Though a draw in the standings, yesterday's match had to go down as a moral victory as Watford played a man down for the last 13 minutes but managed to hold on to the point.
Danny Graham rolled on with his consistent form, heading the ball into the lower center of the net from five yards out (asst. Andreas Weimann - header) to give the Hornets a lead in the 22nd minute.
Watford nearly went two up at the half hour mark, but Stephen McGinn pushed his shot over the crossbar.
Jason Euell equalized in added time at the end of the first half, but both squads came out for the second half pressing for the win.
The back-and-forth continued until an inadvertent hand ball by John Eustace earned him his second yellow of the night and a trip to the bench. Rovers continued to press, but the Watford defense held for the point.
The next match is Saturday, March 5 at Vicarage Road against Millwall, who currently sit one point atop Watford. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Malky Speaks!
The Watford skipper talks to host Mark Clemmit about the academy, why a Scot is helping the future English team, and reversals in form in this week's nPower Football League podcast.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Watford 1-3 Bristol City 12-9-11 45 pts.
Bring me the head of the ball boy!
A quick throw-in, aided by Watford's two-ball system, let the Robins equalize a half hour into the match and recapture momentum that had belonged to Watford.
Don Cowie made the most of a poorly cleared Danny Graham cross and strode into a shot from 12 yards out to put Watford ahead in the 20th minute. A deflated Bristol City moped about until Nicky Maynard capitalized on the quick throw-in for his first goal since knee surgery.
It looked like a point apiece until Marvin Elliot managed a header past Scott Loach in the 70th minute to put the Robins ahead for the match. Brett Pitman, coming on as a sub, drilled the final goal into the top of the net in added time to give Bristol City their fifth away win of the season.
As an aside, I had to go to Bristol City's site and announcers to catch the match. They are as unimpressed with Vicarage Road's pitch as the Three Counties crew.
With the Hornets drifting about mid-table, they travell to Keepmoat Stadium this Saturday, February 26, to face the Doncaster Rovers. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
A quick throw-in, aided by Watford's two-ball system, let the Robins equalize a half hour into the match and recapture momentum that had belonged to Watford.
Don Cowie made the most of a poorly cleared Danny Graham cross and strode into a shot from 12 yards out to put Watford ahead in the 20th minute. A deflated Bristol City moped about until Nicky Maynard capitalized on the quick throw-in for his first goal since knee surgery.
It looked like a point apiece until Marvin Elliot managed a header past Scott Loach in the 70th minute to put the Robins ahead for the match. Brett Pitman, coming on as a sub, drilled the final goal into the top of the net in added time to give Bristol City their fifth away win of the season.
As an aside, I had to go to Bristol City's site and announcers to catch the match. They are as unimpressed with Vicarage Road's pitch as the Three Counties crew.
With the Hornets drifting about mid-table, they travell to Keepmoat Stadium this Saturday, February 26, to face the Doncaster Rovers. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Reading 1-1 Watford 12-9-10 45 pts
It looked like Malky was going to get a birthday present in the form of three points today, but Reading reignited in the second half while the Hornets failed to capitalize on their momentum in the first.
Loanee Andy Weimann drew first blood in the 27th minute, catching the rebound of his first shot to sink the second from 6 yards out (Danny Graham asst.). Graham then had at least a pair of shots on goal but the Royals' keeper, Adam Federici, refused to let in any other goals and kept Reading in the match going into the dressing rooms at the half.
That persistence paid off when Noel Hunt headed a rebound off the bar into an empty goal to equalize for Reading and salvage a point at home.
The draw leaves both teams adrift mid-table. Watford lies eight point shy of the playoff zone, albeit with a game in hand.
The next match is Tuesday, February 22 at Vicarage Road against Bristol City. Bristol City are the owners of a two-game losing streak. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
Loanee Andy Weimann drew first blood in the 27th minute, catching the rebound of his first shot to sink the second from 6 yards out (Danny Graham asst.). Graham then had at least a pair of shots on goal but the Royals' keeper, Adam Federici, refused to let in any other goals and kept Reading in the match going into the dressing rooms at the half.
That persistence paid off when Noel Hunt headed a rebound off the bar into an empty goal to equalize for Reading and salvage a point at home.
The draw leaves both teams adrift mid-table. Watford lies eight point shy of the playoff zone, albeit with a game in hand.
The next match is Tuesday, February 22 at Vicarage Road against Bristol City. Bristol City are the owners of a two-game losing streak. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Watford 2-2 Preston North End 12-8-10 44 pts.
Tactical half-time moves by Malky Mackay made all the difference today at a soggy Vicarage Road as the Hornets came from behind to net a point in the standings.
The good feelings brought on by the return of Lloyd Doyley and Don Cowie lasted - oh - 35 seconds as an early corner caught Watford sleeping and let a Sean St. Ledger goal past Scott Loach.
Watford pressure sought the equalizer but in minute 37, Keith Treacy beat two yellow-shirted defenders, pulled back, and fed a picture-perfect cross to Leon Clarke for the Lilywhites' second goal. That score stood until the half.
Seeing his squad was not clicking, Malky pulled Doyley & Daniel Drinkwater for youngsters Matty Whichelow & Adam Thompson at the half.
