Catman

The Hornets midfielder struck in the sixth minute to secure his side only their second win in eight league matches, but it was not a convincing display and Sheffield Wednesday will feel aggrieved not to have taken a point.

Adrian Boothroyd's side have blown a healthy lead over their promotion rivals with a dismal run of results in recent weeks, but some stout defending saw them protect their early lead.

The Owls, who badly missed the cut and thrust of injured striker Akpo Sodje again, are now without a win in their last four league matches and are in danger of slipping back towards relegation trouble.

The Owls made an encouraging start and long-range efforts from Jermaine Johnson and Glenn Whelan suggested Watford's woes would continue.

But the visitors went ahead with their first foray forward when McAnuff pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.

Whelan rifled in another shot from 25 yards, but Watford, buoyed by their early breakthrough, threatened again soon after with Nathan Ellington going close to scoring his first goal for the visitors when drilling a shot narrowly wide in the 18th minute.

Wednesday striker Marcus Tudgay twice dragged shots wide when well placed, the latter following fine work by Wade Small out wide, but Watford looked the more dangerous side.

Marlon King went close to doubling the Hornets' advantage shortly before the break, but his 20-yard shot was well saved by Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant.

Owls manager Brian Laws recalled club skipper Lee Bullen to the starting line-up as cover for full-back Frank Simek, who damaged ankle ligaments at Crystal Palace last week.

Ellington, Damien Francis and McAnuff all returned to Watford's starting line-up.

Wednesday raised the tempo after the break and forced Watford goalkeeper Richard Lee into two smart saves.

Steve Watson warmed Lee's hands with a stinging shot from 25 yards and then Tudgay saw his effort from similar distance turned round the post.

But Watford soon settled and Bullen blocked McAnuff's angled drive from inside the area, while Wednesday looked lightweight up front.

Laws sent on Yoann Folly and Deon Burton in the 70th minute for Johnson and Steve Watson and Boothroyd responded by swapping Ellington for Darius Henderson.

The home side went close to grabbing a late equaliser when substitute Etienne Esajas - sent on for Burton O'Brien moments earlier - lashed in a 20-yard shot that was blocked by Watford defender Matt Jackson.

But Watford held on to leave most of the 19,641 crowd frustrated following a second successive

 

Catman

Watford V Cardiff
The Hornets have not won at home since October 20 and were destined for another Vicarage Road defeat to Cardiff until the winger curled his strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Roger Johnson gave the visitors the lead in the first half but it was cancelled out just after the break by captain Jay DeMerit's close-range strike. Peter Whittingham restored the Bluebirds' lead minutes later with a fine solo run and shot but Watford fought back to grab a fortuitous point.

The home side, who started with Nathan Ellington and McAnuff after the pair impressed as substitutes during last weekend's win at Sheffield United, began brightly and had a couple of half chances in the opening minutes.

Tommy Smith hooked a ball into the area for Marlon King in the second minute but the striker's header was deflected just wide, and Ellington's teasing cross narrowly evaded Damien Francis two minutes later.

Cardiff made an equally lively start and did not appear to be missing the services of Robbie Fowler who failed a late fitness test on an ankle injury. In the opening minutes they created a slick sequence of passing on the right before Stephen McPhail volleyed just wide of the right hand post from the edge of the box.

In the 14th minute, Paul Parry broke free on the right but he attempted to shoot past the onrushing Richard Lee when a cross would have found Steven MacLean unmarked in the box, and his effort was well blocked by the goalkeeper.

That chance set the tone for the rest of the half and the galvanised visitors dominated.

The hosts had numerous chances to break forward in space but time and again their pass found a blue shirt instead of a yellow one.

Joe Ledley's header just over the bar on the half-hour mark should have been a warning to Watford but it was ignored at their peril and four minutes later Cardiff took a deserved lead when Johnson powerfully headed in Gavin Rae's cross from the right.

Watford dramatically improved in the second half and were level minutes after the interval when DeMerit latched on to Ellington's knock-down and rifled home from close range.

But it was not long before the Bluebirds capitalised on some sloppy defending and restored their lead. Damien Francis was dispossessed in a dangerous area in the 56th minute and Whittingham ran into the heart of Watford's defence before unleashing a powerful low shot into the right hand corner.

McAnuff forced Kasper Schmeichel into his first save of the game after an hour when he shot from the left of the box and Henderson headed Smith's cross inches over the crossbar.

In a tumultuous final five minutes which saw a Watford onslaught, Francis' header was directed straight at a grateful Schmeichel, who then tipped McAnuff's stinging shot over. McAnuff had another shot just wide before he struck a first time shot high into the far corner to cue wild celebrations.

 

Catman

Watford V QPR
The Hornets, who were nine points clear at the top of the Championship a couple of months ago, are without a home win since October 20.

