Watford 2-1

Independent:

Watford 1 Chelsea 2

Michy Batshuayi and Diego Costa complete Blues comeback to secure victory

Strikers with second-half strikes to maintain Antonio Conte's perfect record

As Chelsea's equalising goal went in ten minutes from the end at Vicarage Road, Antonio Conte, the more volatile of two demonstrative Italian managers on the touchline, raced towards his team, demanding that they return immediately to their own half and go after a winner.

Eight minutes later it materialised, and this time Conte's celebrations were almost as exuberant as against West Ham on Monday night. Once again it was Diego Costa who had prompted them with the decisive goal, racing away onto a pass from Cesc Fabregas, who has lost his place but came on to set up both goals.

It had been necessary to send for attacking reinforcements after falling behind, with Victor Moses and Michy Batshuayi joining the fray as well to contribute to the improvement after Etienne Capoue had put Watford in front.

The home side deserved it at that stage, for Chelsea had been poor. N'Golo Kante from the champions Leicester did his job in front of the back four, Makelele-fashion, restricting Watford to few other chances but until falling behind his side lacked the necessary urgency.

Costa was even involved in the Watford goal, and received a booking because of it. Fouled, he thought – though referee Jon Moss did not – as Watford broke down the right he was then shown a second yellow card of the season for dissent as Capoue thrashed Adlene Guedioura's cross into the top corner of the net.

It was the former Tottenham man's second goal in successive games after failing to score even one in 36 appearances last season.

Watford were pushed back thereafter, as Chelsea finally added some penetration to their flicks and feints. They were convinced that Craig Cathcart's hand made illegal contact with the ball following a corner as the pressure built and it took until the 80th minute to find an equalising goal.
Fabregas found Eden Hazard for a low drive that Heurelho Gomes could only push out, giving expensive recruit Batshuayi a tap-in from six yards.

Eight minutes later Walter Mazarri's 3-5-2 formation failed him as two of the back three stood and watched Costa home onto Fabregas's pass, running on to beat Gomes, who could not have been pleased with either goal .

There was even time for Batshuayi to shoot against the bar, although a heavier defeat would have been hard on Watford.

The first half had brought a single save at each end, and those in the first few minutes and the last. Thibaut Courtois got down smartly to block a strong drive by left wing-back Jose Holebas and just before the interval Hazard's low free-kick was easily held.
Driving rain and wind added to the spectators' discomfort but they had their money's worth in the end, if not in the manner home supporters had hoped for.

Watford have now won only one home game in eight and will have to be careful how they integrate £40m worth of new recruits, with games against West Ham, Arsenal and Manchester United looming.
Mazzarri was pleased with the way they played, but disappointed at what he felt were two errors for the goals. “We complicated our life,” he said. “I think we can hold our heads high. But tonight I'm not going to sleep very well.”

Conte should have no trouble on that score after a second successive win. “A good impact from the subs and I'm pleased, for this shows great spirit,” he said.

“The start (of the season) is important to change the situation compared to last season.”

He is well on the way.

Watford (3-5-2): Gomes; Cathcart, Prodl, Britos; Amrabat, Guedioura (Vydra, 88), Capoue Doucoure, 84), Behrami, Holebas (Zuniga, 89); Ighalo, Deeney.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Kante; Pedro (Moses, 70), Oscar (Batshuayi, 73), Matic (Fabregas, 77), Hazard; Diego Costa.

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Guardian:

Chelsea’s Diego Costa pounces late to sink battling Watford

Dominic Fifield

A week into Antonio Conte’s Premier League career and, at first glance, life at Chelsea is proving all rather predictable. This was a second successive win secured late, courtesy of a goal from Diego Costa, with Watford left as deflated as West Ham United had been five days earlier. Dig deeper, though, and the visitors’ ability to recover from a rather disjointed display and claim success felt rather more significant. It was a demonstration of clout.

Conte, for all his frustrations with the transfer market and his intention still to recruit, had the depth of quality on his bench to erode the hosts’ authority. He could fling on Michy Batshuayi, plucked from Marseille for £33.1m this summer, in partnership with Costa to force Chelsea level, and inject Victor Moses’s energy on the flank where Pedro Rodríguez had been rather aimless. Most of all, he could introduce the class and invention of Cesc Fàbregas, against opponents who had just started to doubt themselves, to provide a winner.

