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Attendance: 30,222
Sheffield United logo
Premier League | Gameweek 19
Dec 26, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Watford logo

1-1

Norwood (36' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Deulofeu (27')

Ben Foster keeps Sheffield United at bay to earn Watford draw

Ben Foster keeps Sheffield United at bay to earn Watford draw
© Reuters
The goalkeeper produced a string of saves to earn his side a point.

Ben Foster produced one of the saves of the season as Watford's recent revival continued with a draw against Sheffield United.

The former England goalkeeper kept his team in the match with a superb stop from point-blank range to deny John Fleck just after the hour at Bramall Lane.

Lys Mousset traded passes with David McGoldrick before delivering a pin-point cross into the area for Fleck, who connected with the ball sweetly. It seemed a certain goal, but Foster somehow clawed the shot away from on his line to keep the score at 1-1.

It remained that way and the points were shared after Oliver Norwood's penalty cancelled out Gerard Deulofeu's opener for Watford, who climbed off the bottom of the Premier League table with the point in South Yorkshire.

Fleck was restored to the Sheffield United team after serving a one-match ban. His inclusion was the only change made by Blades boss Chris Wilder as Luke Freeman dropped down to the bench.

Watford made an enforced change from the side that defeated Manchester United as Nathaniel Chalobah replaced the suspended Abdoulaye Doucoure, who received his fifth yellow card of the season in Sunday's 2-0 win.

Ben Foster impressed for Watford
Ben Foster impressed for Watford (Mike Egerton/PA)

The hosts saw a lot of the ball early on and Foster was twice called into action. A driving run into the penalty area from Jack O'Connell saw Oliver McBurnie prod his driven cross at the Watford goalkeeper.

Foster was then in the right place to deny McBurnie again shortly afterwards when he parried away the Scottish striker's header.

Fleck had the ball in the net after 20 minutes but VAR ruled it out for offside.

It was against the run of play when Watford went ahead after 27 minutes. A long punt forward by Foster was flicked on by Chalobah behind the Blades defence, where Deulofeu had gambled by making a run between O'Connell and Chris Basham.

Deulofeu held his nerve when through on goal to calmly slide the ball between Dean Henderson and his near post.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Blades were presented with the chance to equalise from the penalty spot after Will Hughes tripped George Baldock.

Norwood fired his spot-kick hard and low beyond Foster, who dived the right way.

The second half was a slow-burner but Foster's heroics after 64 minutes got most of Bramall Lane to its feet.

Enda Stevens was next to work Foster when his effort was helped wide by the Watford keeper 10 minutes later.

The Blades pushed for a winning goal, but they were met with an organised visiting defence and saw their three-match winning run halted.

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Watford boss Nigel Pearson pictured during the Premier League clash against Manchester United on December 22, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd27176438172155
2Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
3Burnley27141123192253
4Sunderland27149439221751
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2712693124742
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom27914433221141
7Middlesbrough27118844341041
8Watford27125103837141
9Bristol City2791083331237
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich279994339436
12Queens Park RangersQPR2781183034-435
13Swansea CitySwansea2797113033-334
14Coventry CityCoventry2788113537-232
15Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2788113041-1132
16Preston North EndPreston2761382834-631
17Millwall2679102424030
18Stoke CityStoke27610112533-828
19Derby CountyDerby2776143137-627
20Cardiff CityCardiff2769122941-1227
21Hull City2768132636-1026
22Portsmouth2668123245-1326
23Luton TownLuton2775152744-1726
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2749142555-3021


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