Byfield deepens Watford’s worry-lines
Not so for Bristol City striker Darren Byfield. After scoring his team’s winning goal against Watford in stoppage time — seconds after replacing Enoch Showunmi — the 31-year-old revealed that being frozen out gives him the motivation he needs to succeed.
Byfield, 31, is a restless soul. In a 13-year career, he has represented 11 clubs, joining City in the summer from Millwall. But after sending the Championship leaders spinning to their third defeat in a week, Byfield — whose girlfriend is the R’n’B artiste Jamelia — insisted he could hardly be happier at Ashton Gate.
Byfield said: “With players like Enoch Showunmi, Lee Trundle and I, we have a lot of options, and it is healthy. It means that we can push up the league.
“At my previous clubs, I knew that even if I had a few bad games, I was probably going to stay in the side. I had that at Millwall, and it is not a good situation to find yourself in.
“I still want to push myself. I am ambitious, I want to get into the Premier League and I believe I can play there. This is a place to help me get where I want to go.
“Even when you are not in the side, our manager Gary Johnson makes you feel as though you are still a part of things. I have been at a lot of clubs where that is not the case.
“There are a lot of good coaches out there, but there are some coaches who do not have the necessary man-management skills, so it goes horribly wrong for them.
“This manager has both those qualities, and that is why he will go to the top. Hopefully it will be with us, but there are clubs who will looking at him, no question.”
City’s achievement in ending a poor run of just two points from five games increased the growing sense of unease at Watford. Adrian Boothroyd’s team started the season superbly, but their form has dipped alarmingly, and they now lead the division by only one point.
They were dreadful in the first half at Vicarage Road, lacking cohesion and patience on the ball. But the second half brought an improvement, and it was against the run of play that City took the lead, the unmarked Showunmi heading in Liam Fontaine’s left-wing cross.
Boothroyd’s team thought they had earned a point when, after Jay DeMerit had headed Lee Williamson’s cross back across the goal, young substitute John-Joe O’Toole — the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international — headed in his first goal for the club.
City, however, were not done, and when another substitute Cole Skuse, found Byfield unmarked in the centre, the former Aston Villa striker drilled the ball into the roof of the Watford net.
The home supporters were quick to show their frustration at full-time, but DeMerit tried to add a sense of perspective to the situation.
The American defender said: “We all need to remember that we are a point clear at the top of the league.
“If people do not like our style, it is up to them. When we get it right playing like that, we usually beat teams. We know we can get back to where we need to be, and we are in control of our own destiny.”
Many of those at Vicarage Road on Saturday would beg to differ. These are worrying times for Watford.
Poom 7, Doyley 6, Shittu 6, DeMerit 7, Stewart 5, Smith 6, Mahon 6 (O’Toole 85, 7), Williamson 6, McAnuff 7, King 5, Henderson 5 (Ellington 74, 5).
Subs Not Used: Jackson, Mariappa, Ainsworth.
Basso 7, Orr 7, McCombe 6, Carey 6, Fontaine 7, Sproule 8 (Skuse 77, 6), Johnson 7, Elliott 7, McIndoe 7, Noble 6 (Trundle 72, 6), Showunmi 7 (Byfield 90, 7).
Subs Not Used: Weale, Vasko.
Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire) 4: A truly woeful performance from the official, who was never in control of the match and made several odd decisions.
*** City produced the only moments of quality football but Watford created several chances and deserved a point from this game.
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