Fàbregas, unused on Monday, was flung on for the final 12 minutes here and in effect changed the complexion of the game. Watford were distracted by his presence, infuriated by the needle the Spaniard injects into the challenge and wary of his ability to thread a pass through the clutter. Where Eden Hazard had previously been forced deep to seek out the ball and exert any kind of influence, now the Belgian felt liberated, with Fàbregas drawing the attention elsewhere. It was Hazard’s low shot, spat from distance, that Heurelho Gomes spilled for Batshuayi to ram in the equaliser.

The striker already boasts a goal, an assist and a shot thundered against the woodwork in stoppage time, from 22 minutes as a Premier League player. Yet, while he is already forging a reputation in this league, Fàbregas is seeking to justify his. His most significant contribution here was reserved until three minutes from time. Collecting possession in a blur just outside his own penalty area, the midfielder sprayed a glorious angled pass downfield that split the back-tracking Craig Cathcart and Sebastian Prödl for a galloping Costa to gather. The striker trundled on and slipped his shot through Gomes’s legs as the goalkeeper advanced.

“We all know Cesc, that he is a great player with a great technique, always with a good pass and assist,” said Conte. “I made this substitution because, at that moment, I saw Watford were thinking only about defending. So I was happy with Cesc’s impact, and I’m pleased with his attitude. He’s working very hard in training to show he deserves to play. If I see that attitude and commitment, I’m very happy.”

Both provider and scorer had been engulfed by gleeful team-mates while Conte celebrated manically on the sidelines. It had taken Chelsea six matches to register six points last term. This year, they boast that tally after two.

The seated Walter Mazzarri glanced briefly in his compatriot’s direction, reluctant as he was to offer up a reaction. These two have history from their time in charge of Napoli and Juventus respectively pursuing the Scudetto back home and, for a while here, the Watford manager must have dared to believe he could condemn Conte to his first defeat in the English game. His team, comfortable with the three-man defence he had used in Naples, had posed a threat through Nordin Amrabat and José Holebas down the flanks and, having gone close through Odion Ighalo, eventually led.

Adlène Guedioura, outstanding in combination with Amrabat, swung over a cross that looped beyond Troy Deeney to reach Étienne Capoue, unmarked on the far side of the penalty area. The angle was unkind but the Frenchman, benefiting from Gary Cahill’s flicker of hesitation, collected and crunched a left-footed shot high into the top corner beyond Thibaut Courtois’s outstretched hand. It was Capoue’s second goal in successive games – he had scored only once in his previous 57 outings – though neither has yielded a win.

This team have now surrendered leads in their first two games of the campaign, though they will have been encouraged by confirmation of the signings of Younès Kaboul and, more eye-catchingly, Roberto Pereyra.

“I’m not going to sleep very well, but we can hold our heads high,” Mazzarri said. “We played much better than we did at Southampton, where we’d played only 20 minutes like I’d wanted us to play. Today we managed 70.” That is progress. It is just not quite as marked as that of Chelsea under Conte.

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Telegraph:

Watford 1 Chelsea 2: Diego Costa scores late winner for second time in five days

Gerry Cox, vicarage road

Love him or loathe him, you cannot keep Diego Costa out of the news.

The Spain striker scored a late winner for the second time in five days as Chelsea came from behind to win at Watford and keep up their 100 per cent record under Antonio Conte.

Costa was in the headlines after Monday's victory over West Ham, not just for scoring the winning goal with three minutes remaining but for being lucky to avoid yet another red card.

This time there was no such controversy, but simply a well-taken and devastating goal to sink Watford, who had taken the lead 10 minutes after half-time with a superb goal from Etienne Capoue, also his second in the past week.

But Michy Batshuayi went on as one of three late substitutes to equalise for Chelsea with 10 minutes remaining, and then another replacement, Cesc Fabregas, sent Costa clear to score the winner.

It was harsh on Watford, who had made much of the running and thought they were on course for a rare win over Chelsea. “I'm very disappointed,” said Walter Mazzarri. “We were unlucky. In the first half we could have scored a couple of goals but we complicated our own life. Both goals were from our mistakes.”

In the build-up, much was made of the rivalry bordering on enmity between Conte and Mazzarri from their days in Italy, but the two managers exchanged pleasantries in the tunnel and shook hands politely before proceeding to prowl their technical areas animatedly.

Watford had the two best chances to open the scoring, first when Jose Holebas forced a good save from Thibaut Courtois with an angled shot, and then when Odion Ighalo put the ball over the bar from close range following a powerful run down the right wing by Nordin Amrabat.

