Watford 0 Stoke 1 WATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Comical Heurelho Gomes own goal downs ten-man Hornets as Charlie Adam admits he committed foul before heading against post
Mark Hughes' team up to tenth as ball bounces in off Hornets' keeper after Charlie Adam heads against post
HEURELHO GOMES was left red-faced as his comical own goal handed Stoke victory.
But Charlie Adam amazingly admitted it should have been chalked off because he committed a foul before nodding the ball against the post.
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Charlie Adam shoved Valon Behrami before rising to meet a cornerCredit: Reuters
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The ball flies off the Scot's head and towards goalCredit: Getty Images
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Gomes is caught static as the ball comes back off the post towards himCredit: PA:Press Association
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The ball bounces towards the net after striking Gomes on the legCredit: PA:Press Association
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The Brazilian goalkeeper is left floored as Stoke take the leadCredit: Reuters
Ten-man Watford lost their first home game since August after Adam nodded against the inside of the upright before the ball bounced in off the Brazilian keeper's knee.
Adam shoved Hornets midfielder Valon Behrami before making contact and reckons the goal shouldn't have been given.
He admitted: "I think it's a foul, I pushed him."
"I though we were excellent. We nicked a 1-0 and played really weel. We used our head in the last ten minutes and we're delighted with it."
Miguel Britos was sent off in the second half for a pair of yellow cards as the Hornets' bad day got worse.
Both fouls were on Xherdan Shaqiri, with the Uruguayan hacking him down first time around and hauling him down to be given his marching orders.
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Charlie Adam showed why his absence from the Scotland team is mystifying as he ran the show here.
If clubs got points for their fans moaning about referees, Watford would surely be top of the Premier League table. They were adamant whistler Bobby Madley was biased against them but, in fairness, he did not get a lot wrong
Stoke had the first chance in the seventh minute when Mame Diouf’s overhead kick fell to team-mate Bruno Martins Indi, whose shot from inside the box was brilliantly pushed away by Heurelho Gomes.
The Watford keeper then quickly got back to punch clear when Marko Arnautovic volleyed the loose ball back towards goal.
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Mark Hughes celebrates victory with Xherdan Shaqiri at full-timeCredit: PA:Press Association
Stoke continued their fine start Giannelli Imbula almost caught out Gomes with a long-range effort which dipped and swerved just wide of the target.
All Potters keeper Lee Camp had to contend in the first half were a couple of regulation long-range shots from Daryl Janmaat and Etienne Capoue.
The visitors took the lead in the 28th minute when Charlie Adam’s header from Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner hit the inside of the post rebounded out, struck the unfortunate Gomes on the back of the leg and rolled into the net.
Stoke should have added a second after the break when Marko Anautovic broke free down the right – but his ball into the box was just too quick for team-mate Jonathan Walters.
