Norwich are out of the Premier League's bottom three thanks to a huge win at rivals Watford as Josh Sargent scores a brace, Juraj Kucka nets an own goal and Emmanuel Dennis is SENT OFF on a miserable evening for Claudio Ranieri

  • Norwich City moved out of bottom three for first time with 3-0 win at Watford 
  • Josh Sargent's sensational backheel volley gave Norwich City the lead
  • Sargent then doubled lead following a 11 minute delay due to floodlight failure
  • Watford's night got worse after Emmanuel Dennis was sent off for second yellow 
  • Juraj Kucka then scored an own goal at start of stoppage time to seal the points 

It felt ominous when the Vicarage Road floodlights failed here, not long after Watford had conceded to ensure they'd remain the only club in England's top four divisions without a league clean sheet this season.

Almost as if the lights were going out on Claudio Ranieri’s time in charge. Given their track record, you wouldn’t put it past Watford’s board to be sharpening the axe as we speak.

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Norwich, though, believe. ‘We are staying up,’ sang their supporters, who could thank their man from Missouri for this win. Joshua Sargent’s deadly double did the job, before Juraj Kucka’s own goal sparked chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ towards Ranieri. 

Sargent celebrates after scoring two goals in Norwich City's 3-0 victory at Watford
The win sees the Canaries climb out of the relegation zone for the first time this season
Pressure is now on Claudio Ranieri whose Watford side drop into the bottom three

Norwich are now out of the Premier League’s bottom three and Watford are in it. They’ve got games in hand, but this was the sort of defeat that does lasting damage.

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'I want to say sorry to our crowd,' said Ranieri, who’s lost 10 of his 13 Premier League matches in charge of Watford, drawing one and winning two. 'We wanted to light the fire to our fans and we did not do this.'

Asked about his future, he said: 'Look, I speak everyday with the board and we are all together.'

Just like how Watford sent the maintenance man to put some money to the meter, their manager has been trying to fix their problems on the pitch in the same way in the market.

Sargent's sensational back heel volley gave Norwich a lead at the start of the second half
Sargent looks on as his first Premier League goal bounced off the bar and just over the line
The United States star celebrates scoring the opening goal along with team-mate Teemu Pukki

MATCH FACTS AND TABLE 

Watford (4-3-3): Bachmann 6; Femenia 5 (Kucka 89min), Kabasele 5.5, Samir 5.5, Kamara 5.5 (Sema 84); Sissoko 5, Kayembe 5, Cleverley 5 (Hernandez 59, 6); Dennis 4, King 5, Pedro 5.

Booked: Dennis.

Sent off: Dennis.

Manager: Claudio Ranieri 4.

Norwich City (4-4-2): Gunn 6.5; Aarons 7, Hanley 7, Gibson 7, Williams 7; Sargent 8.5, Sorensen 6 (McLean 21, 6.5), Lees-Melou 7, Rashica 7.5 (Placheta 90); Idah 7.5, Pukki 7 (Byram 87).

Scorers: Sargent 51, 74, Kucka 90+2 (og).

Booked: McLean.

Manager: Dean Smith 7.

Referee: Mike Dean 6.

Attendance: 20,782.

 

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You only need to look at their January signings to understand where Ranieri thinks their problems lie. They’ve bought a centre back in Samir, left back in Hassane Kamara and defensive midfielder in Edo Kaymebe – and all three made their home debuts here.

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The trio couldn't stop Watford from conceding in their 30th consecutive Premier League game as Dean Smith’s Norwich climbed out of the bottom three.

‘The table looks very uneven with all the postponements,’ Smith said. ‘To win a game in the Premier League for a newly-promoted team is hard. Back-to-back wins is even harder.’

Emmanuel Dennis was cautioned for a late challenge on Pierre Lees-Melou and ought to have received a second yellow before half time. Dennis threw himself to the ground as he passed Grant Hanley in a bid to win a penalty but Mike Dean, bizarrely, only waved play on. 

There was an 11-minute delay in play after a few of the floodlights failed at Vicarage Raod
But soon after the restart following the failure, Sargent nodded home his second goal
Watford's night got even worse when Emmanuel Dennis was sent off for a second yellow card

Watford’s Joshua King and Joao Pedro were involved in verbals after the latter didn’t square the ball to his team-mate in a good position. Tensions were high and it remained 0-0 at half time.

In the 50th minute, Norwich led. Kenny McLean’s through-ball looked overhit but Teemu Pukki chased it down, barging over Samir in the process. Watford’s players stopped, wanting a free-kick. They shouldn’t have.

