. He did not live to regret it.

Yet Deeney was the topic of discussion in Hughes’ post-match press conference as Stoke’s manager said: ‘It was unfortunate and unnecessary if I’m truthful.

‘Clearly we kicked the ball out because someone was down, and clearly the right thing to do in the spirit of the game is to throw it back to us.

‘The boy Deeney, captain of the club, should have known better. He shaped up to try to put the ball in our box. That’s why Joe’s reacted. At that point, it should have petered out.

‘I’ve seen pictures of raised hands and thumbnails in faces which is totally unnecessary. The boy has brought that on himself.’

That was just one of several scraps during this feisty fixture as the wind was knocked out of high-flying Watford’s sails.

Fletcher’s goal was straight from the training ground. A Xherdan Shaqiri corner found the 33-year-old 20 yards out, central to goal, and he scored via a small deflection off Deeney.  

Mark Hughes watches on during the second half on Saturday as Stoke tried their best to hold on to their first half lead

Mark Hughes watches on during the second half on Saturday as Stoke tried their best to hold on to their first half lead

Joe Allen goes down after a challenge by former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley in the second half

Joe Allen goes down after a challenge by former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley in the second half

Stoke's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting storms into the Watford six-yard area but can't take extend his side's lead

Stoke's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting storms into the Watford six-yard area but can't take extend his side's lead

Xherdan Shaqiri attempts to win the ball off Cleverley as Watford tried to get themselves back into the game

Xherdan Shaqiri attempts to win the ball off Cleverley as Watford tried to get themselves back into the game

Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford and Joe Allen of Stoke City battle for possession during the first half

Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford and Joe Allen of Stoke City battle for possession during the first half

This was Fletcher’s 101st consecutive Premier League appearance and Hughes added: ‘The only disappointing thing is he didn't volley it like I used to. He side-footed it. I’ll have to show him how to do it.’

Watford were looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to Chelsea but Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland could have been doing a crossword in the first half.

Marco Silva added: ‘We did not play in the first half. We gave our opponent 45 minutes advantage. We gave them a big gift in the goal.

‘We knew before that they came here to play with 10 players behind the ball and wait only for our mistake. What they did is clear.’

Silva approached the officials at full-time. Asked what he told Oliver, Silva said: ‘Nothing special, normal things. I hope he understands what I told him because it is really important.’

So there was relief for Hughes at Vicarage Road but none for Watford’s Richarlison – a week after the 20-year-old squandered two sitters at Chelsea.

The Brazilian had two chances to score against Stoke but fluffed both. The first was a shot on an angle with the goal gaping which hit the side-netting. The second was a simple header which he sent wide. He won’t want to watch them back.

Watford striker Troy Deeney tries to go round the outside of Stoke's central defender Ryan Shawcross

Watford striker Troy Deeney tries to go round the outside of Stoke's central defender Ryan Shawcross

Watford defender Christian Kabasele uses his strength to hold off Stoke's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

Watford defender Christian Kabasele uses his strength to hold off Stoke's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

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