Last weekend, Watford had to make a quick decision on their penalty taker against Blackburn Rovers. With their regular choice unavailable, manager Tom Cleverley had to improvise to secure the 1-0 win. Edo Kayembe eventually stepped up, slotting home with confidence to clinch the narrow victory. However, Cleverley admitted it was a tense moment leading up to the penalty. Initially, Tom Dele-Bashiru was set to take the penalties, but due to his absence, Cleverley was forced to choose someone else. When Incey, the next in line, was also unavailable, Cleverley turned to his squad for the best option. Moussa showed leadership by grabbing the ball and consulting Cleverley for his input. Cleverley decided to give the responsibility to one of their most confident players at the moment, though he was not the regular choice for penalties. Ultimately, Kayembe stepped up as the team’s third option and delivered under pressure.
Meanwhile, the Championship’s top two teams are preparing for their upcoming journeys south. This weekend, Sunderland will travel to Loftus Road to face QPR, while Burnley heads to The Den to take on Millwall. Both of these London-based fixtures will see the league leaders matched up against teams lower in the standings. Watford, on the other hand, is gearing up for a trip to Yorkshire, where they’ll meet Sheffield Wednesday.
In Sunderland news, there’s anticipation around the potential return of young striker Eliezer Mayenda, who may feature against QPR. If he plays, it will be the 19-year-old’s first appearance since September after missing six league games due to injury. His comeback was hinted at earlier in the month by his coach, Regis Le Bris, and his presence in training earlier this week suggests he’s ready to make his return. The former Sochaux player made an impressive start to the season, notably scoring twice in Sunderland’s 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in August. His return could bring a boost to Sunderland’s attack as they prepare for their upcoming fixture against QPR.
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