Watford manager Tom Cleverly has appreciated the efforts of Vakoun Bayo after he scored four goals in the Hornets’ 6-2 Championship win away at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, Afrosport reports.
All four of the Ivorians goals came in the second half when Watford took a 2-1 lead from the 52nd minute.
Prior to this match, Bayo had only scored once in the Championship this season which was in a 2-1 matchday three win over Derby country.
He is the first Watford player to score four second-half goals since Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo did against Blackpool in January 2015, and Cleverly waxed lyrical about the other things the 27-year-old does to help the team beyond goalscoring.
“I couldn’t be more pleased for an individual,” Cleverley told the club website.
“The unselfish nature of his game doesn’t always bring him the most praise.
“We appreciate what he does for the team, in and out of possession, and he fully deserved his four goals through the work he’s been putting in this season.
“He plays as a lone striker, he works the whole back four, he does an unbelievable job when pressing.
“It catapults him right to the top of the scoring charts and I hope he can kick on from this.”
Vakoun Bayo becomes the first Watford player to score four second-half goals since Odion Ighalo vs Blackpool in January 2015. 🐦⬛ pic.twitter.com/t0lxCDv13o
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) November 2, 2024
Reflecting on his performance, Vakoun Bayo said: “To score four goals, it’s something!
“So I’m very happy, and happy for the team as it’s our second win away now.
“I’m very happy because it’s been a long time now since I’ve scored.
“We are proud and we stick together, so I’m happy for that.”
Watford’s victory moved them up to fifth in the Championship standings and are now just seven points behind leaders Sunderland.
