Newcastle United (1-2) 10-9-12 39 pts.

The Hornets played host to league leaders Newcastle United in the rain today in a match that saw Mike Williamson (aka Whiney-Ass) make his first visit to Vicarage Road since his skulking off in August.

Watford found themselves playing catch-up straight out of the box as a free kick in the 4th minute lead to a Fabricio Coloccini header (asst. Andrew Carroll) from six yards out to put the Geordies up a goal.

Watford held on through the half, but found themselves with an insurmountable deficit after Carroll scored his own header from another set piece in the 51st, this time a Danny Guthrie corner kick, giving Newcastle a 2-0 lead in the driving rain.

Will Hoskins raised a glimmer of hope in the first minute of added time, right-footing a goal in to draw within one, but it was not enough.

The next match is Saturday, March 6 at Barnsley. Tom Cleverly will be back from his suspension. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

AC St. Louis Schedule

Click above for the inaugural season schedule of A.C. St. Louis.

Season tickets run $155 - $840 for 15 games. Single game tickets are $12 - $65.

Also, the Athletica's April 11th opening day tickets are on sale now. The full 2010 schedule can be found here:

http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/stlouis/schedule/2010-schedule

Tickets run $12 - $60.

Players for Peace Goodwill Game Comes to St. Louis

St. Louis will host the Players for Peace Goodwill Gane August 7 at the Edward Jones Dome.

The format will be South America vs The Rest of the World. Eric Wynalda will coach the ROTW side.

Proceeds will benefit sports programs in St. Louis & Haiti.

No ticket information yet.

Ashcroft Wants Out

Lord Ashcroft, Watford FC's largest sharehold is seeking to sell his share in the club. Any takers?

QPR Rescheduled

The February 16th match, postponed due to a soggy pitch, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 20.

Scunthorpe United (2-2) 10-9-11 39 pts.

Looks like I picked a bad one to miss, but I was on the road between St. Louis & Columbia at game time.

A goal by Gary Hooper (super-duper!) in the 42nd minute put Scunny ahead at the half, buy Danny Graham equalized the match at the 64 minute mark.

John Eustace headed in what seemed like the winner three seconds into added time (assist Jon Harley), but a hand-ball was called on Jay DeMerit after getting smacked in the face with a shot on goal and Hooper's penalty shot found the net and cost the Hornets two points in the standings. The next match is Saturday, February 27 with Newcastle United visiting Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Another Match Called Off

A sodden pitch at Loftus Road and the Hornets are left to reschedule today's match with QPR.

Bristol City (2-0) 10-8-11 38 pts.

Watford managed their second home win in a row with a 2-0 result over Bristol City in an otherwise even match. Unlike the Barnsley match last Saturday, the breaks went Watford’s way today, the score making it seems less close than it was.

Heidar Helguson started the ball rolling for Watford fifteen minutes into the match, finding a cross from Adrian Mariappa and heading it in from six yards out.

Martin Taylor snagged his first goal as a Hornet. Left-footing an Henri Lansbury cross into the lower left of the goal from twelve yards out in the 34th minute and there the score stayed for the rest of this hard-fought match.

Thanks to the cancellation of the Crystal Palace match, the next match will be at QPR next (Fat) Tuesday, February 16. Kickoff is 2:00 pm St. Louis time.

Barnsley (0-1) 9-8-11 35 pts.

An uncalled foul on Henri Lansbury & a momentary lapse of defense cost the Hornets a win in an otherwise well-played match.

The foul on Lansbury in the box, minutes before the half, was waved off and the match was nil-nil at the half. Emil Hallfredsson left-footed one in from twelve yards out eleven minutes into the second half for the only score of the match.

Despite Barnsley being a man down for the last fifteen minutes or so after Ryan Shotton was sent off, Watford could not manage the equalizer.

The next match is Tuesday, February 9 when Bristol City travels to Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Crystal Palace Fixture Postponed

Bankrupt, docked, but not down, Crystal Palace managed to upset Premiership side Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in FA Cup action setting them up for a February 14 tie. Which means . . .

Watford's February 13 fixture with Palace will be rescheduled, the second such match in two weeks.

Sheffield United (3-0) 9-8-10 35 pts

A trio of unaswered goals blasted the Hornets past Sheffield United for their first win since December 7.

Watford dominated the first half but Mark Bunn held the Hornets scoreless until minute 39 when Tom Cleverely headed the ball into the goal from 6 yards out with an assist from Martin Taylor in his first Watford appearance.

Heidar Helguson made it 2-0 ten minutes into the second half, finding the top of the goal from 18 yards out and Dow Cowie, on a free kick, pluncked the final goal in from 35 yards away.

Hopefully the momentum will carry to Oakwell where Barnsley hosts the Hornets this Saturday, February 6. Kickoff is 9:00 am.

Three Out on Loan

Midfielders Scott Severin & Rob Kiernan are on their way to Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock while striker Marvin Sordell is on his way to League One's Tranmere Rovers.

Severin was signed on a free transfer at the start of the season, but has made only nine appearances.