Scunthorpe (0-1) 18-15-12 69 pts.

The poor form continued Saturday as relegated Scunthorpe handed the Hornets yet another loss at home. Watford, able to win only one match in the last thirteen, allowed a goal from 12 yards out from Paul Hayes in the 68th minute to tread water in the standings and put their playoff chances at risk.

Going into the last game here are the possible outcomes:

A win from Watford will secure a playoff berth.

A loss from Watford will kick us out of the playoffs if one of the following scenarios occur:

• Wins from two of these clubs: Wolves, Ipswich, Sheffield Utd.
• Wins from one of the above plus a draw or better from Crystal Palace

A draw from Watford will kick us out of the playoffs if:

• Wolves win by three goals or more and a draw or better from Crystal Palace

The deciding match is next Sunday, May 4 at Blackpool. Early kickoff is 8:00 am St. Louis time.

Crystal Palace (0-2) 18-15-11 69 pts.

Another frustrating loss puts Watford out of reach of automatic promotion. Though they played hard with lots of pressure in the first half, the Hornets crumbled in the second, giving up two goals in four minutes to Ifill and Moses.

Eight yellows marred an already sad performance with four from Watford in the persons of O'Toole, Shittu, Henderson, & McAnuff. Our ₤3.25 million man, Ellington managed to join the game with two minutes of regulation time left. Sad, really.

Two matches left before the playoffs - any more and we'd work our way out of them. The next is at Vicarage Road against Scunthorpe. Kick off is this Saturday, April 26, at 9:00 St. Louis time.

West Bromwich Albion (1-1) 18-15-10 69 pts.

This point was a pure gift as far as I could tell. Granted, I got to the match late, after all the scoring, but the statistics confirmed what hear of the last twenty or so minutes. WBA held control of the game 2 minutes for every one of Watford's and dominated the second half.

The match started with Eustace back in the line-up and Henderson and Smith up front. Bromby got things started with a goal in minute six after a Jobi McAnuff corner. It stayed that way through the half and up until the 49th minute when Barnett found the back of the net (assist Gera) to equalize. Then it was all desperation defense for the Hornets. Late in the match, a Bednar goal was disallowed when the linesman ruled, probably incorrectly, offside. That bit of luck and a deflected shot a few minutes later kept Watford even in the tables with Bristol City and Hull as well as West Brom. Stoke City is a clear first with a win today over Coventry City.

The match reminded me of last season where we were trying hard not to embarrass ourselves and playing back on our heels awaiting the inevitable goal against.

The nail biting continues next Saturday, April 19 as we host Crystal Palace. Kickoff is 9:00 am.

Barnsley (0-3) 18-14-10 68 pts.

What a stinker. Two goals by Odejayi and one by Foster leave Watford de-pantsed and wondering what hit them. I'm wondering too as a demoralized, tired, Barnsley squad embarrassed us on our own pitch and erased every advantage handed to us during the spate of fluky losses by our top-of-the-table brethren in the last five days.

I could not get the broadcast, but it apparently looked like last season's squad (admittedly against a much weaker opponent). As pog88 put it on the gloryhorns forum:

It's like my old man said, it's almost as if our training consists of a
machine which pumps balls into the air for the players to head it.

The next match is against a much stronger West Brom, away, this Saturday, April 12. Kickoff is 11:20 St. Louis time. God help us.

A Gift From Crystal Palace

Palace held off a late surge to defeat Stoke City 2-1 at Britannia Stadium today, further tightening the race for the top of the Championship League. Watford and Hull are both two points out of first with a match in hand.

Portsmouth - Cardiff in FA Cup Final

It will be a disappointed Barnsley at Vicarage Road Wednesday after their defeat at the hands of Cardiff.

Down a goal after just nine minutes, giant killers Barnsley never recovered. Hope is they will still be off their game Wednesday when they try to deny the Hornet's automatic promotion bid.

Coventry City (2-1) 18-14-9 68 pts.

A rainy day at Vicarge Road but an outstanding result in a match that could have swung either way.

Nathan Ellington electrified the home crowd early on with a left-footed goal from 12 yards out in the 7th minute. The Hornets kept up the pressure for the next twenty minutes or so, but failed to find the second goal. Momentum swung the way of the Sky Blues as the half came to an end.

At the 59th minute, a goal from Best equalized the score and it looked as though Watford would have to settle for a single point, but Tommy Smith found the net in the 79th minute to give the Hornets three points in the standings.

Help came from other quarters today as well as Southampton, fighting to avoid relegation, downed league leader Bristol City 2-0 and Colchester surmounted Ipswich by the same score. The day finds Watford back up to 4th, but only two points out of first.

The next match is Wednesday when the Hornets host Barnsley, who battle Cardiff tomorrow in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Game Day: Coventry City

DeMerit & Bangura sit as Doyley & O'toole return to the pitch for Watford. The Hornets were 3-0 winners at Coventry in October during their ten match unbeaten streak. Full line up:

Lee

Doyley Bromby Shittu Sadler

Smith O'Toole Williamson McAnuff

Kabba Ellington

Predictions

I've been playing with the BBC's Predictor. My best guess (if teams play true to form) is:

Stoke City 82 (4-1-0)
WBA 81 (3-2-0)
--------------
WATFORD 77 (4-1-1)
Bristol City 77 (2-2-1)
Hull City 75 (2-2-1)
Ipswich 74 (3-3-0)

The above assumes WBA over Watford. To get to automatic promotion, the Hornets are going to need to reverse that outcome PLUS help from Bristol City & Hull's opponents PLUS four wins and a draw against Coventry, Barnsley, Palace, Scunny, & Blackpool. Barring exceptionally good luck and class play, we're headed for the playoffs.

Or not.

Poor play by Watford and a bit of luck for Wolverhampton could leave the Hornets watching the playoffs from the pub.

Watford will need to step it up if the want to see the Premiership next season - starting with Coventry City tomorrow.

Kabba Eligible for Coventry City Match

A successful appeal of Kabba's red card against Hull City last Saturday finds him eligible against Coventry City & Barnsley.