Nigeria Players Abroad
Emmanuel Dennis scores crucial goal to lift Watford over Birmingham
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigerian forward Emanuel Dennis continued his impressive form for second-tier English Championship side Watford, scoring his third league goal in a crucial 1-0 victory over Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Saturday.
The match began with the hosts showing early dominance, as Koji Miyoshi came close to opening the scoring from the edge of the box, although his shot went wide. Birmingham continued to press forward, with Ethan Laird’s powerful header striking the crossbar.
However, Watford, led by interim boss Tom Cleverley, gradually gained momentum as the first half progressed. Just before halftime, they capitalized on a defensive error by the home side to take the lead.
Emmanuel Aiyw received a throw-in near his own box but lost possession under pressure from Dennis. Seizing the opportunity, Dennis skillfully chipped the ball past goalkeeper John Ruddy to give Watford the lead going into halftime.
In the second half, Birmingham had opportunities to equalize, with Juninho Bacuna coming close, but Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann made crucial saves to preserve his side’s lead.
The victory sees Watford climb to 13th place in the Championship table, with 48 points from 38 games, showcasing their determination to finish the season strongly.
