Watford's FA Cup run ended in the fourth round proper today with a home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
It would be easy to pin today's loss on keeper Rene Gilmartin or on Malky Mackay's decision to use his second string keeper, but the fact is Watford was simply outplayed.
Ashley Barnes flat-out beat Gilmartin in minute 16 to score the match's only goal, but the Seagulls trumped Watford on possession, goal attempts, corners, and overall class of play.
We'll see if two consecutive losses provides a wake up call as the Hornets host Crystal Palace Tuesday, February 1. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Cardiff City 4-2 Watford 12-6-8 42 pts.
All your magic and your ways and schemes- Richard Thompson
All your lies come and tear at your dreams
When the spell is broken
Ah . . . the run has come to an end and there I was sitting in Toastmaster training (what a scam - I'd been to this class twice before. At least I got a danish out of it - well, two) probably annoying the instructor (a Brit! - missing his own match) by checking on Watford's come-from-behind rally on my Blackberry every 30 seconds.
Down 3-0 after 31 minutes, the Hornets fought back to within striking distance (no pun intended) when Gabor Gyepes broke the spell and sent Watford home without a point.
No worries. This is a squad that had Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra, & Jay Bothroyd after all and used the win to catapult themselves into second place in the league table.
Watford will have plenty of opportunity to get back to their winning ways Saturday when they host League One side Brighton & Hove Albion in Round 4 Proper of the FA Cup. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Another Loanee for Watford
Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend has signed on loan for the remained of the season. Another 19-year old, Townsend has been a member of England's U16, U17, and U19 squad with six caps for the latter.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
AC St. Louis RIP (2010 - 2011)
AC St. Louis is kaput, following in the footsteps of the Athletica. Not an entirely surprising result. Interestingly, after receiving the Soccer Park from A-B as part of the pitch to bring pro soccer to St. Louis, Cooper's organization is retaining ownership of the property.
Watford Grabs Young Aston Villa Striker On Loan
Watford signed the 19-year old striker Andreas Weimann to a loan deal for the rest of the season. Weiman, an Austrian, has been capped in his country's U17, U19, & U21 squads.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Watford 3-0 Derby Co. 12-6-7 42 pts.
Watford made it seven wins in a row for the first time in over a decade and extended their unbeaten streak to nine in a right manhandling of the Rams.
Lack of defensive polish, especially mis-communication between youngster Dale Bennett & Scott Loach, made the first 35 minutes anybody's match, but a Don Cowie cross found its way to Will Buckley 12 yards out and the Watford forward found the back of the net.
It was Buckley with the assist in the 44th minute as Danny Graham picked up Buckley's cross to right-foot it in from 6 yards out.
A deflated Derby defense got crossed up and let Marvin Sordell score from 18 yards out in injury time to close the first half.
The rest was a formality with Loach needing to make no saves in the second half and the Hornets coasting in with the three points.
The win puts Watford four points off automatic promotion with two games in hand over Swansea. The next match is Saturday, January 22 at Cardiff City. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Lack of defensive polish, especially mis-communication between youngster Dale Bennett & Scott Loach, made the first 35 minutes anybody's match, but a Don Cowie cross found its way to Will Buckley 12 yards out and the Watford forward found the back of the net.
It was Buckley with the assist in the 44th minute as Danny Graham picked up Buckley's cross to right-foot it in from 6 yards out.
A deflated Derby defense got crossed up and let Marvin Sordell score from 18 yards out in injury time to close the first half.
The rest was a formality with Loach needing to make no saves in the second half and the Hornets coasting in with the three points.
The win puts Watford four points off automatic promotion with two games in hand over Swansea. The next match is Saturday, January 22 at Cardiff City. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Ellington to Preston North End for Rest of Contract
Natahan Ellington has been moved on loan to PNE for the remainder of the season, at which point his contract with the Hornets expires. He will not be allowed to face Watford in either match this season.
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Brighton & Hove Albion Next Step In FA Cup Quest
League One side Brighton & Hove Albion will be the next visitors to Vicarage Road in FA Cup action.
The Seagulls, managed by Gus Poyet, will take on Watford the weekend of January 28-30.
The Seagulls, managed by Gus Poyet, will take on Watford the weekend of January 28-30.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
FA Cup: Watford 4-1 Hartlepool United
Watford leapt into third round FA Cup action with five fresh faces in the wake of injuries and the return of loanees Jordon Mutch & Andrew Taylor.
