Queen's Park Rangers (2-4) 13-5-7 44 pts.

Despite a full cadre of substitutions in the second half in the persons of King, Shittu, and O'Toole, the deficit proved too great even with Darius Henderson assisted goals from Damien Francis and Danny Shittu in the 51st and 84th minutes respectively.

Tommy Smith picked up a yellow card in the second half as the Hornets fell hard to a weak opponent.

On the other hand, West Brom widened its lead with a 5-0 win over Scunthorpe. The Hornets travel to Southampton New Year's Day to kick off a very busy January with a battle agaist the Saints who Watford defeated at Vicarage Road 3-2 in September. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

0-3 at the Half

Another drubbing at Vicarage Road! (at least so far). QPR has played a very dominant match thus far - doubling Watford's time of possession and tripling the number of fouls.

QPR's first two goals came on set pieces - a minute 13 Martin Rowlands penalty kick off a Jordan Stewart foul and Rowlands corner kick headed in by Damion Stewart in minute 29.

The final goal of the half came from Rowlands as well, drilled from 12 yards out in the 40th minute.

To add insult to injury, West Brom is leading Scunthorpe 2-0 and Lloyd Doyley picked up a yellow card.

Game Day: Queen's Park Rangers

The Hornets need a win today and some help from mid-table Scunthorpe to scramble back into first. Henderson and Ellington are up front and Lee remains in the net. Though not on the injured roster, Poom is not in the lineup today. In their first fixture of the season, the squads played to a draw at Loftus Road. Full lineup:

Lee

Doyley DeMerit Jackson Stewart

Smith Williamson Francis McAnuff

Henderson Ellington

Go 'Orns!

Cardiff City (2-2) 13-5-6 44 pts.

The Hornets slipped into second place again as they failed to win at home yet again in today's Boxing Day match versus Cardiff City -- but it could have been worse. Jobi McAnuff salvaged a point with a last minute (second?) effort in injury time to drill home the equalizer (unassisted) from 18 yards out.

Cardiff drew first blood with a Roger Johnson header (asst. Ledley) in the 34th minute and carried the 1-0 score into the half. Newly minted captain Jay DeMerit tied the match up (asst. Tommy Smith) four minutes into the second half to see the lead recaptured by Cardiff seven minutes later on a Peter Whittington goal (asst. McPhail). Jobi's last ditch effort, on the heels of his game-winner against Sheffield Wednesday, keeps Watford even with West Brom on points, in second due to a goal differential of 22 to 9.

The next match is Saturday, December 29 at Vicarage Road against relegation-bound QPR. Kickoff is at 9:00 an St. Louis time as Watford looks to snap their winless streak at home.

Sheffield Wednesday (1-0) 13-4-6 43 pts.

The Hornets got a vital away win today to remount the top of the standings. Jobi McAnuff landed a goal (unassisted) in the sixth minute to put Watford ahead and there it stayed earning Watford three crucial points.

The top scorer in the Watford cause today however was probalby Stoke City's Ricardo Fuller who's hat trick dropped West Brom back into the number two slot as they lost 3-1. Joining them with 41 points is Bristol City who defeated Barnsley today 3-2.

Poom and Ainsworth both suited up today but did not see action. It was good to see them available after recently being sidelined with injuries.

I'll be driving back from Iowa and will miss the next match, a Boxing Day affair (that's the 26th for us Yanks) at Vicarage Road against Cardiff City. Kickoff is 6:00 am (yikes!) St. Louis time.

Independent Panel to Consider Work Permit for Bangura

Al will be allowed to stay while the panel completes its review.

Plymouth Argyle (0-1) 12-4-6 40 pts.

It took me a day to get over my funk enough to write this one up. In a match reminiscent of last season's Premier League losses, the Hornets gave up a goal and first place in the last minutes of the match. The loss, Watford's third straight at home, gave West Brom the catbird seat after they downed Charlton 4-2. Almost a bad, Bristol City, with a 1-0 defeat of Cardiff, is a mere two points from knocking us out of second and placing us in playoff territory (note to US readers, places 1 & 2 are automatically promoted to the Premier League while spots 3-6 battle for the remaining promotion via playoff).

Lee started in the net as Poom is still shaking off the groin injury acquired in the Colchester match. Tamas Priskin started up front while Darius Henderson served his one game suspension for acquiring five yellow cards. Finally Lionel Ainsworth, on loan from Hereford, got his first start with the club. Alas, it short-lived as he was injured and replaced by Francis at the start of the second half.

