A very downbeat Javi Gracia was “very upset and disappointed” after Watford’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on Wednesday night.
Pompey took the lead through Adrian Segecic on the 73rd minute, but then substitute Mamadou Doumbia equalised for Watford just six minutes later following a mistake by Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.
The result sees Pompey climb out of the Championship relegation zone, up to 21st, with 29 points from 26 games played. Watford stay just outside the play-off places, 7th with 42 points form 27 games played..
Javi Gracia said, per Watford Observer: “I’m very upset and disappointed, not only with the draw.
“In my opinion it is worse the way we competed in the first minutes of the game.
“Coming after two bad results in the FA Cup and against Millwall, I expected a reaction, a different attitude, another way to compete.
“I didn’t recognise my team. In other moments I have told you we are working the right way but this is not the right way, it’s the wrong way.
“In the first minutes, all the supporters could see today we were playing in our own half, never trying to attack, play forwards, to attack the spaces, to try to combine, to look for the opposite goal.
“In my opinion, today we were defensively well organised in the first half, trying to press from the goal kicks and not allowing chances for their defensive midfielder to go in between the centre-backs.
“But offensively, it was a disaster in my opinion. It’s not the way we want to play.
“The players have a good attitude in training and they are really trying there, there’s no doubt about that.
“I don’t know what happened but we didn’t show that desire on the pitch.
“We look like a different team but we are the same players, the same manager.
“It’s something we have to think about.”
Regarding momentum, having had the Hull game postponed, then lost 5-1 at Bristol City in the FA Cup: “It’s not about that, I prefer to be honest and take responsibility.
“I want to understand why we are not competing the last games the same way we did before.
“In my opinion, that’s the main thing to know. After that, we try to work more, to insist – knowing we have young players and that they need to make mistakes.
“That is the only way we can improve.”
Pompey’s John Mousinho said, per the club website: “I thought it was a superb performance and we probably would have taken a point if it was offered beforehand.
“But I thought that we deserved to win the game and so it feels a little bit bittersweet. The boys can be proud of how they played.
“We wanted to be as aggressive as possible on the press because they have so many good players and that’s sometimes been a problem for us on the road this season.
“But we did well on this occasion and then also tried to hurt Watford, which I thought we did a number of times.
“Nico is obviously disappointed with the goal we conceded, but he’s been one of our most consistent players and will bail us out far more times than he’ll cost us.
“Saturday was about getting the job done – which we did – and this time we produced a fine display, despite being so thin on the ground.
“Everyone did well, but I thought the two centre-halves, in particular, were absolutely superb against dangerous forwards.”
Here’s how fans reacted with Javi Gracia “very upset and disappointed” after Watford’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth…
@Oldthumper7: That was terrible, Portsmouth are awful. Im not sure what Javi sees when he watches a game of football. Why didnt he get Kunda on earlier and no Baah again. 😬
@ajobbowfc: Two points dropped simple as that
@ethanmvfc: Irankunda needs more mins. Only player who constantly wants to actually win.
@WFC_Thomas: Terrible performance, to not bring baah on is disgraceful from Javi
@C_behan1990: As a watford fan. Our fan base is so fickle before Christmas javi was the best thing since sliced bread. Now i’m seeing he is shit. 😂😂. Yes we had a few bad games but before that we was 10 unbeaten. Give it a rest will ya 😂😂
@LukeGray1997: Baah not getting any minutes chasing a win at home? But a geriatric Ince plays 81 minutes? Javi lost the plot
@goalpost_talk: Was at the game, Javis game plan from the start was play safe. The shittest football I’ve seen in years
@LeeJackson_1: How K9 has played 180 minutes beggars belief. Irankunda getting 10 minutes and Baah bench warming compounds my frustration in this pathetic tepid slow predictable set up. Gracia should be on thin f******g ice my pedigree chums…
@alexmartin9822: Worst performance of the season, absolutely baffled at every single decision made in this game
@pwatt1985: Unable to find a manager who understands what is happening in front of him.
@harrod_alan: More appropriate tweet will be “Unable to beat the press”! Also, Javi is not using the squad with rotation in starting XI – players are knackered.
@watfordfan07: not good enough . embarrassing if anything
@HJClarke95: Huge dent to “challenge a return to the premier league” due to poor game management throughout. Awful LATE subs yet again, even considering the injuries. Ngakia weakness again, Ince and K9 knackered at 65. Baah robbed. Missing speed. Bristol City 5-1 really knocked confidence.
@TheHornetsWay: Starting lose faith in Javi again. His system Plan A has been found out and he has no way to fix it bcz I surely believe he has no Plan B. I want to keep the faith but I cannot ignore what he’s doing.
@RevoltingJames: I really don’t get it. Irankunda replaced Chak against Birmingham and looked a natural in that role, carrying the ball from his own half, starting attacks. Today he puts Doumbia on in that position. Mind blowing
@LeeJackson_1: How about get some pace high and wide to hit when we get pressed and have to play longer. Ince didn’t hit the goal line once just condenses the play coming inside. Doumbia as the 9, Irankunda as the 10 and told to run past him, Vata on the left Baah on the right..,just play them
@WatfordData: There is close to 0 chance Watford FC get play offs with Javi Gracia as manager. He is past it and has no clue what he’s doing anymore. How Baah didn’t get on today and K9 was still on is insane.
@Richwfc2: As long as Javi Gracia is in charge we will just drift along , no danger of going down but no chance of real promotion push, he is anti football sits in and tries to break on teams who have already sussed him out a B team from Portsmouth were better than his #watfordfc team
@samstreetwrites:Javi Gracia every time a Watford home win is expected.– Go behind inexplicably– Equalise with a lucky Sunday league goal– Draw 1-1#WatfordFC
Javi Gracia #watfordfc lost the plot , can’t manage a talented squad,boring sideways sit in football,hopping to counter only been found out ,going nowhere with him I am afraid don’t look coached now look bereft of ideas pic.twitter.com/SIBGtTxesN
— Rich🟡⚫️🔴⚽️🏉 (@Richwfc2) January 21, 2026
