Watford “Not Fearing Anybody” on their WSL2 Return Looking Ahead to Forest Test

Watford were welcomed back to the WSL2 with a 0-0 draw against promotion rivals Burley on an opening night under the Vicarage Road lights. 

Their first away test comes against solid league competition Nottingham Forest. A day at the City Ground awaits the Golden Girls on Sunday with award winning manager Renee Hector keen to keep focused, keep pushing and get more early points on the board as the side continue to settle back into tier 2 action. 

Team News

A closely fought stalemate was played out on opening day with both teams settling back into competitive action in a new league. Starting the points tally early will surely give Hector’s Hornet’s more confidence, with the team coming out of the opening clash tired but unscathed ready for the away test ahead.

“Everyone got through okay. Obviously a lot of tired legs, they did a lot of running, covered a lot of distance, a lot of pressing, a lot of defensive actions, but obviously we've had an extra 2 days to recover, but also been able to do an extra training session to further prepare them for the game (this week). It's been a nice week. It's gone in our favour in terms of the preparation, being able to speak to a lot more individuals in terms of their development as well. We're really looking forward to it and I know the players are too.”

Opening Night at Vicarage Road

Watford impressed back in WSL2 action displaying confident build up play and pinpoint passing from the defense into the attack. The second half particularly showcased their developing strengths, Saoirse Noonan coming so close to finding the back of the net in an end to end display. Hector was proud of how her squad announced themselves to the league, laying the foundations to keep improving.

“Obviously really pleased to get a point, a clean sheet, and to really dominate in the second-half. I think upon reflection, it was maybe a little bit disappointing in terms of our control in the first half. However, obviously probably a bit of first game nerves in there for both teams.

Big occasion, first game, two promoted teams going up. We can't be too hard on the players, but I think that they took on board messages really well at half time and they imposed themselves on the game. I feel like we completely suffocated them [Burnley] in the second-half in and out of possession. We were just missing that final bit, so we were really unlucky not to put the game to bed, but it's definitely a fantastic foundation for us to build from and keep pushing this week.”

New Faces in Yellow and Black

Some of the Golden Girls 12 summer additions showcased their talent on opening night, the Hornets had a transfer window that highlighted their high ambitions, staking a claim to keep themselves in the league and even compete for more. Nine players took the field for their first competitive minutes in Watford colours including loaned Welsh International keeper Safia Middleton-Patel who made a flurry of successful saves notably to deny a sure goal from Burnley’s number 8. Ex Plymouth Attackers Poppy Poole and Ellie Noble impressed off the bench whilst young Zara Bailey and Karin Muya were trusted with opening day starts.

It’s not only glimmers of on-field partnerships that are exciting for the Hornets, but also the training pitch atmosphere seems tight with funny group TikToks, dustbin challenges and a real togetherness displayed, which Hector says is all part of building a winning squad, showing character not just on the pitch but off it too:

“We look for the right people before we look at what kind of player they are. Obviously, we needed players to come in and improve the squad, physically, technically, tactically. However, I think that you can only be successful if you have the right culture in the right environment and that's something that's extremely important to me and to us as a club.

The girls have fitted in perfectly with that in terms of with each other, with the girls that were here from last year as well. Everybody's gelled really quickly. They don't feel like new players anymore. They help in terms of the environment and they're good girls and they're really willing to learn, really determined, real professionals as well.

They know how to have a laugh and be themselves, which is something that's important to me as well. I think it's really important for everybody to be their authentic self in my environment, because I certainly am, so I wouldn't expect any different from my players. I think that it helps create that real sort of family environment, which then in turn is going to help them on the pitch fight for each other.”

Making the Jump 

When asked about navigating the jump between tier 3 to tier 2, Hector made it clear that they are taking it one game at a time and that Watford have earnt the chance to showcase what they can do in the second division. Against proven WSL2 opposition for the first time this weekend, the squad are full of confidence, bringing in top WSL2 experienced talent in the window and with a side that has experienced these heights before. Watford have played 7 previous seasons at this level, last featuring in the 2023/24 campaign albeit only 4 players remain from that squad including captain Megan Chandler, Midfielder Coral Haines and number 21 Flo Fyfe.

“I think we've been navigating it like it's just another game. We keep the focus really narrow and just focus on each game as it comes, each opposition as they come and what it's going to take to beat them. You know, it sounds really simple, but I feel like sometimes it doesn't really work if you try to overcomplicate things. So, we've done our research, we've really looked into how we feel like we can beat Forest. That's what we've worked on on the training pitch and we'll go into the game with no fear, because at the end of the day, we've earned our right to be here.

