Christmas time is always interesting for football fans and is an important part of the UK football calendar. Whilst much of Europe downs tools and gets some much-needed rest, avoiding the worst of the winter weather, players up and down the United Kingdom plough on. We won’t talk about the negatives but for fans, if not players, the positives are something to savour.
The festive fixture frenzy means almost non-stop football at a time when many of us are off work, or at the very least winding down. It is all about tradition, with Boxing Day and New Year’s Day fixtures bringing families and friends together, even if TV scheduling increasingly alters things.
Christmas is also a time for owners, managers and fans to take stock of how their side is doing. Being top – or bottom – at Christmas is usually used as a marker of what might lie ahead. In addition, with the festive period typically coming with around half the season gone, it is certainly a logical time to assess performances.
With the dust having settled on the Christmas fixtures, although the games keep coming thick and fast for the Hornets for a while yet, we thought it was worth assessing whether or not it was a good festive period for the club in terms of results. As things stand, Watford lie ninth in the Championship. They are three points outside the play-off places, though they do have a game in hand on all but one of the teams ahead of them. With 25 out of 46 matches of the normal season played, Tom Cleverley’s men have completed just over 54% of their league fixtures. How are they looking, and were the games on either side of Christmas Day kind to them?
Mixed Bag for Cleverley and Co
“It’s been a disappointing period for us – now our mental strength will really be tested.”
Cleverley’s full thoughts on today’s defeat to Sheffield United. ️ pic.twitter.com/utkHE2nhGD
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) January 4, 2025
If we consider the six league games between the 15th of December and the 4th of January as comprising the festive fixture list, it has been a mixed bag for Watford. Next up is the FA Cup third-round clash against Fulham, and the players may well be glad of the break from league action.
Cardiff Beat Watford 2-1
The six festive clashes have been the proverbial game of two halves and in that context the second half has been a bit of a disaster. The club suffered a home defeat against struggling Cardiff on the 29th, going down 2-1.
QPR Beat Watford 3-1
They followed that up with a 3-1 loss away at QPR on New Year’s Day, which was a disappointing start to the year but the Hoops have at least been in excellent form of late, which provides some context.
Sheffield United Beat Watford 2-1
2025 got no better a few days later when Sheffield United came to Vicarage Road and won 2-1. The Blades are arguably the best team in the division – and it is safe to say that Leeds fans would argue it – but even so, three consecutive defeats have dented the promotion hopes of Cleverley’s side.
The run of three defeats is rather surprising too, because it has come following a very strong run of results. In terms of the games before and just after Christmas, Watford were very solid, picking up two wins and a defeat. Six points from three games is automatic promotion form and would certainly be enough from here on in to see them get a play-off place.
Watford Beat West Brom 2-0
What’s more, the three games in question saw them play two very good sides. First up they claimed a 2-1 home win over West Brom. With the Baggies sixth in the table as we head into the break for the FA Cup, that was essentially a play-off six-pointer and was a massive win for the hosts. 2-0 up after 50 minutes thanks to a brace from Vakoun Issouf Bayo, they edged what was an even game on the whole thanks to the class in the key moments of the Ivorian.
Burley Beat Watford 2-1
After that they headed to Burnley, one of four teams hunting automatic promotion and one of three that will be confident they can achieve their aim. The Lancashire side are incredibly hard to break down and after 26 games have conceded just nine goals. Watford managed to score at Turf Moor, which not many teams do, but they went down 2-1 in the end. It was a fair result all in all, though the visitors gave as good as they got for much of the game which was low on chances, as most clashes at Burnley are.
Watford Beat Portsmouth 2-1
Cleverley and his coaching staff did not let that loss get to the players though and the team bounced back with a win. The score was 2-1 to the home team for the third Watford game in a row as they beat Portsmouth on Boxing Day. They had to come from a goal down to claim the points but got there in the end against a side that is in a real relegation fight. It was a game of real late drama, with Rocco Vata slotting home the winner from the penalty spot in the 95th minute and then Kwadwo Baah being dismissed three minutes later. Even so, the points were in the bag and Watford fans were daring to dream.
Trio of Losses
The trio of losses that followed is even more surprising in the wider context of the Hornets’ form throughout November and December. After that win against Pompey they had lost just two of their last 10, picking up five wins and again, that is solid play-off form. Nonetheless, as the saying goes, it is what it is, and with around half of the season left, it is imperative that, no matter what the outcome in the FA Cup, Watford bounce back in the league.
End of Season Games
Their next Championship clash takes place away at Cardiff on the 14th of January. That gives them a chance to claim some revenge for the defeat the Bluebirds inflicted on them at the end of the year, if any more motivation was needed. After that they face Derby on the 18th, Preston on the 21st, Coventry on the 25th, before February begins with a home clash against Norwich. If Watford can take 10 or more points from those games, they could well find themselves in the top six. Fingers crossed!