Pukki played on and found Sargent, who improvised with a flicked finish despite the ball being slightly behind him. VAR John Brooks looked back at the ‘foul’ on Samir but the goal was good.

On the hour mark came our stoppage as half of the Vicarage Road floodlights faded to black. 

Norwich's night started poorly after losing Jacob Sorensen early on due to injury
Milot Rashica sees a low free-kick blocked by Tom Cleverley lying on the ground
Norwich players celebrate their third goal following Juraj Kucka's own goal in stoppage time

After a 15-minute pause in play, and with the lighting still only working in part, the game resumed. Norwich were the ones dancing in the dark as they took a 2-0 lead after a Milot Rashica cross and Sargent header. VAR checked for offside, and it was mightily close, but it stood. 'USA, USA,' sang the supporters in honour of their 21-year-old goalscorer.

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It got worse for Watford when Dennis was shown a second yellow for a late challenge on Max Aarons. He’ll be a big miss for their next game – another relegation scrap at Burnley.

Down to 10 men, Adam Idah crossed and Watford substitute Juraj Kucka toed the ball into his own goal for 3-0, sparking boos all around Vicarage Road.

Before full time, the floodlights were flicked back on. The hosts might have been better keeping them off. It only emphasised the empty seats.

This was an embarrassing evening for Watford, but an encouraging one for Norwich.

 

RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED...

  • Dan Ripley

    Host commentator

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22:03
FULL-TIME: Watford 0-3 Norwich City
22:00
Watford 0-3 Norwich City

90+11min: Lots and lots of empty seats now, there is no denying it - this has been nothing short of a disaster for Watford. It really could not have got any worse. Norwich though are heading outside of the bottom three for the first time this season.

21:57
Watford 0-3 Norwich City

90+8min: Watford to their credit are keeping going here as Cucho Hernandez sees a 25-yard shot bounce off the top of the crossbar. 

21:55
Norwich City substitution

90+5min: You are getting sacked on in the morning is the Norwich fans choice of chant towards Ranieri as Dean Smith makes his final change by sending on Przemyslaw Placheta for Rashica.

21:50
GOAL! Watford 0-3 NORWICH CITY

90+2min: The Hornets nightmare continues. It might be worth putting all the other floodlights out for the home side as Juraj Kucka moments after coming on, puts a low near post ball from Adam Idah into his own goal.


21:49
Watford 0-2 Norwich City

90min: Lovely finish from Sissoko who swivels with a ball played over his shoulder before volleying home. The trouble is he is offside as FIFTEEN minutes are added on.

21:48
Watford substitution

89min: Juraj Kucka comes on to replace Kiko Femina for the hosts. It's not over yet though, don't forget we will have a lot of stoppage time after that floodlight failure.

21:46
Norwich City substitution

87min: A defensive switch for Norwich as Teemu Pukki makes the slow departure to make way for Sam Byram. 

Meanwhile, Pedro firs just over the bar for the hosts.

21:42
Watford substitution

84min: Ken Sema is on for Hassane Kamara for Watford's second change.

21:40
Watford 0-2 Norwich City

81min: What a crazy second half this is turning into! Sargent then nearly plays a role in allowing Watford back into the game, colliding with his keeper before a Watford forward sees his resulting header cleared off the line.

21:35
RED CARD: Emmanuel Dennis (Watford)

78min: It is going from bad to worse for Watford. Dennis is clumsy with his lunge on Max Aarons and already on a booking he is sent off for a second yellow card. Ranieri barely glances at him as he makes his way down the tunnel, and that is the cue for the home fans to start funneling out of the ground.


21:31
GOAL! Watford 0-2 NORWICH CITY

74min: Out of the darkness and into the light this evening comes Josh Sargent with yet another huge goal! He headers home from a Milot Rashica cross and after an offside check involving Rashica the goal is given!

21:31
Watford 0-1 Norwich City

71min: With the agreement of both teams we are back underway with slightly less light. There will be at least 12 minutes added on in this game though as electricians continue to try and fix the main supply.

21:28
Watford 0-1 Norwich City

68min: As you can see the time is ticking away still that will of course be added on. At the moment we are looking at about nine minutes of stoppage time. 

Jamie Carragher is going mental in commentary, he like many including Gary Neville believe there is still enough light for both teams to play - and it's hard to disagree with them. 

Apparently, the generator has failed to kick in following the failure of the main's electricity supply. 

21:25
Watford 0-1 Norwich City

65min: The lights come on... and then they go out again! Bit curious how they go out shortly after Norwich score but I will leave you lot to fill the gaps there - I'm suggesting nothing.