Rene Gilmartin gave Scott Loach a rest, Piero Mingoria made his first team debut in place of the injured Don Cowie, Matthew Whichelow & Dale Bennett stepped in for Mutch & Taylor respectively, and Danny Graham got a rest for the the first half at least with Troy Deeney in as a starting striker.
The first half was about thirty minutes of slogging football followed by an increasing tilt in favor of Hartlepool, culminating in an Antony Sweeney goal for Hartlepool in the closing seconds of the first half.
The second half creaked along in the same vein until the one hour mark then it was all Hornets.
Only a spectacular save by Gilmartin kept Hartlepoole from going two up, but minutes later Mingoia scored his first career goal from 25 yards out in the 66th minute, evening up the score for Watford. Two minutes later, Marvin Sordell put the Hornets ahead with a right-footer from 20 yards out (asst. Whichelow).
"Score-dell" picked up his second goal, this time assisted by Dale Bennett in minute 83 and Danny Graham, off the bench, made it 4-1 in added time.
The club donated its share of the profits from the game to the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity, a Football League charity partner.
Draw for Round Four will be tomorrow. The next match will be Saturday, January 15 at Vicarage Road when Watford hosts Derby Co. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Rene Gilmartin gave Scott Loach a rest, Piero Mingoria made his first team debut in place of the injured Don Cowie, Matthew Whichelow & Dale Bennett stepped in for Mutch & Taylor respectively, and Danny Graham got a rest for the the first half at least with Troy Deeney in as a starting striker.
The first half was about thirty minutes of slogging football followed by an increasing tilt in favor of Hartlepool, culminating in an Antony Sweeney goal for Hartlepool in the closing seconds of the first half.
The second half creaked along in the same vein until the one hour mark then it was all Hornets.
Only a spectacular save by Gilmartin kept Hartlepoole from going two up, but minutes later Mingoia scored his first career goal from 25 yards out in the 66th minute, evening up the score for Watford. Two minutes later, Marvin Sordell put the Hornets ahead with a right-footer from 20 yards out (asst. Whichelow).
"Score-dell" picked up his second goal, this time assisted by Dale Bennett in minute 83 and Danny Graham, off the bench, made it 4-1 in added time.
The club donated its share of the profits from the game to the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity, a Football League charity partner.
Draw for Round Four will be tomorrow. The next match will be Saturday, January 15 at Vicarage Road when Watford hosts Derby Co. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Monday, January 03, 2011
Scunthorpe United 1-2 Watford 11-6-7 39 pts.
An ugly match, marred by snow, ice, and four floodlight outages, but a beautiful result as Watford nabbed their 15th, 16th, & 17th points in their last 7 matches to remain in the playoff zone.
A truly lackluster affair that saw Watford lucky to be nil-nil at the half turned downright hideous as the first of four power outages hit Glanford Park early in the second half. The Hornets turned cold and allowed a penalty shot in the 57th minute (luckily missed) followed by a Martyn Woolford goal putting Scunny ahead 1-0 four minutes later.
But Danny Graham came to the rescue with an equalizer minutes later, heading in a shot from 12 yards out. The effort took its toll on Graham as he limped off two minutes later, replaced by the seldom seen Matthew Whichelow.
Perhaps we should see more of him as he scored his second goal of the season in six appearances (asst Will Buckley) with four minutes left in regulation to net the Hornets their three points.
The next match is Saturday, January 8 as Vicarage Road plays host to FA Cup action, welcoming League One side Hartlepool United. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
I apologize for not chronicling the last two matches as I had to be elsewhere to attend to family business.
A truly lackluster affair that saw Watford lucky to be nil-nil at the half turned downright hideous as the first of four power outages hit Glanford Park early in the second half. The Hornets turned cold and allowed a penalty shot in the 57th minute (luckily missed) followed by a Martyn Woolford goal putting Scunny ahead 1-0 four minutes later.
But Danny Graham came to the rescue with an equalizer minutes later, heading in a shot from 12 yards out. The effort took its toll on Graham as he limped off two minutes later, replaced by the seldom seen Matthew Whichelow.
Perhaps we should see more of him as he scored his second goal of the season in six appearances (asst Will Buckley) with four minutes left in regulation to net the Hornets their three points.
The next match is Saturday, January 8 as Vicarage Road plays host to FA Cup action, welcoming League One side Hartlepool United. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
I apologize for not chronicling the last two matches as I had to be elsewhere to attend to family business.
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