During the 2000–01 English football season, Watford competed in the Football League First Division. The club was relegated from the Premier League in the previous season.

Season summary After relegation from the Premier League, Watford stabilised in the First Division to finish 9th, five points off the play-off places. A total of 143 goals were scored in league matches involving Watford; only champions Fulham scored more goals than Watford's 76, whilst Sheffield Wednesday, Crystal Palace, Tranmere Rovers and Queens Park Rangers were the only teams to concede more than Watford's 67 league goals. Manager Graham Taylor announced his retirement at the end of the season – former Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli was named as his replacement.

Final league table

Results summary

Results by matchday

Results Watford's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 12 August 2000 Huddersfield TownA2–113,018Cox, Smith 19 August 2000 BarnsleyH1–013,186Foley 26 August 2000 WimbledonA0–08,447 28 August 2000 Sheffield UnitedH4–112,675Helguson, Mooney, Noel-Williams, Hyde 9 September 2000 PortsmouthA3–114,012Nielsen, Mooney, Helguson 12 September 2000 Blackburn RoversA4–317,258Hyde (2), Helguson, Mooney 16 September 2000 Crewe AlexandraH3–013,784Smith, Noel-Williams, Hyde 23 September 2000 Stockport CountyA3–26,933Smith, Noel-Williams, Nielsen 1 October 2000 Birmingham CityH2–012,355Nielsen, Cox 14 October 2000 Queens Park RangersH3–117,488Cox (2), Noel-Williams 17 October 2000 GillinghamH0–012,356 21 October 2000 Nottingham ForestA2–020,065Hyde (2) 24 October 2000 Bolton WanderersH1–011,799Mooney (pen) 28 October 2000 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–220,296Cox, Mooney 4 November 2000 Grimsby TownH4–011,600Nielsen, Mooney (2), Noel-Williams 7 November 2000 Sheffield WednesdayH1–311,166Smith 11 November 2000 Tranmere RoversA0–28,858 18 November 2000 Preston North EndH2–313,066Mooney, Palmer 3 December 2000 Bolton WanderersA1–213,904Smith 9 December 2000 Crystal PalaceA0–116,049 16 December 2000 West Bromwich AlbionH3–314,601Butler (own goal), Mooney (2) 23 December 2000 Huddersfield TownH1–213,371Heary (own goal) 26 December 2000 FulhamA0–55,752 29 December 2000 BarnsleyA1–013,820Nielsen 2 January 2001 WimbledonH3–111,336Mooney (2), Noel-Williams 13 January 2001 Sheffield UnitedA1–017,551Mooney 20 January 2001 FulhamH1–318,333Helguson 27 January 2001 Norwich CityA1–215,309Helguson 3 February 2001 Sheffield WednesdayA3–216,134Vernazza, Ward, Smith 10 February 2001 PortsmouthH2–216,051Smith (2) 17 February 2001 Crewe AlexandraA0–26,757 20 February 2001 Blackburn RoversH0–115,970 24 February 2001 Stockport CountyH2–213,647Mooney, Nielsen 2 March 2001 Birmingham CityA0–220,724 7 March 2001 Queens Park RangersA1–112,436Nielsen 10 March 2001 Norwich CityH4–115,123Wooter, Smith, Helguson, Nielsen 13 March 2001 BurnleyH0–113,653 31 March 2001 West Bromwich AlbionA0–317,261 3 April 2001 Nottingham ForestH3–013,651Noel-Williams, Mooney (2) 7 April 2001 Crystal PalaceH2–215,598Nielsen, Mooney 14 April 2001 Grimsby TownA1–26,110Mooney 17 April 2001 Wolverhampton WanderersH3–213,765Mooney, Smith, Helguson 22 April 2001 Preston North EndA2–314,071Noel-Williams, Page 28 April 2001 Tranmere RoversH1–116,063Nielsen 1 May 2001 GillinghamA3–09,098Helguson, Smith, Vernazza 6 May 2001 BurnleyA0–218,283

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR36 January 2001 EvertonH1–215,635Mooney

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 1st Leg22 August 2000 Cheltenham TownH0–08,289R1 2nd Leg5 September 2000 Cheltenham TownA3–0 (won 3–0 on agg)5,078Smith, Ward, HelgusonR2 1st Leg19 September 2000 Notts CountyA3–12,346Palmer, MooneyR2 2nd Leg26 September 2000 Notts CountyH0–2 (won on away goals)7,677R331 October 2000 Manchester UnitedH0–318,871

Players First-team squad Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Reserve squad

References

Notes