A new era began at Vicarage Road five years ago today when the Pozzo family completed their takeover at Watford. Much has happened since and Hornets supporters have witnessed some memorable matches along the way including these ten selected by Bradley Hayden.

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January 19, 2013: Watford 4 Huddersfield Town 0

On a cold January afternoon, Cristian Battocchio’s goal lit up Vicarage Road as Watford secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Huddersfield Town. The Argentine-born midfielder finished off a superb team move to round off the scoring, after a goal from Troy Deeney and a double from Matej Vydra had put the Hornets 3-0 up.

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May 12, 2013: Watford 3 Leicester City 1

Sunday, May 12, 2013 is a day that will never be forgotten. Fans went from agony to ecstasy in a matter of seconds, as Troy Deeney’s goal in stoppage time, just moments after Leicester City's Anthony Knockaert had a penalty saved, secured Watford a spot in the play-off final. Matej Vydra had put the Hornets ahead in stunning fashion, before David Nugent equalised for Leicester later on in the first half. The Czech striker then put the Hornets back in front after the restart, but as the game entered injury time, referee Michael Oliver awarded Leicester a debatable penalty. Knockaert stepped up and his spot-kick was saved by Manuel Almunia and in a matter of 20 seconds Watford had secured their place at Wembley after a swift counter attack was emphatically fired home by Deeney. A game which truly encapsulated Watford’s free flowing football under Gianfranco Zola that season.

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January 24, 2015: Watford 7 Blackpool 2

In a crazy match at Vicarage Road, Watford scored seven goals in 31 minutes in a remarkable second half. Having found themselves 2-0 down at half-time to bottom-of-the-table Blackpool, who hadn’t won away from home all season, all was not well at Vicarage Road. However, an inspired second-half display from Watford turned the game on its head, and they scored seven goals for the first time in 12 years. Odion Ighalo netted four, while Troy Deeney, Matej Vydra and Gabriele Angella also got on the score sheet in an astonishing second-half performance. The result came on a day where the Hornets commemorated the life of former manager Ken Furphy, who passed away in the week leading up to the match.

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April 4, 2015: Watford 2 Middlesbrough 0

This was a match which really underlined Watford’s promotion credentials at the sharp end of the season. Following a gritty point away to Derby County on Good Friday, having played most of the match with ten men, Watford then faced fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough on bank holiday Monday in April 2015. From the atmosphere in the ground, to the performance on the pitch, it was a fantastic day for everyone at Vicarage Road. Troy Deeney put the Golden Boys ahead in the first half, becoming the first Watford player to score 20 goals in three consecutive seasons, before Odion Ighalo’s powerful strike from outside the box doubled the Hornets' advantage with 25 minutes to play. The result moved the Golden Boys on to level points with second-placed Norwich City with the finishing line in sight.

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April 25, 2015: Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Watford 2

A day many Watford fans thought they would never witness when the club was on the verge of going into administration in 2009. In the space of six years, the Hornets were promoted to the top flight after a 2-0 victory over Brighton in the penultimate match of the 2014/15 season. Troy Deeney had put the Golden Boys in front just before the half-an-hour mark and having withstood serious pressure from Brighton as the second period wore on, the Hornets sealed the victory in injury time thanks to Matej Vydra’s breakaway goal. Cue bedlam in the away end and the Hornets’ promotion was confirmed later that afternoon, following Middlesbrough’s failure to beat Fulham. Watford players celebrated on the team coach upon hearing the result and then with the fans in the town later that evening, in what was a fantastic day for everyone associated with the club.

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September 12, 2015: Watford 1 Swansea City 0

While it may not be a match which will live long in the memory, this was Watford’s first victory back in the top flight. In what was a gritty and well-organised performance from the Golden Boys, who had Valon Behrami sent off with 25 minutes to play, Odion Ighalo’s goal just before the hour mark would seal all three points for the Hornets, on a glorious sunny day in Hertfordshire.

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December 20, 2015: Watford 3 Liverpool 0

The game which really announced Watford’s arrival in the Premier League, some would say. Hornets' supporters were rewarded with an early Christmas present at Vicarage Road as Quique Sanchez Flores’ men swept Liverpool to one side, in what was an incredible day for all bar the Reds contingent at Vicarage Road. Nathan Ake got the Golden Boys off to a flying start inside two minutes, as he stabbed the ball home from close range, before a double from Odion Ighalo secured a memorable 3-0 win for the Hornets, which propelled them up to seventh place in the Premier League.

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March 13, 2016: Arsenal 1 Watford 2

Adlene Guedioura’s rocket secured Watford a place in the FA Cup semi-final, as Quique Sanchez Flores’ men defeated holders Arsenal, in what remains the Gunners’ only defeat in the cup competition in the last four seasons. Ighalo had put Watford ahead earlier on in the second half, before Guedioura’s stunning effort silenced the Emirates Stadium and left Hornets fans in dreamland. It was backs to the wall stuff from Watford after Danny Welbeck pulled one back for the hosts, but the Golden Boys resolutely held out, as Flores’ men secured a place in the FA Cup semi-final for the first time in nine years.

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September 18, 2016: Watford 3 Manchester United 1

Another memorable victory for the Golden Boys during the Pozzo era. Buoyed from an entertaining 4-2 victory over West Ham United the previous week, Watford then defeated Manchester United for the first time in 30 years. Etienne Capoue put the Golden Boys in front during the first half with his fourth goal in five games, but Marcus Rashford equalised for the Red Devils mid-way through the second half. Watford then hit United with another sucker punch as Juan Camilo Zuniga put the Hornets back in front just 53 seconds after coming off the bench, and the Colombian then won the Golden Boys a penalty in injury time, as he was tripped by Marouane Fellaini. Troy Deeney stepped up and hammered the ball home, to secure a famous Watford victory after a fine performance.

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January 31, 2017: Arsenal 1 Watford 2

Watford recorded their first league win over Arsenal for the first time since 1988, as goals from Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney secured the Golden Boys all three points. Morale was low among the Hornets fan-base after a seven-game winless run and a dismal defeat to Millwall in the FA Cup just days before the match at the Emirates. But the Hornets pulled off a shock and put in a superb performance, as goals from Kaboul and Deeney had Watford in dreamland at half-time. Alex Iwobi pulled one back for Arsenal mid-way through the second half and despite a late scare from Lucas Perez, Watford held on magnificently to secure a famous victory at the Emirates.