ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE scored and assisted a goal for the first time in his career yesterday.
The Doucoure story has been a very happy one, indeed, since Nigel Pearson’s arrival as Watford boss.
Things are looking up for Abdoulaye Doucoure after his pivotal role in lifting Watford out of the drop zone under new boss Nigel PearsonCredit: Rex Features
Frenchman Abdoulaye Doucoure hit the opener as the Hornets leapfrogged Bournemouth with a fine 3-0 away win at the CherriesCredit: Reuters
Pearson pushed the Frenchman up into the No 10 role for his first match, the 2-0 loss at Liverpool.
The 27-year-old has stayed there and the Hornets have won all four of the games he has played since — scoring ten and conceding just one.
Doucoure has scored twice in those five games, compared to just one in his first 16 Premier League outings this season.
He was Watford’s top Premier League scorer in the 2017-18 season with seven and there is so much more to his game playing behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1.
NEW WORK ETHIC
It was telling Pearson made a point of acknowledging Doucoure’s display when he replaced him in the 86th minute of the 3-0 win at Bournemouth.
And in the post-match interviews, Troy Deeney revealed Doucoure had not trained all week — which shows players are ready to put themselves on the line for the new boss.
They know if they don’t, they won’t play and the work ethic Pearson has instilled is there for all to see.
It comes across particularly well in the way they press opponents with first a block of four and then a six, with the full-backs not pushing forward anything like they did before Pearson’s arrival.
Bournemouth’s Adam Smith and Co never got to grips with Abdoulaye DoucoureCredit: Reuters
And that front four did their job brilliantly for Watford’s first goal, by Doucoure, with the high press leading to keeper Mark Travers’ error.
If that first press is breached, then there is still the block of six to contend with.
In all six games under Pearson, Watford have had less possession than their opponents.
But with four wins and a draw since that Anfield setback, fans won’t be complaining.
They have bagged 11 goals and conceded just four in those half a dozen games.
It is a massive improvement on their league form before Pearson came in — just nine goals scored in 16 top-flight matches with 30 going in at the other end.
Contrast that to earlier in the season when they had 61.9 per cent possession at home to Burnley — losing 3-0 — and 60.9 per cent of the ball in a 1-0 defeat at Wolves.
This is not to dismiss this approach to the game.
But unless you are one of the very best teams around, having so much possession can prove to be costly — as struggling Bournemouth found out yesterday.
Heartwarming moment Wolves keeper Rui Patricio wraps shivering young mascot in his coat before Watford loss
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
