Ex-Celtic man Vata positive in disappointing Watford defeat

The Hornets were ultimately made to pay for switching off at a set-piece and some lax defending against a Gills’ counter-attack, affording elements of the Priestfield faithful the opportunity to taunt their opponents with chants of ‘Championship, you’re having a laugh.’

This was no laughing matter for the 438 visiting fans at the ground though – nor those watching on Watford’s live-stream from home.

The absence of Wes Hoedt from the Hornets’ team sheet amid continued reports that he will soon be heading for the Vicarage Road exit did little to improve to improve the mood before a kick-off delayed by ten minutes after the visitors were delayed by traffic – by full-time the concerns had mounted further, fuelling growing concerns about Watford’s prospects going into the new campaign.

Those fears may not be quite so strong among some if Tom Cleverley’s men were able to capitalise on the chances they were creating, but the lack of a cutting edge in the final third was again starkly apparent this afternoon.

The first-half display was encouraging in several respects. The pattern of play Watford are looking to develop under Cleverley was again evident as they dominated possession and territory, moved the ball around well at times and got into some promising positions, but the decision-making, composure and accuracy required to capitalise on those positive aspects was again missing.

Until Cleverley finds a way of addressing those shortcomings, either through recruitment or with the tools already at his disposal, it is difficult to disagree with the view that a long, hard season may lie ahead because - at the risk of stating the obvious - a team needs to score goals to win matches.

The second half performance was poor for the most part. It initially looked like it would follow the pattern of the opening 45 minutes, but Watford struggled to offer any attacking threat after the hour when a quadruple change followed a double substitution after the resumption.

Indeed, once the Gills had the comfort of a second goal, the Division Two side – who changed all but two of their starting XI for the second half – largely looked comfortable against their opponents from two divisions higher until the closing stages.

Positives may have been in short supply, but one was undoubtedly the first-half display of Rocco Vata.

The 19-year-old made his first start of the summer following his move from Celtic and looked the player most likely to provide the attacking spark for his side.

The forward wanted the ball, looked to be positive and progressive when he had it and showed a willingness to try and attack opponents when he had the opportunity. He had some shooting opportunities but was unable to work the Gills goalkeeper enough, while there were signs his corners could be a useful weapon if the consistency of his delivery improves.

Vata apart though – and with no Yaser Asprilla or Giorgi Chakvetadze in the side – Watford lacked the creative element to convert their superiority into chances that fell into the clear-cut category.

The Hornets are largely reliant on their wing-backs to provide the width with the way Cleverley wants to play. Ryan Andrews got into his share of promising situations, but will want to improve his end product, but Ken Sema struggled to make an attacking impression on the left flank.

With Hoedt absent, Cleverley produced something of a surprise with how his starting back three lined up.

Francisco Sierralta, usually deployed in the centre, moved to the left, Mattie Pollock was in the middle, and Ryan Portoeus played on the right.

The visitors were defensively comfortable in the main against Gillingham’s sporadic attacking threat but the manner in which they were caught cold from a free-kick – with Pollock off the pitch receiving treatment on a bloodied nose – was poor as a trialist gave the hosts the lead before the break.

Poor can also be used to describe the back-tracking Antonio Tikvic’s attempts to deal with Jack Nolan’s run after the break that resulted in Gillingham’s second – the defender’s body shape looked wrong as he retreated towards his own goal.

Cleverley made three changes to the team that started the 2-2 draw at Stevenage last weekend.

There were first appearances of pre-season for Porteous and, following his return to the club, Moussa Sissoko, while Vata made his friendly start in place of Hoedt, Tom Ince and Vakoun Bayo.

Watford had the first attempt of the afternoon when a Ryan Andrews cross from the right sat up for Sema at the back post but he is unable to direct a half-volley from an awkward height on target.

It wouldn't be a pre-season game without a Trialist playing and the player wearing the Gillingham No. 39 shirt wasn't too far away with a low strike from the left edge of the 18-yard box, hitting a shot across Dan Bachmann which wasn't too far wide of the far post.

Tom Dele-Bashiru and Vata then dragged shots wide of the left-hand post, but the visitors were caught cold in the 26th minute.

While Pollock was off the pitch receiving some treatment, a free-kick was played down the side of the defence on the right side of the penalty area and the Trialist had the time and space to beat Bachmann with a cross shot.

Kwadwo Baah worked hard as the lone striker but found opportunities in short supply until Sissoko won back possession, allowing his team-mate to run at the defence but his attempted finish was deflected wide of the near post.

Watford twice went close to equalising from the resulting corner though, as a Sierralta header from the left side of the six-yard box was headed off the line and Dele-Bashiru’s follow-up was also blocked close to the target.

Having played their first 45 minutes of pre-season, Porteous and Sissoko were replaced by Tikvic and Ince at the start of the second half.

Watford continued to dominate possession after the restart but it needed a good save from Bachmann to ensure the deficit remained at only one goal, diving high to his left to push away a Nolan free-kick from around 22 yards out after Pollock was penalised for pulling back Josh Andrews.

Cleverley made a quadruple change on the hour and nine minutes later his side were two down, as Nolan was afforded the space to run at the poorly positioned Tikivc before firing a low shot inside Bachmann’s near post from the edge of the box.

Watford struggled to create an attacking impression thereafter until nine minutes from time when a Jeremy Ngakia corner from the left fell for Bayo in space, but the striker timed mistimed his run and had to try and improvise with a back-heeled flick.

Gillingham’s second-half keeper Jake Turner then had to make a rare save, but only dropping forward to gather the ball to his chest to field Ince’s a low left-footed curler from Ince.

Watford’s best chance of a consolation came at the very end when Ryan Andrews toyed with Jayden Clarke before hitting a rising drive that Turner did well to turned behind.

Watford: Bachmann; Pollock, Sierralta, Porteous; Andrews, Sissoko, Dele-Bashiru, Sema; Kayembe, Vata; Baah. Subs: Tikvic and Ince for Porteous and Sissoko after 46 mins; Louza, Ngakia, Bayo and Rajovic for Dele-Bashiru, Sema, Vata and Baah after 60 mins; Abbott for Sierralta after 73 mins. Not used: Bond, Mcauley, Bond and Grieves.