Valerin Ismael shrugged off Watford’s wastefulness in front of goal in the goalless draw against Plymouth at Vicarage Road and accentuated the positives from their performance.
His side managed just three efforts on target from 20 attempts on goals, with striker Vakoun Bayo especially profligate.
Bayo struck shots wide in both halves as Watford dominated a Plymouth side that were always dangerous on the counter-attack.
“I am really pleased with the performance. We said yesterday that it is important that we put these performances in with consistency and with the right mentality. We saw that again today,” Ismael said.
“But we were not ruthless enough. We put ourselves in great positions and we played some great football, but when you miss opportunities, you keep your opponent in the game and they think that they can maybe get more than one point.
“I think we are on the right path. I am a winner, it is clear, but as long as you show the right attitude, you cannot win every game. As long as the players are brave, I will accept mistakes.
“We don’t say don’t worry about it, and I know that Bayo is disappointed that he didn’t get a goal, but it’s important that you create chances. He worked hard and I’m sure he will get better when he gets his fitness.”
Ismael embodied the bravery he demands from his players when he made a quadruple substitution after 56 minutes.
He added: “With the four substitutes we got exactly what we wanted. We wanted to keep up the pressure because at the end of first half, our energy wasn’t at the same level especially with our press.
“We wanted to keep up the intensity and it worked. We created so many chances in the second half, but when you are on top, you have to score.”
Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher was delighted by his side’s performance, particularly the determination of central defensive pairing Dan Scarr and Lewis Gibson.
Schumacher said: “The whole team worked really hard to get a deserved clean sheet and that’s what it’s going to be. We’re not going to be able to come into the Championship and coast through games.
“Dan and Lewis were superb whenever Watford managed to get behind us and get crosses in.
“I thought it was a really good game as nil-nils go, really entertaining. Two teams who did absolutely everything to get the three points.
“We knew Watford would come in full of confidence, so we had to get our organisation right behind the ball, but we also posed a threat on the counter-attack.
“I said to the lads at half-time that we could score and cause a massive upset. We had the chances to score. It wasn’t to be but it’s still very pleasing to have four points after two games.”
Schumacher’s satisfaction was all the greater given Argyle’s travel issues on the eve of the game.
He added: “Getting out of Devon in August is a disaster, so we decided to take the train, but an earlier train was cancelled.
“That meant there were no seat reservations and our players had to sit on the floor or stand up for three-and-a-half hours. The kit man came on the bus and it took him eight hours. The players could have used that as an excuse, but they didn’t.”
Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters
Lina Hurtig's 89th minute winner ensured Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League after edging Juventus 1-0 on Thursday.
After being frustrated for large parts of the encounter, Hurtig bundled home from close range after Martina Lenzini's poor clearance to book the Gunners' place in the last eight.
Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was Juventus who had the first sight of goal, though Eva Schatzer's effort was easy for Daphne van Domselaar to gather.
In a first half that saw just two shots on target, both coming from the visitors, Renee Slegers' substitutes proved to be the difference for Arsenal.
Slegers introduced Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Hurtig late on, with the latter somehow putting Kim Little's cross over the bar from five yards out.
However, the Swede would atone for her earlier error, combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius to net against her former club and send them out of the competition with two group games remaining.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Barcelona edged closer to the quarter-finals of the competition with a convincing 4-1 victory over St. Polten at the Generali Arena.
The reigning champions are still three points behind Manchester City following their 2-1 win over Hammarby, and know a win against the Swedes next month will see them progress.
Kika Nazareth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Kamila Dubcova, notching her second nine minutes later from close range.
Barca found themselves three goals up at the break when Vicky Lopez netted her first goal in the competition to put the result beyond doubt.
There was also a landmark moment for Alexia Putellas, who netted her 200th goal for the club with a well-taken effort into the far corner.
Valentina Madl took some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display from the visitors, who have now taken their tally to 20 goals from their four matches in the competition.
Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City
Pep Guardiola will be Manchester City manager for at least two more seasons after 2024-25, after he signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.
The 53-year-old was coming to the end of his City deal, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but he has opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
The deal itself will take Guardiola's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
There had been suggestions that he may leave at the end of the season following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain was on his way out.
Guardiola was strongly linked with the England job after Gareth Southgate resigned in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat, but the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel last month.
“Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and, of course, the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.
“Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
Having been appointed in 2016, Guardiola is by some distance Manchester City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the club.
That list includes their first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023 and six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four on the spin.
He also boasts a 72.04% win percentage across all competitions, which is unsurprisingly the highest of any full-time City manager in history.
Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League
Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City beat Hammarby 2-1 to seal their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Gareth Taylor's team entered Thursday's game with a perfect record in Group D, and their fourth win in as many European matches ensured they finished in the top two.
Shaw—the leading scorer in the Women's Super League this season with eight goals—put them ahead in the 31st minute, driving into the area after taking in Yui Hasegawa's pass before seeing her shot deflect into the top corner.
Shaw was booked for celebrating in front of the home fans despite appearing to have objects thrown at her from the stands, and Hammarby should have levelled when Julia Blakstad fired wide 10 minutes later.
The hosts did draw level three minutes into the second half as Ellen Wangerheim tapped home while City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was down appealing for a free-kick.
That parity was short-lived, though, as Shaw blasted into the top corner from 25 yards out, taking her overall tally for this season to 12 goals in all competitions.
In Group C, meanwhile, Bayern Munich lost their perfect record as they played out a 1-1 draw with Valerenga, boosting Arsenal's hopes of topping the pile.
Jovana Damnjanovic came off the bench to put Bayern ahead 15 minutes from time in Norway, but Elise Thorsnes headed home following an 88th-minute corner to snatch a point for the hosts.
Arsenal could now move within a point of Bayern when they face Juventus in Group C's other match later on Thursday.
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