Sargent improvisation was superb – SmithJosh Sargent’s first Premier League goals capped a “crazy couple of weeks” as the new father helped Norwich City to a crucial victory over 10-man Watford which moved them out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.
The 21-year-old American became a dad for the first time this month, while Norwich have enjoyed back-to-back wins and are now two points above the bottom three.
“It’s been a kind of blur. To get your first goal and then your second after was pretty crazy,” said Sargent. “It was a big game for us so a great night overall.
“Obviously being in the relegation zone means every game is big for us, but to get a win against the team right in front of us is huge.”
Sargent had endured a frustrating season in front of goal, failing to find the net in 18 league games, but acrobatically hooked Teemu Pukki’s cross from behind him and saw it bounce in off the underside of the crossbar for Norwich’s opener.
His thumping header made it 2-0 after a lengthy stoppage in play because of a floodlight fault and he celebrated wildly, before paying tribute to his newborn child.
“After the first one I didn’t celebrate for my newborn baby so I knew the wife would be on my case. I thought I need to do it now!” he added.
“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks obviously but I’m very happy. It’s been amazing.”
Norwich rubbed salt in Watford’s wounds with a third goal late on – substitute Juraj Kucka poking past his own goalkeeper at the near post.
Watford were further hampered by Emmanuel Dennis’ sending off – the forward shown a second yellow card by referee Mike Dean for a rash challenge on Max Aarons.
Shortly before Kucka poked in Adam Idah’s pull-back, Watford had a goal disallowed when Moussa Sissoko thumped in a stunning volley from an offside position, and Cucho Hernandez later hit the crossbar.
Claudio Ranieri’s side still have two games in hand but it was an 11th defeat in 13 games during his Watford tenure, while Dennis’ sending-off means he will miss another crucial relegation battle with bottom side Burnley on 5 February.
Reaction to Norwich’s win over WatfordFootball Daily Podcast: All over for Ranieri?Ranieri wants players to ‘fight’ for WatfordPressure mounts on relegation rivalsNorwich played as a team, Watford were individuals – RanieriSargent’s exuberant celebrations, echoed by the visiting Norwich supporters, showed how important this victory was to Dean Smith’s side.
It is the first time this season Norwich have moved out of the bottom three, while defeat for Watford piles more pressure on manager Ranieri.
Norwich were most people’s favourites to go down at Christmas but back-to-back wins over Everton and Watford have seen them shoot up the table from bottom to 17th in just over a week.
The relegation battle promises to continue as Burnley, now propping up the table, have five games in hand on Norwich, having had numerous games postponed because of Covid-19 cases and injuries.
Watford and Newcastle United also have games in hand, but with no side in the current bottom six winning more than five games this season, Norwich will be heavily boosted by their recent victories.
The Canaries face a tough February including games against Manchester City and Liverpool, but Watford are under pressure to bounce back against Burnley in their next match having already dropped points to relegation rivals Norwich and Newcastle in recent games.
Player of the match
SargentJoshua Sargent
with an average of 8.74
WatfordSquad number10Player nameJoão Pedro
Squad number21Player nameKiko Femenía
Squad number19Player nameSissoko
Squad number29Player nameCucho Hernández
Squad number22Player nameSamir
Squad number14Player nameKamara
Squad number39Player nameKayembe
Squad number27Player nameKabasele
Squad number7Player nameKing
Squad number26Player nameBachmann
Squad number25Player nameDennis
Squad number8Player nameCleverley
Squad number12Player nameSema
Squad number33Player nameKucka
Norwich CitySquad number24Player nameSargent
Squad number35Player nameIdah
Squad number5Player nameHanley
Squad number17Player nameRashica
Squad number21Player nameWilliams
Squad number28Player nameGunn
Squad number22Player namePukki
Squad number4Player nameGibson
Squad number2Player nameAarons
Squad number20Player nameLees-Melou
Squad number19Player nameSørensen
Squad number23Player nameMcLean
Squad number3Player nameByram
Squad number11Player namePlacheta
Line-upsWatfordFormation 4-3-3
26Bachmann
21Femenía27Kabasele22Samir14Kamara
8Cleverley39Kayembe19Sissoko
25Dennis7King10João Pedro
26Bachmann21FemeníaSubstituted forKuckaat 89’minutes27Kabasele22Samir14KamaraSubstituted forSemaat 84’minutes8CleverleySubstituted forHernándezat 59’minutes39Kayembe19Sissoko25DennisBooked at 78mins7King10João PedroSubstitutes2Ngakia12Sema17Fletcher18Tufan29Hernández31Sierralta33Kucka35Elliot42MorrisNorwichFormation 4-4-2
28Gunn
2Aarons5Hanley4Gibson21Williams
24Sargent20Lees-Melou19Sørensen17Rashica
35Idah22Pukki
28Gunn2Aarons5Hanley4Gibson21Williams24Sargent20Lees-Melou19SørensenSubstituted forMcLeanat 21’minutesBooked at 38mins17RashicaSubstituted forPlachetaat 90+6’minutes35Idah22PukkiSubstituted forByramat 87’minutesSubstitutes3Byram10Dowell11Placheta15Kabak18Tzolis23McLean30Giannoulis33McGovern46RoweReferee:Mike Dean
Attendance:20,782
Live TextMatch ends, Watford 0, Norwich City 3.
Second Half ends, Watford 0, Norwich City 3.
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Watford).
Brandon Williams (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Moussa Sissoko (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Byram (Norwich City).
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Max Aarons.
Attempt blocked. João Pedro (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Cucho Hernández (Watford) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
Attempt missed. Joshua King (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution, Norwich City. Przemyslaw Placheta replaces Milot Rashica.
Own Goal by Juraj Kucka, Watford. Watford 0, Norwich City 3.
Offside, Watford. João Pedro tries a through ball, but Moussa Sissoko is caught offside.
Substitution, Watford. Juraj Kucka replaces Kiko Femenía.
Samir (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Idah (Norwich City).
Substitution, Norwich City. Sam Byram replaces Teemu Pukki.
Attempt missed. João Pedro (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution, Watford. Ken Sema replaces Hassane Kamara.
Samir (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.