Watford secure promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking
Watford have secured an immediate return to the Premier League thanks to a win over Millwall on Saturday.
Ismaila Sarr's first half penalty proved decisive in a 1-0 home win over Millwall, with the Hornets joining fellow relegated side Norwich back in the Premier League.
It has been a typically chaotic season at Watford off the pitch, with managers appointed and dismissed as has been the case in previous years, but the current man at the helm, Xisco Munoz, has guided the Hornets back to the top-flight.
Languishing in fifth position heading into the Boxing Day fixtures under the tutelage of Vladamir Ivic, Watford parted ways with the Serbian and turned to Munoz.
Since his appointment, no team in the Championship have collected more points (54), or conceded fewer goals (13), while only Norwich (1.72 xGF per game) and Brentford (1.68) have been a better attacking team than Watford (1.54) in that time.
What is expected goals (xG)?
- Expected goals (xG) is a metric that measures the quality of any given scoring opportunity
- Expected goals for (xGF) is the xG created by a team
- Expected goals against (xGA) is xG conceded by a team
- xG process is the rate at which a teams creates and concedes chances
A change in system has proved key, switching from a back five under Ivic to a 4-3-3 under Munoz, but it was the quality of the squad available that was head and shoulders above most teams at Championship level.
Sarr's winner against Millwall was his 13th goal of the season as he proved a constant menace for Sky Bet Championship defenders, as did Joao Pedro.
Ben Foster has contributed to the Hornets boasting the best defence in the league, conceding just 28 goals in 44 games so far this term.
Bitter-sweet for Xisco
Watford manager Xisco Munoz declared he was both delighted and a little sad after leading the Hornets back to the Premier League.
“I want to say thank you to everyone for their support because today is the day for our fans, who have given us a lot of support on social media,” he said.
“Now is the moment for us to enjoy because we worked very hard to go up. I miss the fans. I was a little sad when we finished the game because if our fans had been at the stadium it would have been an amazing moment.
“They can enjoy at home because we are in the Premier League now.”
Xisco was quickly drenched in beer by his players after the final whistle but also found time to Facetime his family back in Spain – his wife, six-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.
“I have been away from my kids for six months and it is very hard sometimes to be without the family,” he said. “For me it is very nice when I can go back home.
“I finished the game immediately and spoke to them. My daughter always asks me why her father never picks her up from school, so today I am very happy because although I have missed spending time with them I have a big dream in my life.”
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