A fourth straight penalty save for Rich, his reflections on his year last season and the Reading draw come under the spotlight
Another pleasing week if you are a Hornet.
The game that everyone was talking about came and went and I like to think that we didn;t let anyone down. Although Reading haven’t had the best of starts it certainly isn’t an easy place to go - so to display the character and determination that we did after conceding an early goal really showed what we are about this season.
After the first 10 minutes where Reading dominated we soon got into our stride and controlled large periods of the game and, in fairness, Reading looking very ineffective second half. Another clinical finish by Danny meant another well-earned point and sees us sitting in a healthy seventh spot. We now know that a good week with two homes games could mean a fantastic start to the season.
We also had a reserve game this week that I took part in away at Norwich. I haven’t played since the Leeds game so it was great to get a game and I managed to save a penalty in a 1-0 win. I’ve now saved four penalties in a row which is a record for me and it was particularly pleasing to come in and have another good game. It can sometimes be tough when you play quite infrequently, which I have since my stint in the team this time last year, but I’m feeling sharper than ever.
With football you never know what’s around the corner but if my chance is to come at some point soon then I’m confident that I’m ready for it. In hindsight I wasn’t in a fit state to play last season, although I had a few good games I never really got myself to the physical state that was required to play in the Championship, I’m not one to make excuses but, looking back, I should’ve waited until I was injury-free, feeling sharp and, as a by-product of those things, confident.
It still bugs me slightly that despite playing over 100 games for Watford my last few games last season were amongst my worst. I swear I made more mistakes in four games than throughout the rest of those 100 or so games!
I’m thankful that the few times this season that I’ve been given a chance to play I’m taking steps to correcting that and I’m hoping at some point I’ll get the chance to show the form that I have shown throughout my career barring those games.
Until then I will continue to keep training as hard as ever, living the right way and supporting Loachy and the team in everything we do. Watford FC is a great place to be right now and I’m enjoying every minute.
Another big week: hopefully it’ll yield six points and another climb up the table!