Watford 0-0 Plymouth Argyle: Tom Cleverley relies on ‘Fergie’ blast

By Stephen Marshall

WATFORD 0

PLYMOUTH ARG 0

Watford manager Tom Cleverley admitted delving into his Manchester United playing days under Sir Alex Ferguson to deliver a half-time dressing-down that earned his side a point against Plymouth Argyle.

The Hornets played out a goalless draw against Argyle at Vicarage Road after an uneventful first half.

In spite of an improved second-half performance, the draw narrowed Watford’s chances of making the play-offs.

Afterwards, Cleverley criticised his side’s first half showing

Regret

He said: “We wasted 45 minutes at home against a team that we feel we’re good enough to beat.

“That’s the main regret.

“There has to be a determination to break down that back line, and I didn’t see that in the first half.

“It’s not just going to happen, you have to make it happen.

“The second half was how we should play, a more entertaining style, more direct, no mistakes.

“It’s a bit of a head scratch how the ball’s not found its way into the net, but that’s the way it’s been going for us at the minute.”

CLASH: Watford’s Ryan Andrews, left, and Plymouth’s Michael Obafemi do battle
PICTURES: Alamy

Match action

The visitors’ pressing game nullified the passing style of their hosts in a first half in which the only chances fell the way of Miron Muslic’s side.

Shortly before the half-hour, Michael Obafemi slipped a cute ball into the path of Ryan Hardie, whose first-time swept shot was parried away superbly by Watford keeper Egil Selvik.

The two Plymouth strikers combined again shortly afterwards, with Obafemi again the provider.

On this occasion, Hardie’s shot was partially blocked by Caleb Wiley.

It wasn’t until injury-time at the end of the first period that Rocco Vata attempted Watford’s first shot.

Even as the ball thudded into the advertising board wide of the Plymouth goal, ironic cheers rose up from the frustrated home supporters.

Second half

With a five-point deficit to make up on the play-off places at kick-off, victory felt like an imperative for Cleverley, whose frustration with his side’s passivity was clearly aired in the dressing room at half-time.

His side’s greater urgency was immediately apparent with crosses sent over from both flanks.

One delivery by Wiley was nodded down by Francisco Sierralta only for Vakoun Bayo’s mistimed shot on the swivel to fail to make it through a forest of Plymouth legs.

Cleverley introduced the energetic Kwadwo Baah, whose dynamic wing play set up Vata for a shot that was deflected against the Plymouth crossbar.

Cleverley recalled receiving the hairdryer treatment from Sir Alex during his playing days at Manchester United when he answered back in the dressing room during a cup tie at Chelsea.

He added: “I had it once, but I think if you’re a smart guy, you have it once and never again.

“A short remark back to the boss is not advised.

“It was a respectful one, but it still got the treatment.

“My job now is to keep the team believing because we’ve reduced our margin for error.

“Until it’s mathematically impossible to make the play-offs, it’ll always be alive in my eyes.”