Thursday 29 January 2015

Odion Ighalo achieves a scoring landmark in helping Watford to historic Blackpool victory

Writing his own piece of Hornets history: Odion Ighalo. Picture: Holly Cant

First published Monday 26 January 2015 in Sport
Last updated 13:12 Monday 26 January 2015 by Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor

In helping Watford to net seven goals in one half of a game for the first time in their history on Saturday, Odion Ighalo achieved a scoring feat that no other player from the club has matched in more than 80 years.
The striker became the 15th player in Hornets' history to score four or more goals in a league game for the club in the 7-2 victory over Blackpool - emulating the likes of Luther Blissett, Ross Jenkins, Maurice Cook and Tommy Barnett - and it extended his scoring sequence to eight goals in four consecutive league matches.
The Nigerian has netted those eight in 281 minutes of playing time - an average of a goal every 35 minutes - but no Watford player can equal that sequence since George James netted ten times in four consecutive Division Three (South) matches in September 1931.
The record of seven goals in one half was confirmed by club historian and statistician Trefor Jones, whose website, watfordfcarchive.com, shows that James netted a hat-trick in a 6-2 win at Torquay United followed by two goals in a 3-2 defeat at Mansfield Town, another treble in a 5-2 home win over Bristol Rovers and then a brace in the 4-1 return victory at Mansfield.
Cliff Holton holds the club record of the most goals in one season, with 48 in all competitions in the 1959/60, but his best sequence of goals in consecutive games in that campaign was seven on three occasions, twice within the space of three matches and once in four.
If Ighalo is involved in Friday night's game at Bournemouth and can score one more goal, he will match Blissett's achivement of netting nine in five consecutive games from December 1978 to January 1979. However, that sequence featured two cup ties.
Watford achieved another scoring feat that has not been seen since before the start of World War One on Saturday.
Research by the Watford Mailing List’s Jon Sinclair shows that, coupled with the 5-0 win over Charlton Athletic the previous weekend, the 7-2 victory over Blackpool is the first occasion the Hornets have scored 12 goals in successive matches since the end of the 1914-1918 war.
Watford scored 11 goals in consecutive games on three occasions in the 1930s, 12 has never beeen achieved before and the only time they’ve netted 13 in back-to-back matches was a 3-3 draw with Fulham Reserves followed by a 10-0 win over Southall in 1903/04.
Saturday was the 14th time Watford have scored seven in a league match, the first since the 7-4 win at Burnley in April 2003, but the last occasion the Hornets netted so many at home was when they beat Bradford City, also 7-2, in December 1989. To put the scoring landmark into further modern-day context, yesterday was only the fifth time since 1960 a Watford side has hit seven in a league game.
Odion Ighalo can now list himself among some of the most illustrious names in the club’s history after becoming the 15th different player to score four or more goals in a league game for Watford.
Ben Watson made his Hornets debut yesterday after joining from Wigan Athletic on Friday and Sinclair has also revealed that the only other time a debutant has been in a Watford team that scored seven since World War Two was Bernard Lewis in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town.
The manager that December 1967 day was Ken Furphy, who was remembered by two separate minute’s applause in the Blackpool win following his death last weekend.
Ighalo's four-goal blast and further efforts from Gabriele Angella, Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra lifted Watford's league tally to 56. The last Watford side to have scored more after 27 matches was Graham Taylor's old Division Four title-winning side in 1977/78, who had netted 60 after the same stage of the season.
London - Odion Ighalo can now contest for the PFA Fans Player of the Month Award (January) following an impressive performance for Watford, Sport.co.uk reports.
The Nigerian scored six goals in just two games for the Championship side.
Ighalo got a brace in Watford’s 5-0 victory over Charlton, and then scored four goals to secure a 7-2 win against Blackpool at the weekend.

He was again on target in the 3-1 defeat to Huddersfield, and has now paired Troy Deeney on 11 goals in the Championship season.
The award was launched in 2001 as an enhancement to the PFA Players’ Player Awards and give a strong voice to the supporters who, alongside the players, are the lifeblood of the game.
sWe’ll take a more in-depth look at the times Watford have scored seven and those who have netted on four or more occasions in a game over the coming days.

Dunderdale Pinner says...
D.unstable says...

Not normally a stat person, but some interesting facts that put this game into perspective.

Regardless of Blackpool being the bottom team, the last 2 results should demonstrate to our players that with the desire we can beat any team in this division.

I believe that this is our time.

Sahorn says...

Ben Watson must be the FIRST EVER dubutant to play in ONLY the half where 7 goals were scored? - If I were him i would claim the credit for that feat - he must be still in a spin after battling in a low scoring Wigan side. A good omen...

In all seriousness, what I like about Odion Ighalo, apart from his skill and goals, is his humble demeanour and great attitude - he was virtually written off by some fans on social media after his first games, but he has worked hard, stuck with it and he thanks God for his success.

With that outlook, having come from a humble background, I can't see him being a prima donna footballer, and that bodes well for his future. With his long contract, a Watford Legend in the making.

And the way Deeney, ighalo and Vydra worked unselfishly together (Jokas influence) and the way everyone was celebrating with Matty after his goal, this is a team beginning to come together.
With those 3 and Fessi itching to get in the action, we should scare the poop out of most defences - starting on Friday.

Watford won 3-1 at Bournemouth on the Ken Furphy inspired run- in to be crowned division champions all those years ago. It was a great tribute to Ken Furphy against Blackpool, but a repeat 3-1 success on Friday will be an even better tribute to the true Watford legend,

ashdownforestieri says...

