Matej Vydra becomes 24th player to score 20 league goals in a season for Watford

2:24pm Monday 25th February 2013 in Latest Sport By Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor

Twenty for number 20: Matej Vydra celebrates scoring on Saturday. Picture: Holly Cant Twenty for number 20: Matej Vydra celebrates scoring on Saturday. Picture: Holly Cant

Matej Vydra joined a select group of Watford players on Saturday when he fired past Derby County keeper Adam Legzdins in the first half to give his side the lead in the 2-1 victory.

The goal was the Czech international’s 20th league strike of the season and he became only the 24th player in the club’s Southern, Football League and Premier League history to reach that landmark, with at least 20 goals registered in a campaign on 30 occasions in the time.

A look through club historian Trefor Jones’ website, www.watfordfcarchive.com, shows the speed with which the 20-year-old has reached the milestone is quicker than some famous names in the club’s history.

Saturday was Vydra’s 29th league appearance of the season, including nine as a substitute, making him the joint 15th fastest to 20 league goals in appearance terms and joint sixth quickest in the post-war years.

It also took Maurice Johnston 29 appearances to net 20 times in the league in 1983/84, while ahead of them in post-war terms are Roy Brown (28 appearances, 1953/54), Ross Jenkins and Cliff Holton (both 25 appearances, 1978/79 and 1960/61 respectively), Dennis Uphill (24 appearances, 1959/60), with Holton the quickest to 20 in as many appearances in 1959/60.

Watford’s fastest player to 20 goals was Frank McPherson, who reached the milestone in just 17 appearances in 1928/29, but Vydra has beaten players such as Luther Blissett to the landmark.

The Hornets all-time record scorer netted 20 or more league goals on three separate occasions for the club, but Blissett’s quickest to 20 was 31 appearances in 1981/82.

Comments(13)

JohnnyHornet says...
2:47pm Mon 25 Feb 13

I wonders, who is this boy Vydra !!!!

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Coydonn says...
3:09pm Mon 25 Feb 13

20/20....Vydra vision !!

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ORBY says...
3:26pm Mon 25 Feb 13

More goals to come, I only hope he scores more for us next season! I see the papers are quoting £10m Wolves up next.

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a1derek says...
3:34pm Mon 25 Feb 13

I think Pozzos are astute enough to know that if we go up and Vydra does the same in the Prem he is worth a lot more than £10m. I hope he stays with us, but Pozzos face a dilema if we miss out.

If we don't make it then I would have thought Udinese or Granada is where Matty would increase his value most. However, the quicker we get into the Prem, the quicker Pozzos make £80m / year.

Interesting!

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andyhooked says...
3:50pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Yes, I heard that the football gossips in the Sunday rags are talking £10m but I hope the Udinese/Pozzo policy holds. Get us into the Prem. Super Matt. Qualify for Europe next season and then see how much he is worth. Oh I can always dream on...

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PeteBogHorrorHornet says...
3:59pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Give him a new squad number of 30 so he has a new target to aim for between now and the end of the season...

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hornet88 says...
4:22pm Mon 25 Feb 13

PeteBogHorrorHornet wrote:
Give him a new squad number of 30 so he has a new target to aim for between now and the end of the season...
Can you have a squad number over 100?

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andyhooked says...
4:25pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Only 30! How about 35? Oh dream land.
Do hope we can sign him. I think he missed Troy on Saturday who works so hard for the team, if not the best finisher when it comes to 1 on 1 but seems by far the best pairing we have.

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mellow yellow says...
4:36pm Mon 25 Feb 13

He's 20. He's worth more than £10m. Imagine what he'd do at a club like United or Arsenal. But I don't want to imagine that. I want to imagine him doing it for us for at least another two seasons... in the top flight. Then he'll be worth double. At least.

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goldanboy says...
4:36pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Let's just not look at the stats here. They're not just 20 goals, they're 20 quality goals, not just your standard 'tap ins' by a striker. The boy's class, and I fear he'll go in the summer as his contract is up in June 2014. I've told all my 'PL friends' to watch on Friday to see next seasons top goalscorer in the Premier League. So if it all goes wrong on Friday it's all down to me.

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andyhooked says...
5:02pm Mon 25 Feb 13

I just hope that all the Pozzos come to our last home game and whatever happens we have a chance to show our appreciation when they walk out on to the pitch.

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DuffmanWFC says...
5:36pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Top player and with 12 games to go he could easily get 15 more goals as we've got games against teams we could easily spank!
Come on you horns!

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holtonian says...
11:10pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Be nice to see Troy catch up, they have worked hard for each other. I still believe Geijo has goals in him given a run.Plus Fernando will get goals sooner than later. Happy days at the Vic.

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