Watford 2-2 Birmingham City 0-3-2 3 pts.

Much to like about this match & much to dislike.

For starters, we have the first two home goals of season in the person of Marvin Sordell & Martin Taylor. We also have two equalizers and the salvage of a point in added time - you cannot argue with the spirit of the match. Finally we got to see the return of Andreas Weimann and Jonathan Hogg's debut - both in good form.

On the down side we have the failure to defend against a set piece (Adam Rooney's 39th minute goal) and just plain failure to defend (Chris Wood picking up a lost ball and splitting the defenders to put Birmingham up 2-1).

The Hornet still struggle in the relegation zone and will hopefully make the most of the international break. The next match is at Reading Saturday, September 10. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Loan Moves

Defender for defender.

Adam Thompson is on his way to Brentford for a one month loan while Tom Aldred's loan spell with Inverness Caldonia Thistle has been cut short with Aldred returning to Watford.

LC: Bristol Rovers (4-2) pen 1 - 1 Watford

One and Done.

I believe this was the first Watford match I’d listened to that went to penalty kicks. It shouldn’t have.

A pair of goals started off the match and a pair of saves ended it for Watford . In between, the Hornets failed to capitalize on their momentum and defeat a side two leagues lower.

Marvin Sordell started the fun in the second minute, tucking a shot into the lower right of the goal, but Matt Harrold wasted no time equalizing in minute five and the score stayed 1-1 through regulation, injury time, and two 15-minute periods of extra time.

The Rover's second taker McGlieish went wide, but the Bristol keeper stopped both John Eustace and Carl Dickinson.

The match marked the first start for David Mirfin and the first appearance for Prince Buaben.

This weekend's match is on Sunday at Vicarage Road. The Hornets host Birmingham City at 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Coventry City nil - nil Watford 0-2-2 4 pts.

It's official.

We're in relegation territory.

I only caught the added time at the end so the BBC report is linked above, but apparently uncalled penalties removed some Hornet opportunities.

Still, a point a game will not keep us in the Championship. Brag about being unbeaten away all you want, but this sucks.

Watford's next match is non-League; the playing of their postponed Round 1 tie at Bristol Rovers. Kickoff is 1:45 St. Louis time Tuesday, August 23.

Watford 0-4 West Ham 0-1-2 1 pt.

Really?! I know they dropped out of the Premier League and all but 0-4?

I was surreptitiously checking the score during a meeting while I was on the road in Ohio today. It went like this:

0-2; Well, damn.
0-3; Crap
0-4; Arrrrgh!

Depending on what Bristol City does tomorrow, we could well be winless and in the drop zone after three games. Not the start anyone expected.

Our next match is Saturday against fellow minnows Coventry City. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

A10 Pre-season: SLU 0-2 Louisville

SLU's preseason kicked off today with a match against #1 ranked Louisville. Though just a 'friendly', SLU looked lackadaisical and disorganized. So poor was their ability to keep their shape, it was hard to tell just what formation they were shooting for.

This was nowhere more evident than in midfield where not a few starting hopefuls were constitutionally opposed to running balls down, seemed baffled by approaching balls passed directly to them, and had nary a clue what to do with them when they hit their feet.

Louisville, meanwhile, played a terrific short passing game with a great deal of positional awareness and capitalized on their scoring opportunities.

The Billikens get their next chance at home Friday night against SIUE. Kickoff is 7:00 pm.

Watford 0-1 Derby County 0-1-1 1 pt.

Yesterday's match, the first I've been able to listen to this year between traveling and London riots, started off well for Watford. The Hornets dominated possession and seemed much more organized through the first half.

I had to agree with the Derby Co. announcers (Three Counties feed was too low to hear even cranked up all the way) - it just seemed like a matter of time before Watford scored. Add to that four yellow cards for the Rams and it seemed like it was Watford's to lose.

Well, lose they did. An early goal by Steve Davies in the second half completely unwound Watford's game. All the spark went out of the squad and they were lucky to only drop one goal. After dropping a two goal lead in their first match, Dyche must address this lack of concentration before Tuesday's match against West Ham United at Vicarage Road.

That match starts at 1:45pm St. Louis time. Sadly, I will be in Columbus in the middle of a business meeting.

Riots Force Rescheduling of Cup Tie

Today's first round League Cup tie at Bristol Rovers was postponed at the last minute today due to the ongoing London riots. Officials worried that supporters would have to travel through unsafe areas to reach Memorial Stadium.

The match has been rescheduled for August 23.

Burnley 2-2 Watford 0-1-0 1 pt.

Well, I managed to keep my tradition alive of being in a car driving somewhere during the first match of the season. The BBC match report can be reached by clicking above.

Newcomers Craig Forsyth & Mark Yeates each managed a goal to put the Hornets ahead 2-0 well into the second half, but a pair of goals from the Clarets in a seven minute span spelled the difference between a second place Watford and a 13th place Watford. It should have been three points, but a point away is a point away.

The next match is Wednesday, August 10 at Bristol Rovers. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Stoke City Defender Signed

In the most expensive acquisition of the off-season, the Hornets have picked up well-travelled left back Carl Dickinson. On trial with the club during the friendlies, the 24-year old will net £250,000 plus add-on fees for Stoke now that he's been signed to a 3-year contract.

Young Defender Signed Through January

Tom James, who's been a trialist for the club, was signed through January. Not likely to play any time soon, he's obviously caught the fancy of Sean Dyche who has brought him up from Midlands Football Alliance side Stratford Town.