Holebas cleared the ball off his own goal-line, getting to Eden Hazard's low cross just ahead of Costa, as Chelsea failed to test Heurelho Gomes, and shortly after half-time Watford opened the scoring with a beauty from Capoue. Adlene Guedioura swung over a deep cross, everyone in the centre of goal missed the ball, but Capoue controlled it expertly on his chest before firing a spectacular left-footed volley into the top corner. Perhaps Courtois should not have been beaten at his near post, but the sheer ferocity of Capoue's strike made it almost impossible to save.

Conte reacted by making changes to his shape and personnel, with Hazard switching to the right wing and three substitutions in the space of eight minutes. They paid off quickly as Fabregas supplied Hazard with a shooting chance from 30 yards out and, although Gomes stopped the shot, he could not hold the ball and Batshuayi was quickest to react, slipping the rebound past the keeper from close range.

Fabregas, who had not featured in the first 168 minutes of Chelsea's season, then set up the winning goal with a superb long pass out of defence. Costa sprinted from the halfway line, drew Gomes and tucked the ball past him to complete victory.

“I'd prefer if he scored earlier,” joked Conte, who was delighted with the way his substitutions worked. “It was the same against West Ham, as opponents pay for their efforts at the end of the game. I'm pleased for (Victor) Moses, Cesc and Batshuayi because their impact was very good. It shows a great spirit, the right attitude and commitment. It's a good family and a good team.”

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Mail:

Watford 1-2 Chelsea: Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi secure comeback win after Etienne Capoue's stunner had put the Hornets ahead

By ADAM CRAFTON FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

As Michy Batshuayi strike hit the back of the Watford net, Chelsea's players headed over towards the corner flag.

Batshuayi was delighted, sliding in his first Chelsea goal. His team-mates were relieved, letting everything out after eighty minutes of frustration. They were all pouring over as Chelsea supporters rejoiced in the stands.

Antonio Conte, however, was in no mood yet for celebrations. He flew out of his technical area, gesturing frantically for his players to retreat back into their own half and find a goal that turned one point into three.

It was a telling insight into the mentality of this fiercely competitive coach. A draw simply would not do.

'After the equaliser, I didn't want any celebrations,' the Chelsea manager explained. 'We were 1-1 and drawing. I pushed the players on. Then I saw the will from the players.

'At the start of this season, it's important to change the mentality from last season. We know it is not easy. We are trying with all our strength.'

In truth, however, the decisive moment of this game arrived a couple of moments before that crucial first goal. With 78 minutes on the clock, ironic cheers echoed out from the small corner of this stadium where the Chelsea fans were cocooned.

Their side were trailing 1-0, falling behind in the second half to the sweetest of strikes from Watford's Etienne Capoue. For Chelsea, the old fragilities of last season appeared to have resurfaced. Their headline acts were ponderous and chances were at a premium.

And there was Cesc Fabregas waiting on the touchline, about to enter the fray. He had been on the bench once again, as he was on the opening evening of the season against West Ham, as the Brazilian Oscar was preferred in the advanced midfield position.

Chelsea missed his wit and invention and their supporters knew it.

The gleeful cheer was not a show of disobedience towards new coach Antonio Conte but after 77 minutes of hard toil against this combative Watford side, those fans craved some midfield magic.
Fabregas himself maybe felt he had a point to prove - and how he made it.

Within three minutes of his arrival, they had equalised, as Batshuayi capitalised on an error by Heurelho Gomes, the goalkeeper parrying a Hazard strike into the path of the Belgian forward, who scored his first Chelsea goal.

Watford will be concerned once more by the Brazilian goalkeeper, whose concentration lapse led to Watford dropping points at Southampton last weekend.

'In Italy, we would say we complicated our lives on our own,' Watford coach Walter Mazzarri said. 'Both the goals were our mistakes. We were not focused on both of those plays. We have to keep the ball and play better. We had opportunity to make life simpler.'

On 87 minutes, the turnaround was complete and Chelsea owed their late winner to the most inspired pass by Fabregas. The Spaniard collected the ball in his own half, looked up, and sensed opportunity. The Watford line was high, too high with Diego Costa around.

Fabregas pitched the ball clinically through to the forward, who had the freedom of the Watford half to bear down on goal and slip the ball through the legs of Gomes.

'We all know Cesc is a great player with great technical skill,' Conte said. 'He has a great pass. I made this substitution because I wanted more quality and I saw Watford were thinking only to defend the goal. I'm pleased for Cesc. His attitude and his work-rate is great during training to show he deserves to play. I want to see this. I want the players to show me they deserve to start the game. I'm very happy. I'm a very happy manager.'

