2001–02 Watford F.C. season
During the 2001–02 English football season, Watford competed in the Football League First Division.
Season summary
In the 2001-02 season, Gianluca Vialli was named as Taylor's managerial replacement.[1] Vialli made several high-profile signings, and wage bills at the club soared, with Vialli himself earning almost a million pounds a year. However, the season was disappointing, with the club finishing 14th in the division, and Vialli was sacked after only one season, having refused to resign.[2]
Final league table
- Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
- NB: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Results
Watford's score comes first[3]
Legend
Football League First Division
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 11 August 2001 | Manchester City | A | 0–3 | 33,939 | |
| 18 August 2001 | Rotherham United | H | 3–2 | 13,839 | Smith (2), Nielsen |
| 25 August 2001 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–1 | 20,257 | |
| 27 August 2001 | Walsall | H | 2–1 | 14,652 | Galli, Nielsen |
| 9 September 2001 | Wimbledon | H | 3–0 | 15,466 | Wooter, Gayle, Robinson |
| 15 September 2001 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–2 | 15,726 | Gayle |
| 18 September 2001 | Norwich City | A | 1–3 | 17,885 | Vega |
| 22 September 2001 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–1 | 6,507 | |
| 26 September 2001 | Birmingham City | H | 3–3 | 13,091 | Smith, Cox, Glass |
| 30 September 2001 | Preston North End | H | 1–1 | 18,911 | Jackson (own goal) |
| 13 October 2001 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 3–1 | 14,456 | Hyde, Noel-Williams, Helguson |
| 20 October 2001 | Grimsby Town | A | 3–0 | 5,506 | Hyde (2), Noble |
| 23 October 2001 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–2 | 16,355 | Noel-Williams |
| 27 October 2001 | Bradford City | A | 3–4 | 16,860 | Helguson, Smith (2, 1 pen) |
| 30 October 2001 | Sheffield United | A | 2–0 | 14,338 | Helguson, Smith |
| 3 November 2001 | Barnsley | H | 3–0 | 13,964 | Smith, Helguson (2) |
| 10 November 2001 | Stockport County | H | 1–1 | 12,576 | Smith |
| 13 November 2001 | Burnley | A | 0–1 | 13,162 | |
| 18 November 2001 | Gillingham | A | 0–0 | 8,733 | |
| 25 November 2001 | Portsmouth | H | 3–0 | 15,631 | Robinson, Cox, Issa |
| 1 December 2001 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–0 | 24,015 | |
| 9 December 2001 | Coventry City | A | 2–0 | 13,251 | Glass (2, 1 pen) |
| 15 December 2001 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–0 | 16,499 | Noel-Williams |
| 22 December 2001 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–1 | 17,389 | Smith |
| 29 December 2001 | Walsall | A | 3–0 | 6,882 | Fisken, Nielsen, Smith |
| 1 January 2002 | Millwall | H | 1–4 | 15,300 | Helguson |
| 12 January 2002 | Rotherham United | A | 1–1 | 6,409 | Swailes (own goal) |
| 15 January 2002 | Millwall | A | 0–1 | 12,531 | |
| 20 January 2002 | Manchester City | H | 1–2 | 17,074 | Smith |
| 31 January 2002 | Preston North End | A | 1–1 | 12,749 | Noel-Williams |
| 6 February 2002 | Burnley | H | 1–2 | 12,160 | Pennant |
| 10 February 2002 | Grimsby Town | H | 2–0 | 12,163 | Robinson, Noel-Williams |
| 16 February 2002 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–2 | 18,244 | Noel-Williams |
| 19 February 2002 | Wimbledon | A | 0–0 | 5,551 | |
| 23 February 2002 | Birmingham City | A | 1–2 | 18,059 | Pennant, Johnson (own goal) |
| 26 February 2002 | Norwich City | H | 2–1 | 12,622 | Hyde, Nielsen |
| 2 March 2002 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0–1 | 15,199 | |
| 5 March 2002 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–1 | 19,580 | Brown |
| 9 March 2002 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–0 | 16,817 | Nielsen, Gayle |
| 16 March 2002 | Coventry City | H | 3–0 | 15,833 | Brown (2), Gayle |
| 23 March 2002 | Barnsley | A | 0–2 | 12,449 | |
| 29 March 2002 | Bradford City | H | 0–0 | 14,001 | |
| 1 April 2002 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 4,086 | Webber |
| 6 April 2002 | Sheffield United | H | 0–3 | 13,377 | |
| 13 April 2002 | Portsmouth | A | 1–0 | 16,302 | Webber |
| 21 April 2002 | Gillingham | H | 2–3 | 15,674 | McNamee, Nielsen |
FA Cup
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 21 August 2001 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1–0 | 9,230 | Gayle |
| R2 | 12 September 2001 | Bristol City | A | 3–2 | 7,256 | Gayle (pen), Vega, Hyde |
| R3 | 9 October 2001 | Bradford City | H | 4–1 | 8,613 | Hyde, Noel-Williams (2), Vega |
| R4 | 27 November 2001 | Charlton Athletic | H | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | 12,621 | Vernazza, Robinson, Helguson |
| QF | 19 December 2001 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 0–4 | 20,319 | |
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
References