Jeremy Ngakia’s beautiful strike clinched a 2-1 win for Watford over Bristol Metropolis to spice up their hopes of ending within the Championship play-off locations.
Scott Twine had cancelled out Luca Kjerrumgaard’s early opener, however Ngakia had the ultimate say as Watford leapfrogged their hosts within the desk, with Ed Nonetheless’s first away win since entering into the dugout.
It took simply seven minutes for Kjerrumgaard to punish the Robins’ backline after some neat play down the left. Edo Kayembe laid it into the Dane, who rifled into the roof of the online from shut vary.
The returning Ross McCrorie then compelled a sensible save out of Egil Selvik earlier than Saba Goglichidze struck the put up with an ungainly free-kick simply earlier than the half-hour mark.
However Twine equalised within the thirty sixth minute, with Adam Randell recycling Tomi Horvat’s half-cleared free-kick to arrange the glancing header.
Each side initially struggled within the second half, with Nestory Irankunda blazing a volley over the bar earlier than Sinclair Armstrong picked out the aspect netting.
Ngakia stepped up with the successful second, although, bending his luxurious strike from the sting of the field previous the helpless Radel Vitek within the 77th minute to offer Watford all three factors, whereas denting the hosts’ personal play-off hopes within the course of.
JEZZA’S STRIKE WINS IT pic.twitter.com/JDWDHs1CQc
— Watford Soccer Membership (@WatfordFC) February 27, 2026
Information Debrief: Watford flip the tide
Previous to this recreation, Bristol Metropolis had been unbeaten of their final 5 house league video games in opposition to Watford (W2 D3), however the Hornets earned their first win at Ashton Gate since March 2012.
However they’ve been robust on the highway, with only one loss of their final eight away from house (W2 D4), solely shedding at Southampton in that point.
It was a recreation of few clear-cut possibilities, with either side having 11 pictures, of which 4 had been on the right track, although Watford edged the anticipated objectives (xG) battle by 0.99 to 0.89.
Ngakia supplied the match-winning second together with his solely shot, which was value simply 0.04 xG, although he was influential all through, having the joint-most touches within the opposition field (eight) and the second-most touches (64).