It was some turnaround. For a long time, this threatened to be a rude awakening for new coach Antonio Conte against a spirited Watford side.

Among the visiting supporters, spirits had been lifted by the dramatic nature of victory over West Ham, the frenzied celebration and the high-fives as the Italian acquainted himself with the locals.
This result, however, was perhaps even more encouraging, as Chelsea demonstrated clear signs that their steely resolve is returning and the scarring of last season is finally easing up.

Chelsea would not have won this game last season. This, we should not forget, is a side that won back-to-back games on only one occasion last season so consecutive victories over West Ham and Watford should not be taken lightly.

For all the talk of revival under Guus Hiddink, Conte has also inherited a team is a side that ended last season with only two wins in their final ten games - against Aston Villa and Bournemouth - so to borrow the parlance of Louis van Gaal, this may well be a process towards redemption.

This, therefore, would have been a damaging result, particularly on a weekend that the two Manchester clubs had already served notice of their title-winning intent. Conte would not have wanted to fall into the slipstream, swimming against the tide of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola's polished sides.

Watford made this hard work for Chelsea. They were purposeful from the off, crunching into the fifty-fifty tackles, hustling and harrying Chelsea's star names into submission. On the touchline, their new Italian coach Walter Mazzarri was a jack-in-the-box, furiously appealing every decision. The fourth official had to position himself at the front of the technical area towards the end of the first half, ensuring Mazzarri didn't venture out from his box any longer. Referee Jon Moss came over to emphasise the point.

Mazzarri set his side up in a 3-5-2 formation and it worked a treat for long periods. The three central defenders niggled Diego Costa, who barely worked a clear-cut opportunity until his goal late on. In the central acres, Valon Behrami and Adlene Guedioura matched N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic for diligence and work-rate. And that takes some doing.

This was a game that ended dramatically but started in underwhelming fashion. For a long time, caution appeared to grip these two sides, neither manager doing much to dispel the stereotypes some may hold of Italian football.

There were brief glimpses of goal. Watford were first to strike on target, as Jose Holebas found himself in space on the inside left channel, bearing down on goal and firing a strike against the legs of Thibaut Courtois in the Chelsea goal.

At the other end, only occasionally did Eden Hazard come to life. The Belgian sashayed his way into the box and Holebas did superbly to clear as Costa slid in.

On the right wing for Watford, Nordin Amrabat was a constant menace, his sheer desire and will forcing his side up the pitch at time. He won possession and shrugged off Cesar Azpilicueta, sliding a ball across goal but Odion Ighalo poked over the top.

As the first-half mellowed into mediocrity amid pouring rain, there was more excitement to be found in the technical area. These two Italian coaches wear their hearts on their sleeve, directing their sides relentlessly. Conte was not scared off by the rain, putting on his cagoule and matching fluorescent cap to bark out instructions.

The second-half started slowly and then finally, from nothing, a breakthrough. Guedioura's cross drifted over from the right-hand side. Crucially, Branislav Ivanovic had vacated his space, sucked in by the cross into a more central position. Etienne Capoue held back intelligently, controlling with panache, before thundering a left-footed strike with into the roof of Courtois' goal.

Chelsea became anxious, those old frailties of last season remerging. Azpilicueta miscontrolled and the ball slid out of play. Hazard broke through, crossing tamely into Gomes' arms. Watford defended stubbornly. Conte's voice became more hoarse, his shouts audible from the Press Box at the very top of the stand.

And then Fabregas entered the fray and he, one would suspect, will not be on the bench for much longer.

Watford 3-1-4-2: Gomes 5, Cathcart 6, Prodl 6, Britos 6.5; Amrabat 7, Behrami 6, Guedioura 6.5 (Vydra 88), Capoue 7.5 (Doucoure 84), Holebas 6.5 (Zuniga 90); Deeney 6, Ighalo 5.5
Subs not used: Pantilimon, Nyom, Anya, Hoban.
Goal: Capoue 55
Booked: Deeney, Britos, Holebas, Behrami

Chelsea 4-1-4-1: Courtois 6, Ivanovic 5,5, Terry 6.5, Cahill 6, Azpilicueta 6.5; Matic 5.5 (Fabregas 77), Kante 6; Pedro 5 (Moses 70), Oscar 5.5 (Batshuayi 71), Hazard 7; Costa 7.5
Subs not used: Begovic, Loftus-Cheek, Chalobah, Aina
Goals: Batshuayi 80, Costa 87
Booked: Cahill, Hazard, Costa

Referee: Jon Moss