Norwich fans are seeing the funny side of it though, they are flashing their mobile phones and singing 'we're Norwich City, we play in the dark.'

21:23
Watford 0-1 Norwich City

62min: The game has come to a bizarre halt after half of the floodlights go out! In truth there still looks to be enough light for the players to continue. Referee Mike Dean though is having none of it and now it's a waiting game for them to come on before we get going.

21:20
Watford substitution

59min: First change for Watford as Cucho Hernandez comes on for Tom Cleverley to boost Watford's attack.

21:15
Watford 0-1 Norwich City

54min: Of course that means Watford's search for a first clean sheet of the season goes on but even more importantly, Norwich climb above the Hornets and out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

21:08
GOAL! Watford 0-1 NORWICH CITY

51min: I've been desperate for some quality and my word we have just seen it! Teemu Pukki muscles Samir off the ball on the byline, before crossing for Josh Sargent who with a back heel volley sees his shot bounce off the underside of the crossbar and just over the line.

After a VAR check for a possible foul by Pukki Sargent's first Premier League goal is confirmed and I doubt he will ever score a better one!

21:08
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

48min: Joao Pedro fires over the bar at the start of the second half. but the Canaries oherwise have a bit more about them following the break.

21:03
SECOND HALF: No additional changes as we get back underway

Here is Gary Neville's take on that first period courtesy of Sky Sports:

'Samir is the one player for Watford who has shown a level of urgency. He looks up for it. He's on his toes each time, he's aggressive in his work even in the opposition box, he's got a really good left foot and on the ball, his left to right switches have been one of the features of the first half.

'He's been the one player in first half who has played to standard you'd expect. There hasn't been much else.'

Watford's Tom Cleverley (left) blocks a free-kick taken by Norwich City's Milot Rashica

20:59
A few stats from the first half largely dominated by Watford

20:57
It's not been a great game to be honest...

Apart from those two Watford moments in stoppage time, there really hasn't been much goalmouth action at all. As previously mentioned you can see the effort and will to attack is there, especially from Watford, but genuine quality is clearly lacking.

You sense both sides wouldn't be too disappointed with a draw though, but Norwich really should be aiming to win if they want to stay up this term.


20:54
From former Norwich City striker Chris Sutton on Twitter
20:49
HALF-TIME: Watford 0-0 Norwich City
20:49
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

45+2min: That's dreadful from Sissoko. Watford counter with King down the right and after fizzing a low ball into the box, the midfielder gets his feet all wrong to slice across the ball and fail to even get a shot anywhere near the target. A fitting metaphor of this first half.

20:47
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

45+1min: Two added minutes and that's a chance for Watford. Joao Pedro beats about four men as he weaves his way into the box only to weakly side-foot an effort straight at Gunn. 

Josh King is furious the ball was not cut back for him.

20:45
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

44min: Still neither keeper has been tested as we approach the break. Just the one shot on target and that was easy looped header for Gunn to deal with. It's not been a cagey game but it's easy to see why both of these teams are in a relegation battle.

20:42
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

41min: An illustration of Watford's dominance on the ball is reflected in the possession stats. The home side have had 84 per cent of the play in the last 10 minutes yet have not created one clear cut chance to show for it.

20:39
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

38min: That's not the best of challenges from Emmanuel Dennis though who is booked after a clumsy lunge on Pierre Lees-Melou, who despite staying down in agony isn't conning the ref into flashing a red card, despite Norwich protests. 

Seconds later substitute McClean is also booked for a lunge on Cleverley, and although it was a clear foul I'm not certain it warranted a yellow card.

20:36
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

35min: Watford remain on top and Norwich seem to be losing confidence on the ball now as they struggle to keep possession. You would have to say a Watford goal now would be a fair reelection of the game

20:34
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

32min: SHOT ON TARGET KLAXON! Only one for the stats though as Samir struggles to generate the power needed to trouble Angus Gunn with a header from the corner.

Watford manager Claudio Ranieri instructs his side from the touchline at Vicarage Road
20:32
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

30min: Good spell this for Watford, who are even finding joy down the right side now as Kiko Femina whips in a decent low cross towards the near post, only for Ben Gibson to be alert enough to head behind. 

20:30
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

27min: You just sense Watford are starting to get on top as this game progresses. Norwich's attacks are drying up as the Hornets start to work the ball around the midfield a lot quicker. That final ball still lacking though...

20:25
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

24min: I don't think we have seen a shot on target yet despite both sides' best efforts as Joao Pedro headers over following a Watford corner.