The next match is Saturday, December 22 at Sheffield Wednesday. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Mahon Out - DeMerit In

The club announced Saturday that Gavin Mahon would not see his contract renewed at the end of the season. Mahon had been set down in the last few matches, but I was still surprised to see the end of the 30-year old midfielder's Watford career, especially given the uncertainty surrounding midfield with Al Bangura facing deportation. It will be interesting to see if midfield can be beefed up with the January transfer window.

The new captain is none other than the pride and joy of Green Bay, Jay DeMerit who faced his first challenge with a heartbreaking loss to Plymouth Argyle.

Fans Show Support for Bangura

Watford fans showed their support for midfielder Al Bangura Saturday at the half as they participated in a protest against Al's deportation proceedings. In addition to the fans, Al's drawing support to remain in the U.K. from the player's union, Watford's MP Claire Ward, former Home Secretary David Blunkett, and Elton John.

Bangura's status is up in the air as he rides out a 28-day waiting period. Put in your two cents worth by signing the petition to keep Al in the UK.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-al-bangura

Stoke City (Nil-Nil) 12-4-5 40 Pts.

Man it's tough getting up at 7:00 on a Sunday for a nil-nil match!

Or so I've heard.

I slept through most of the match, waking up and logging on just in time to see the Hornets draw even on yellow cards when tensions left Lee Williamson and Lloyd Doyley with bookings in the last ten minutes.

As Watford nears the halfway mark of the season, they still top the Championship Division, two points to the good of West Brom - who picked up a pair of points by downing Leicester 2-1 - and three up on Charlton - 3-1 winners at home over Ipswich.

The next match is Saturday, December 15 at Vicarage Road against the Greens of Plymouth Argyle. The Hornets last saw Plymouth in the quarter-finals of last season's FA Cup where Hameur Bouazza's strike send them home. Kickoff is the more reasonable 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Colchester United (3-2) 12-3-5 39 pts.

Scrappy play from the Hornets! After equalizing a two goal deficit in the first half, Tamas Priskin's header off a cross from Tommy Smith in minute 64 earned Watford three points in the standings.

Watford continued to fight to hold the lead, picking up four yellow cards (Doyley, O'Toole, McAnuff, and Henderson) in the second half. Damien Francis & Darius Henderson relieved McAnuff and Priskin respectively in the second half (both tactical).

The next match is early Sunday, December 9 at Stoke-on-Trent as the Hornets take on the Potters (no relation to Harry). Kickoff is at the God-Awful hour of 7:15 am St. Louis time.

2-2 at the Half

Amazingly we are tied at the half thanks to back-to-back goals by Marlon King and John-Joe O'Toole (assist Tommy Smith). Clive Platt gave Colchester an early lead with a right-footer in minute 6. Matthew Connolly made it 0-2 in the 27th minute off a corner kick (and assist) by Johnnie Jackson.

Watford fought back with goals in the 4oth & 42nd minutes to take it tied into the half.

Poom left the pitch with an injury (unspecified) and was replace by Richard Lee in minute 35.

Game Day - Colchester

The Hornets travel to Colchester without Nathan Ellington or captain Gavin Mahon. No word why but neither have been reported injured. O'Toole and Priskin take their place and Poom stays in the net. Full lineup:

Poom

Doyley Shittu DeMerit Stewart

Smith O'Toole Williamson McAnuff

Priskin King

Go 'Orns!!

Third Round Proper FA Cup Ties Drawn Yesterday

Watford will play host to their fellow Championship League-mates Crystal Palace in the Third Roud Proper of the FA cup. Championship League teams enter in this round, so this is the first FA match of the 07-08 season for Watford. The tie (match) will be held the first weekend in January.

Bristol City (1-2) 11-3-5 36 pts

The Killer B's!!

Bristol City handed Watford its third straight defeat Saturday, the second with Mart Poom in the net, hot on the heels of Burnley and Barnsley. The loss leaves The Hornets one point to the good of West Brom and three ahead of Wolverhampton.

It was a heartbreaker reminiscent of last season as Watford capitulated in added time.

It was a defensive battle until the 75th minute when The Robins' Enoch Showunmi headed a goal (asst. McIndoe) from 6 yards out. John-Joe O'Toole came on for Gavon Mahon in the 85th minute and tied the score with his own header (asst. Smith) two minutes later. Bristol City pulled the same trick in injury time, bringing Darren Byfield in for Showunmi to score the winner a couple of minutes later from 12 yards out.

McAnuff & Henderson picked up yellow cards in the effort.

The Hornets try to stop the skid in Colchester tomorrow, Tuesday December 4. I'd like to see Lee back in the net, but we'll see what Aidy has in store soon enough. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.