QPR 1-3 Watford 8-6-7 30 pts.

A marvelous upset for Watford in the first match that I've been able to watch in about two years. Why upset? Consider:

• QPR is top of the table
• The match was at Loftus Road
• QPR had only conceded five goals at Loftus Road this season
• QPR carried a 19-game unbeaten (league play) streak into this match
• QPR's Heidar Helguson & Tommy Smith together had more Watford goals than Watford's starting XI

And it looked as if QPR had control of the match for the first 20 minutes, running Watford ragged with long deliveries from keeper Paddy Kenny. But in the 26th minute, a perfect cross from Andrew Taylor found the onrushing foot of Danny Graham to surprise the Hoops.

Surprise gave way to shock when an abandoned cross from Jordan Mutch from 20 yards out was watched into the goal by Hornets and Hoops alike 3 1/2 minutes later.

A second goal from Graham (probably offside) three minutes into the first half (asst Stephen McGinn) brought out the worst in the Loftus Road fans with a bottle being tossed at the Watford squad.

Watford continued to dominate, but lost its clean sheet when Tommy Smith put QPR on the board with a minute left.

The win puts Watford in eighth place for today, just two points shy of the playoff zone, though both Leeds & Derby have a game in hand.

The next match is at Vicarage Road next Saturday, December 18, when Preston North End comes to town. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.