The move paid off. Whichelow broke Iain Turner's clean sheet in minute 69, left-footing a shot in from 18 yards out (asst. Stephen McGinn) and Thompson netted his debut goal eleven minutes later from 6 yards away (asst. Martin Taylor).
The point leaves Watford mid-table (and PNE in the cellar). Next match is Saturday, September 19 at Reading, who currently lie a point south of the Hornets. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
The good feelings brought on by the return of Lloyd Doyley and Don Cowie lasted - oh - 35 seconds as an early corner caught Watford sleeping and let a Sean St. Ledger goal past Scott Loach.
Watford pressure sought the equalizer but in minute 37, Keith Treacy beat two yellow-shirted defenders, pulled back, and fed a picture-perfect cross to Leon Clarke for the Lilywhites' second goal. That score stood until the half.
Seeing his squad was not clicking, Malky pulled Doyley & Daniel Drinkwater for youngsters Matty Whichelow & Adam Thompson at the half.
The move paid off. Whichelow broke Iain Turner's clean sheet in minute 69, left-footing a shot in from 18 yards out (asst. Stephen McGinn) and Thompson netted his debut goal eleven minutes later from 6 yards away (asst. Martin Taylor).
The point leaves Watford mid-table (and PNE in the cellar). Next match is Saturday, September 19 at Reading, who currently lie a point south of the Hornets. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Watford 1-3 Burnley 12-7-10 43 pts.
This bizarre Dale Bennett own goal in the eighth minute set the tone for the match. Despite Danny Graham equalizing five minutes later (asst. Marvin Sordell cross) and several one-on-one opportunities for Watford, the Clarets were able to capitalize on their chances while the Hornets failed to convert theirs.
The match stayed tied to the hour mark, but Chris Eagles scored the go-ahead off a pass from Chris Iwelumo in minute 66. Eagles returned the favor, setting up an Iwelumo goal in minute 75 to nail down the 3 points for Burnley, pushing them ahead of Watford in the standings. The Hornets are resting mid-table, nine points off the playoffs.
Their next chance comes Tuesday, February 15 in the rescheduled Preston North End match at Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Potential Buyers Named
The Watford Observer is reporting that orthopedic surgeon Panos Thomas and Laurence Bassini are behind a possible takeover offer for Watford FC. Which begs the question . . .
In the land of National Health, how does a surgeon earn enough scratch to by a football team? Just askin'.
In the land of National Health, how does a surgeon earn enough scratch to by a football team? Just askin'.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Watford 12-7-9 43 pts
A Marcus Tudgay goal before I even sat down was the sole goal for the day. Watford threatened to equalize throughout the entire match, but could not pull the trigger. The squad seems to have hit a sloggy patch.
The next match is Saturday, February 12 when Vicarage Road hosts Burnley. Kickoff at 9:00 am St. Louis time.
The next match is Saturday, February 12 when Vicarage Road hosts Burnley. Kickoff at 9:00 am St. Louis time.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Transfer Window Summary
As the transfer window closed at the end of January Watford had made no permanent moves, but some of their loan deals have already yielded goals. In summary:
Josh Walker - Northampton Town - End of Season (EOS)
Eddie Oshodi - Rushden & Diamonds - April 30, 2011
Nathan Ellington - Preston North End - EOS (end of contract)
OUT
Josh Walker - Northampton Town - End of Season (EOS)
Eddie Oshodi - Rushden & Diamonds - April 30, 2011
Nathan Ellington - Preston North End - EOS (end of contract)
IN
Danny Drinkwater - Manchester United - EOS
Andreas Weimann - Aston Villa - EOS
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Watford 1-1 Crystal Palace 12-7-8 43 pts.
I was socked in at home today with the wife & dog as Snowmaggedon sideswiped St. Louis. That made it all the more pleasant to curl up with the Hornets and enjoy the Championship action this afternoon.
It was one of those games; well-played but Watford just couldn't push it over the edge. Watford jumped ahead early on the efforts of two recent loanees. An Andros Townsend cross found Andreas Weimann twelve yards out at the ten minute mark and the recent Aston Villa striker left-footed it in the bottom right corner of the goal to kick off his first-ever start with Watford.
The Hornets held for thirty minutes, playing dominating football, but Townsend gave up the ball midfield and James Vaughn beat Adrian Mariappa on the counter-attack to equalize late in the half.
The dodgy pitch and a clinging fog hampered scoring in the second half and the match ended 1-1 after a full six minutes of added time at the end.
The draw leaves Watford just outside the playoff zone with two games in hand.
The next match is Saturday at Nottingham Forest. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
It was one of those games; well-played but Watford just couldn't push it over the edge. Watford jumped ahead early on the efforts of two recent loanees. An Andros Townsend cross found Andreas Weimann twelve yards out at the ten minute mark and the recent Aston Villa striker left-footed it in the bottom right corner of the goal to kick off his first-ever start with Watford.
The Hornets held for thirty minutes, playing dominating football, but Townsend gave up the ball midfield and James Vaughn beat Adrian Mariappa on the counter-attack to equalize late in the half.
The dodgy pitch and a clinging fog hampered scoring in the second half and the match ended 1-1 after a full six minutes of added time at the end.
The draw leaves Watford just outside the playoff zone with two games in hand.
The next match is Saturday at Nottingham Forest. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.
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