I feel like we're a team that is going to cause some issues for most teams, we can take full confidence in that. Off the back of the second-half performance last week, I think that's a really good place for us to build from.”

Watford are a possession based team who like to play out from the back and having control over the ball, similar to the Nottingham side.

“In Forest, I think obviously they're going to be a difficult test. I know they're a team that likes to look after the ball, probably plays in quite a similar system to ourselves so that will be interesting. I think it will be a little bit of cat and mouse at times. But we're going into the game not fearing anybody, not fearing the team, and you know we'll do our best to try and get something out of the game.”

Challenges Posed by Nottingham Forest 

Forest can be taken as somewhat of a blueprint for newly promoted sides. Their first season in the 2nd division last campaign saw them finish a respectable 7th, avoiding instant relegation and cementing themselves as a solid WSL2 outfit. In one of the most competitive leagues in the world full of closely fought battles avoiding the drop is difficult for any side but Watford have certainly built a squad to keep themselves in the fight and challenges with the very best. 

In their previous stints in the second tier, Watford were competing as the only part-time outfit before their relegation. With new rules coming into place in the summer of 2025, all clubs in the WSL2 must operate under a full time professional model with Hector announcing this landmark step in the right direction "absolutely key” to spearhead their success in the league. Whilst Nottingham entered the WSL2 last season with a few years of full time action under their belt, Hector is confident that her team can put on a display to be proud of.

“They're a good team. They've obviously been full-time for a season or two before they got promoted, which I feel like a few teams have sort of gone down that route so that they feel like the jump is not too big, obviously slightly different to ourselves, but I think they've done really well. They've been able to, again, impose themselves on the league and I think it's so difficult because in WSL2, the research says that it's probably one of the most competitive leagues in the world. So, you know, you're not really expecting too many high scoring games either way. You feel like any team can take points off anyone. Forest have built a really strong foundation for themselves to build on and maybe a couple of years ahead of us in terms of their transition into the league. But like I say, we're going to have to get up to speed with things quite quickly. But I feel like we had a good start with that on Friday, and we look to keep pushing this Sunday.”

It’s been all change at Forest over the summer as manager Cary Davis exited after three years in charge, the club citing their desire to “push towards the WSL”. She was replaced by Tom Mallinson, a mainstay in the Forest set up through mens and womens youth age groups. Hector was asked about the challenges of facing a team with limited run-outs under a new manager but she was unfazed by the prospect.

“Obviously, we'll look at some of their recent performances, but I think on the day, coaches have the least control that they do all week when it comes to a match day, which makes it obviously very stressful for us managers and head coaches. The players have control on the pitch and we know a lot about their players and some of their individuals. A couple of them have played for us previously as well. We just have to take it game by game, take it off of recent performances, look at how they set up, look at patterns that emerge in and out of possession and just try to combat that and try to come out on top.”

Facing Old Rivals

The sides last ran out against each other in very different circumstances, in the deciding game to get to the very league they are both now competing in. The FAWNL promotion play-off final in 2023 saw the Golden Girls bounce back up to the second division but an agonising 1-0 loss for Forest meant they had to wait another 2 seasons for their debut. Hector remembers the day fondly and hopes for another win and the three points.

“I was in the development set up at that time. I believe I was a head coach for 23s and I did go to that game. That's the last time that we faced them, so I'm sure that maybe there's a little bit hidden there in terms of revenge on us but It was such a long time ago and things have changed a lot in terms of players, coaches, etc. But yeah, that was certainly a good bit of history for us.”

Big League, Big Games, Main Stage

As the Hornets have played all their games at Vicarage Road from the March of last season, other WSL2 teams are making the main stage the women's home. They will run out at the 30,000 capacity City ground against Forest on Sunday and they are amongst 50% of WSL2 teams that call the clubs main stadium home including Burnley, Bristol City, Sheffield United and Southampton also making this commitment. Hector says this is exactly where her team are meant to be. 

“I think it suits us, to be honest. I'm really excited that the players get to play at such an amazing ground. I know they're looking forward to it, I'm looking forward to it. I think the way we try to play, I think it suits us playing on these nice pitches. So, we'll look at that as an advantage for us, as I'm sure they will as well, but yeah, it should be a fantastic occasion.”

A 2pm Sunday kick off awaits the Golden Girls as they take on the first away test of their new WSL2 era. Renee Hector is confident in the team's ambitions, growing into the league game by game and they will surely keep pushing with Forest their first hurdle.