Soccer
Alessio Dionisi admits ‘it wasn’t easy’ as Watford scrape past Crawley in cup
New Watford head coach Alessio Dionisi admitted he was relieved after his first game in charge needed a dramatic 99th-minute winner to sink League Two Crawley 1-0 at Vicarage Road.
Dionisi, the Hornets’ 15th full-time appointment in seven years, watched his side squander a glut of chances until Marc Bola’s 25-yard rocket, 15 seconds from the end of nine minutes’ stoppage time, found the net from their 36th goal attempt.
The Italian boss could have hidden behind the comfort of his first win, but he was critical of his side, saying: “I’m happy because we won.
“It was not easy but nothing in football is easy. In the first half we played good, in the second only so-so.
“It is true we had a lot of shots and I agree it is better to win 1-0, but after 90 minutes it was 0-0 and to win football matches you have to score.
“We are working hard every day. In this team there are two young strikers and the future will be better for both of them.”
Watford’s finishing was wasteful but Crawley’s 38-year-old former Arsenal goalkeeper, Vito Mannone, was inspired and he was only beaten at the last gasp.
However, with the contest heading for penalties, left-back Bola’s spectacular long-range hit, with his less favoured right foot, broke the Red Devils’ hearts.
Crawley head coach Colin Kazim-Richards said: “Bola will never hit another shot like that in his life but I’ve got nothing but pride in my players. Every single one gave absolutely everything.”