20:21
Norwich City substitution

21min: Jacob Sorensen (below) had picked up a knock earlier in the game after going down under a challenge from Tom Cleverley and he has been unable to run it off as he is replaced by Kenny McClean.

20:20
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

18min: That was a bit strong from Brandon Williams as charges into Dennis a few moments later with little care for the ball (below). It's not a dangerous tackle, and that is perhaps what prevents him from being booked. Referee Mike Dean give him a few words as a warning though. The booking before the booking if such a thing exists.

20:17
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

15min: Better from Watford. This is about their first real attack and it gets the home fans to their feet at least. Hassane Kamara whips in a lovely cross from the left flank towards the back post but in trying to get his head to the ball Emmanuel Dennis fouls his marker to concede a free-kick.

20:13
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

12min: Half-chance for Norwich. Sissoko poorly gives the ball away with a sloppy pass to Idah 20 yards out, who squares the ball for Rashica, with the midfielder curling a first-time effort over the bar.

Watford's Kiko Femenia (left) and Norwich City's Jacob Sorensen battle for the ball
20:11
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

9min: Just one point between these sides remember, and it's showing. Still quite even and perhaps the league table is also having its reflection too judging by the midfield scrap so far. Both sides look up for it - but we still need some quality out there.

20:07
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

6min: Both sides looking bright early on. Norwich perhaps carrying slightly more threat at this stage but both keepers are still to be tested.

20:04
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

3min: Milot Rashica takes the free-kick but his low strike hits the wall before the hosts clear. Sharp start to this game, with the home fans roaring on their side even if a few empty seats still remain in the stands.

20:02
Watford 0-0 Norwich City

2min: You don't often see Norwich in an away kit, especially if you play in yellow, but I have to admit their blood orange strip has caught me by surprise tonight, possibly Watford too as Moussa Sissoko brings down Adam Idah on the edge of the Hornets box.

20:00
KICK-OFF: Away we go in this crucial encounter
Norwich City's Josh Sargent (left) in action with Watford's Moussa Sissoko in the early stages
19:57
Out come the players at Vicarage Road

Here is how the table looks. If Watford win, then the likes of Norwich, Newcastle United and Burnley, who admittedly have many games in hand, will look in deep trouble.

Norwich by the way will exit the relegation zone for the first time this season if they win - and maybe Everton could still get dragged into this too...


19:49
Both of these clubs have not been in the best of form recently...

Both of these clubs picked up positive results last time out of course, but before that they both had lost their last six.

Watford especially have a point to prove in front of their home fans. They haven't won a game since defeating Manchester United over two months ago and they are the last of the 92 league clubs to still not have recorded a clean sheet this season.

That rules out a boring 0-0, doesn't it?

19:39
Another cold evening as the atmosphere heats up

The players are warming up on this rather chilly evening at Vicarage Road, still quite a few empty seats at Vicarage Road ahead of this huge clash. Then again this is not the sort of evening you want to be sitting around outside on a plastic seat.

19:26
Here are all of this weekend's Premier League fixtures

Quite a few tasty games in there... especially that weekend finale at Stamford Bridge.


19:15
Lots of changes for Watford this evening

Four in fact, which in normal circumstances should not be a surprise under Claudio 'The tinker man' Ranieri but a couple of those are enforced following the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.

Keeper Ben Foster is ruled out and is replaced by Daniel Bachmann, while centre-back Craig Cathcart is out with illness and is replaced by Christian Kabasele. Also coming in are Kiko Femina and Tom Cleverley as Jeremy Ngakia and Juraj Kucka depart.

Norwich make just one alteration from the massive 2-1 win over Everton as Tim Krul makes way for Angus Gunn in goal.

19:02
Norwich City starting XI
19:01
Watford starting XI

18:58
It's not the most blockbuster of games as a headline...

... but this is a massive match! in terms of the relegation battle it could either shake things up, or leave the bottom three staring down the barrel.

I'm actually really looking forward to this even if it is between two struggling sides as I welcome you to our live coverage of Watford vs Norwich City. Team news coming next...

Watford's Josh King will hope to ease his side's relegation fears against Norwich

Watford get the Premier League's weekend action underway when they host relegation rivals Norwich City at Vicarage Road

Just one point separates the teams heading into the game but with Watford having two games in hand it is vital for the Canaries to at least avoid defeat to keep their top flight survival hopes alive.

Follow Sportsmail's DAN RIPLEY for live Premier League coverage of Watford vs Norwich, including build-up, team news and updates.