Premier league : Dennis loses with Watford; Ekong, Etebo, Iwobi in the cold; Kalu first squad involvement
Watford, who could have as many as five Super Eagles stars in their ranks next season, remain in the bottom three after suffering a 1-0 defeat at hands of West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Emmanuel Dennis, back from a one-game ban, played his first game under new boss Roy Hodgson, William Troost-Ekong and Oghenekaro Etebo were left out of the matchday sqaud, and winter signing Samuel Kalu watched proceedings from the bench – his first squad involvement since joining from Bordeaux.
Both Etebo and Troost-Ekong have not tasted action under Hodgson.
Midway through the second half, Jarrod Bowen scored what proved to be the winning goal when his strike took a big deflection off Samir.
The defeat leave the Hornets nineteenth on the table with fifteen points after 22 matches.
Alex Iwobi is still waiting to make his first Premier League appearance in 2022 after he was left on the bench for the entirety of Everton’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The Hale End Academy product was in action for just two minutes in Frank Lampard’s first game in charge – the 4-1 hammering of Brentford in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend.
Despite taking a 36th minute lead through Lascelles’s own goal, the Toffees conceded three times to lose for the 12th time this season.
After an own goal from Holgate, Fraser put Newcastle ahead before Trippier found the bottom right corner to seal the win.
