Norwich City 0-1 Watford: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Watford beat Norwich City 0-1 at Carrow Road. The first half saw Norwich holding more of the ball but failing to create clear chances, while Watford looked content to absorb pressure after making an early substitution at half-time with Vivaldo Semedo replacing Luca Kjerrumgaard. The game remained tight until the dying moments, when Semedo scored the winner in the 90th minute, assisted by Nestory Irankunda, snatching all three points for the visitors. Coming off a mixed run with a win over Charlton Athletic but draws against Preston North End and Sheffield United, Norwich will rue their inability to convert possession into goals.

Watford, riding a strong streak including wins over Leicester City and Stoke City, showed resilience to grind out the result despite being second best in territory for much of the match. Substitutions in the second half, like James Abankwah for Jeremy Ngakia at 66’ and Nampalys Mendy for Imrân Louza at 67’, helped steady their defence as Norwich pushed forward. The late goal underlined Watford’s knack for finding a way, even in a game where they had fewer corners and less possession, building on their recent form of picking up points away from home.

Norwich City edged possession at 55% to Watford’s 45%, suggesting they controlled the tempo but lacked the cutting edge to break down a solid defence, as shown by their eight corners compared to Watford’s three without yielding a goal. Successful dribbles were higher for Norwich at 50 against 36, pointing to more individual flair in attack, yet they recorded no assists while Watford managed one crucial one late on. Watford picked up the only yellow card of the game, with both sides using all five substitutions to try and influence proceedings, Norwich making double changes at 60’ and 83’ while Watford spread theirs from 46’ through to 86’.

The stats highlight Watford’s efficiency on the counter, turning limited opportunities into the decisive moment, whereas Norwich’s dominance in key areas like corners didn’t translate to the scoreboard. No red cards or penalties disrupted the flow, and the absence of injury-time goals beyond the 90th-minute strike kept things straightforward.

The match’s defining moment came in the 90th minute when Vivaldo Semedo scored for Watford, assisted by Nestory Irankunda, breaking the deadlock in a game that had looked headed for a draw. Watford’s half-time switch saw Semedo replace Luca Kjerrumgaard, injecting fresh energy that paid off late, while further changes like James Abankwah coming on for Jeremy Ngakia at 66’ and Nampalys Mendy for Imrân Louza at 67’ bolstered their midfield. Norwich responded with their own adjustments, including Ben Chrisene for Lucien Mahovo and Jovon Makama for Jacob Wright at 60’, but couldn’t find a breakthrough.

A yellow card for Watford around the 66th minute added tension without altering the balance significantly. Later substitutions, such as Nestory Irankunda replacing Othmane Maamma at 79’ for Watford and Mathias Kvistgaarden for Josh Sargent at 83’ for Norwich, ramped up the urgency, leading to Semedo’s winner that proved the key turning point.

Norwich City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kenny McLean anchoring the midfield and providing key passes to support the attack. Partnerships like those involving Josh Sargent up front and Oscar Schwartau in the attacking three aimed to exploit spaces, though substitutions such as Liam Gibbs replacing Tony Springett at 71’ and Jack Stacey for Schwartau at 83’ sought to refresh the wide areas.

Watford set up in a 4-4-2 shape, relying on midfield solidity from players like Imrân Louza before his replacement by Nampalys Mendy at 67’, with Tom Ince offering width until Moussa Sissoko came on for him at 86’. The forward pairing adjusted early when Vivaldo Semedo replaced Luca Kjerrumgaard at 46’, forming a partnership that delivered the late goal, assisted by Nestory Irankunda who had substituted for Othmane Maamma at 79’.

Kenny McLean earned Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match for Norwich City with a composed display in midfield, creating one big chance and delivering two key passes despite the defeat. His efforts stood out in a game where Norwich dominated possession but couldn’t find the net, highlighting his role in trying to unlock Watford’s defence without registering a goal or assist himself.

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Watford (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Charlton Athletic (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Preston North End (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Southampton (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Sheffield United (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Norwich City (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Leicester City (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Stoke City (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Wrexham (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Sheffield Wednesday (H)

Norwich City have just suffered a 0-1 home defeat to Watford, leaving them in 23rd place on 21 points and in need of a turnaround after a patchy run including a win over Charlton Athletic but losses and draws in recent league games. Their next fixture is against Queens Park Rangers on 1 January 2026 at 15:00, with QPR currently ninth on 35 points, offering Norwich a chance to climb away from the relegation zone if they can build on positive results like their victory against Southampton.

Watford have just secured a 1-0 away win over Norwich City, boosting them to sixth place on 38 points amid a strong sequence of results with wins against Leicester City and Stoke City plus draws in other recent outings. They face Birmingham City next on 1 January 2026 at 15:00, with Birmingham in 15th on 31 points, giving Watford an opportunity to solidify their push for the top spots by extending this unbeaten streak.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.