Price and Dike fire West Brom past toothless Watford in masterclass

West Brom controlled this with the kind of precision that has been missing from their season until now. Fourteen shots to Watford's seven, 58 per cent possession, 478 passes to 346. The expected goals tally (1.48 to 0.50) reveals the truth: this was not lucky. West Brom were the better side by every conceivable measure, and they executed with ruthlessness. Styles picked up an early yellow, Molumby and Mowatt followed suit, yet the Baggies never lost their grip on proceedings. Referee Backhouse had little of note to adjudicate; this was a mismatch, not a battle.

The substitutions tell the story too. Watford cycled through bodies from the 46th minute onwards, desperately hunting for some spark. Irankunda came on for Louza at the break, Chakvetadze appeared later, Kjerrumgaard was introduced. None of it mattered. West Brom simply shut the door and watched the visitors hurl themselves against it. Their own changes, when they came late on, were purely managerial housekeeping.

This result lifts West Brom to within touching distance of the playoffs. At 20th with 49 points, they are suddenly a threat again after a form line that read WDDDW before this. Watford, conversely, slip further into crisis. Three defeats in their last five, now eight points adrift of their hosts despite starting the day well clear. The gap is closing, and it is closing because Watford are collapsing, not because West Brom are suddenly spectacular. But spectacle is not required when your opponent plays like ghosts.