Watford Home FA Cup 4th Round Replay Won 3 – 0
Just seven changes for Southampton’s latest FA Cup line-up, which is two fewer than the original fourth round tie, but this was, after all, what may be the last Cup replay we’ll ever play! Watford, of course, followed a similar strategy so no surprise that Saints, as is their won’t, dominated proceedings and a possession stat of 59% was actually less than it seemed. With Dibling still finding his way at this level, the best chance of making a breakthrough lay with Mara and Adams but the right footed Mara was being found out in his left side role while Adams seemed off his game and it was he who missed the first half’s clearest opportunity when he hesitated to allow first goalkeeper Bachman and then covering defender Hoedt to deny him. That said, Watford came the closest to a goal before the break when a rare shot was deflected onto the top of the bar with Lumley beaten. Things changed in the 52nd minute when Mara finished well with assists from Rothwell and Adams. Watford responded with an immediate three-fold substitution suggesting a more positive approach but within five minutes they were two down thanks to Mara again, this one an excellent shot that flew inside Bachman’s near post (and following a notable secondary assist from Dibling). And that was it for friend Bachman as he made his way to the bench and then down the tunnel, to be replaced by regular starter Hamer. Hamer’s hopes of a personal clean sheet disappeared when Adams turned in a Rothwell free kick for his side’s third. Fresh legs off the bench gave every indication that the lead would be extended against a sorry looking visiting defence but substitutes Edozie and Amo-Ameyaw both struck the post when presented with effective open goals. With a daunting February fixture list, ensuring a visit to Anfield might not have been in the team’s best interests but at least we’re maintaining the integrity of the competition.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
18. Sekou Mara, unsurprisingly named the club’s own MotM. Did they get it right?
29. Jayden Meghoma. Looked a bit out of his depth at Watford but seemed to be enjoying himself in the replay.
33. Tyler Dibling. Also looked a bit out of his depth at Watford but seemed to be enjoying himself in the replay.
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