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During his stint in charge before the World Cup break, Slaven Bilic did not have the smoothest of early periods as Watford head coach, losing four of his opening 11 games.
Nevertheless, six wins and a draw came from the other fixtures, ensuring that the Hornets moved into the playoff positions and in contention for automatic promotion.
That was the board’s wish when Rob Edwards was controversially removed from his role in September, and as of now, they will feel vindicated for making such a decision.
Bilic is aware that there can be no let up when leaders Burnley currently sit eight points clear of them, although the Croatian will insist that his side will only be focusing on their own results.
Despite only posting a goalless draw from their last competitive fixture at Bristol City, it took their current total to 13 points from six games, one of the best returns in the division.
Having played four games for Senegal at the World Cup, the most recent one being against England on Sunday, Ismaila Sarr may only be named on the Watford substitutes’ bench at best.
Joao Pedro will hope to earn a recall to the starting lineup, but Dan Gosling is a long-term absentee after suffering an Achilles injury versus Bristol City.
The Brazilian could play in a creative midfield role behind Keinan Davis, with Samuel Kalu retaining his spot out wide.
Hull remain without Oscar Estupinan, who continues to serve his suspension for a red card in the game versus Millwall on November 5.
Ozan Tufan will hope for a recall in midfield, potentially ahead of Regan Slater, while Chelsea loanees Xavier Simons and Harvey Vale are now pushing for inclusion after receiving game time in the friendlies during the break.
Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Gaspar, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Kamara; Kayembe, Choudhury; Sema, Pedro, Kalu; Davis
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Christie, Figueiredo, Jones, Greaves; Woods, Seri; Docherty, Tufan, Longman; Pelkas
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
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“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life