I have seen some Granada games recently. Thankfully we signed him as if the loan agreement was still in place I could see him being recalled to Spain. Does anyone know if he has any younger brothers? I keep looking at the reflex header after Deeney rattled the post. It makes me smile. Was talking to an ex Brighton Captain we were in his bet for a cert home win. He wasn't happy at half time but who was!

Remember that game, Watford were, as I remember, comfortable winners. I remember the second Watford goal as being a ludicrous own goal, when a Bournemouth defender somehow lobbed his own keeper from 30-40 yards out.
R.I.P Ken, you brightened those years for me.

Reject parties without environment on their manifesto, groups tell Nigerians

Reject parties without environment on their manifesto, groups tell Nigerians

WHISTLE BLOWERS ARE ASKING NIGERIANS NOT TO VOTE FOR ANY POLITICAL PARTY THAT DOES NOT THINK OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), OILWATCH and the Host Communities Network (HOCON) have asked Nigerians to reject political parties and aspirants to political offices who do not have the environment and strategies of reversing livelihoods loss on their agenda.

In a release issued in Lagos, the groups said Nigerians must take their destinies in their hands by voting wisely in the upcoming elections or remain in perpetual servitude.

ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Ojo said: “We believe that the elections present another great prospect for Nigerians to decide the course that the ship of state must takein the next four years It is an opportunity to demand good governance and accountability, to check corporate misrule, corruption, total disregard for local livelihoods, and reckless degradation of the environment, violence, and theft which continue to plague our land”.

The groups said they are particularly concerned about pockets of violence across the country as the presidential and gubernatorial elections slated for February 2015 draws nears, even as he urged the government to ensure Nigerians in every part of the country are not molested or intimidated in the course of carrying out their civil duties as enshrined in the Constitution.

On the manifesto of existing political parties, they stressed that the environmental justice group is utterly disappointed that for all the hype, none of them discuss the environment or proffer solutions to the myriad of environmental challenges besetting the nation.

The groups said they stand in solidarity with well-meaning Nigerians who have resolved not to allow the status quo remain.

“We have resolved not to sit back and complain but will go out to cast our votes only for credible individuals with proven commitment to the environmental cause among a host of packages to get the nation out of the doldrums.”

Some of the issues Ojo said the three groups will want on the table in parties’ manifesto include supporting the cause for the environment and strategies to cushion the effects of deforestation and desertification destroying rural livelihoods in the south and north respectively, implementation of the UNEP report recommendations on Ogoniland, and support to clean up of the Niger Delta.

Others are bringing Shell to account for its human rights violations in the Niger Delta, support National Basic Income Scheme for all Nigerians who are unemployed, and diversification of the economy from oil dependency, support the passing of Petroleum Industry Bill and the declaration of Zamfara lead poising a national disaster and support rural livelihoods and artisanal mining, among others.

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2 soldiers killed, 7 wounded in Hezbollah attack near Lebanon border

Netanyahu: “Those behind the attack will pay" - 2 soldiers killed, 7 wounded in Hezbollah attack near Lebanon border

Anti-tank missiles were fired by Hezbollah upon Mount Dov at 11:30 this morning; Major Yohai Klinger and First Sergeant Dor Nini killed in the attack, 7 soldiers wounded; The IDF responded with artillery fire upon Southern Lebanon and closed area roadways; Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “Those behind the attack will pay”

Jan 28, 2015, 08:30PM | Rachel Avraham

A wounded Israeli soldier was carried Wednesday after an antitank missile hit a convoy in a disputed area on the Lebanon border. Jalaa Marey/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The names of the 2 soldiers killed today by Hezbollah ambush at Mount Dov were cleared for publication: Givati Company Commander Major Yohai Kilnger and First Sergeant Dor Nini. Captain Kilnger was promoted to Major after his death; Sergeant Nini was promoted to First-Sergeant.

2 IDF soldiers were killed today (Wednesday) by Hezbollah at around 11:30 upon the northern border. 7 soldiers, who sustained light and moderate wounds, evacuated to local hospitals to receive medical treatment.

An initial investigation indicates that at least 5 anti-tank missiles were fired from long distance at IDF convoy, hitting at least 2 army vehicles on civil roadway, Route 999 near Mount Dov. Following the attack, the IDF responded with artillery fire upon Southern Lebanon.

Over the skies of Lebanon, increased Israeli Air Force activity was felt in order to demonstrate their presence and to send a message to Hezbollah not to continue firing at Israel. Arabic language media outlets reported that two Israeli naval ships entered Lebanese waters and they surveyed the area facing Naqoura Beach.

Ron Prosor, Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN conveyed UN Security Council that Israel has the right to defend itself. “Terror hit Israelis and we will not stand idly by” said Prosor. President Reuven Rivlin said he is "confident that the IDF will know to manage this round of violence and certain that the Israeli leadership will know to calm the situation.” Israeli President also sent my condolences to the families of the dead; “we are all with you in these difficult times."

Prime Minister Netanyahu: “Those behind the attack will pay”

Following the escalation in the North, a security assessment was held in the Kirya in Tel Aviv with the participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz is closely monitoring the developments.

“First, I want to send my condolences to the families who lost their beloved ones”, said Netanyahu: “and my wish for a speedy recovery to the wounded soldiers. Those behind the attack will pay the price.”

In addition, Prime Minister Netanyahu blamed Iran for its involvement: “for a while now, Iran is trying to open terror front in Syria, using Hezbollah. The Lebanese government and Bashar al-Assad’s regime are both responsible. The only consideration that stands before us is the security of the State of Israel and its citizens. This is exactly how we have acted in the past and we will continue to work the same.”