And Adrian Boothroyd's men self-destructed again in spectacular fashion from the moment they conceded an early penalty which Rowlands converted.

Stewart headed his fourth goal of the season on the half-hour, and Rowlands doubled his tally to put Rangers 3-0 up before half-time.

Damien Francis struck after the break as the Hornets briefly threatened a second-half comeback, but substitute Buzsaky hit a fourth for the visitors before Danny Shittu's late goal.

Watford have now won just three of their last 12 games and are in danger of slipping off the pace.

For Rangers, the future looks bright after pocketing another three points towards their survival bid ahead of their anticipated spree in the January sales.

Boothroyd opted to drop top-scorer Marlon King to the bench, while Rangers chief Luigi De Canio left out Buzsaky in favour of 17-year-old Angelo Balanta.

De Canio sprung a further surprise by sticking with on-loan defender Bob Malcolm, despite the Scot being suspended by parent club Derby over a drink-drive charge.

Watford gifted Rangers a 13th-minute lead.

Nathan Ellington had come close to putting the hosts ahead with an early header, but they went behind when Balanta's fine cross-field pass sent Dexter Blackstock charging towards goal, only to be felled by Jordan Stewart in the area.

Referee Chris Foy had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Rowlands stepped up to blast the penalty past Hornets keeper Richard Lee.

The visitors struck again in the 29th minute after Blackstock's snap-shot had been palmed behind by Lee.

Stewart met Rowlands' corner with a firm header which flew past Lee and in off the underside of the crossbar.

With Watford's frustration mounting, Lloyd Doyley earned a bizarre booking when he appeared to deliberately handle the ball inside the centre-circle.

And the shellshocked hosts found themselves three down when Rowlands burst into the area and fired past the helpless Lee in the 40th minute.

Lee Williamson rattled the post as Watford staged something of a rally, but they trudged off to a chorus of boos at the interval.

The comeback looked set to begin in earnest, however, when Francis finished from close range after his initial header had been blocked on the line seven minutes into the second half.

Tommy Smith and Darius Henderson shot wide as Watford poured forward before Boothroyd threw on King.

The 10-goal striker was immediately in the thick of the action, firing narrowly over from the edge of the area.

But with Watford leaving gaps at the back, substitute Buzsaky stole in and rounded Lee before firing home an angled drive.

Rangers old boy Shittu poked in a late second for Watford but Boothroyd's jittery side were beaten.

 

Catman

Watford V Southampton
Damien Francis opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and second-half strikes from Marlon King and Darius Henderson ensured a comfortable victory for the Hornets who can now boast nine away victories this season - the best in the league.

The victory means Watford only lie one point behind West Brom on goal difference after the Baggies lost 2-0 at Ipswich.

Southampton had their chances in the first half but once they conceded the second goal the result was never in doubt and it now leaves the Saints without a win in their last five matches.

Southampton manager George Burley made three changes to the side which came from two goals down to draw at Barnsley on Saturday, including a recall for Bradley Wright-Phillips - who grabbed a brace after coming on as a second-half substitute at Oakwell.

Burley also recalled Andrew Davies who recovered from a jarred neck to take his place in the centre of defence, with Darren Powell making way. Jhon Viafara returned to the midfield at the expense of Adam Hammill.

Adrian Boothroyd made two changes to the Watford line-up with top-scorer King coming in for Nathan Ellington and Danny Shittu replacing Matt Jackson in defence.

The visitors had the first real chance of the match when Darius Henderson, whose late brace at Vicarage Road gave the Hornets a 3-2 victory over Saints earlier in the season, headed down into the path of strike partner King to drill home from six yards out, but some last-ditch defending snuffed out the chance.

The home side did have a few opportunities of their own with long-range efforts from Wright-Phillips and Jason Euell going close.

As the first half wore on Southampton began to impose themselves on the game and had a good chance to take the lead in the 23rd minute.

Euell delivered a cross to the back post and Wright-Phillips unselfishly headed back across goal for Stern John who was inches from making a connection to put the ball into the net.

But they failed to make the breakthrough and Francis made them pay when he turned in Tommy Smith's cross.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 53rd minute through controversial fashion.

King scored with a deflected free-kick which left Kelvin Davis with no chance, but the award of the free-kick was heavily disputed by the Saints players who felt Jobi McAnuff made a meal of a Youssef Safri challenge.

The goal seemed to deflate the Saints and the match was effectively ended as a contest eight minutes later when Henderson raced through onto King's pass and drilled the ball underneath Davis.

 

Catman

FA Cup 3rd round Watford V Crystal P
The defender headed home Lee Williamson's inswinging corner just before the half-hour mark to break the deadlock, before doubling the home side's advantage midway through the second half in almost identical circumstances.

The Coca-Cola Championship rivals, who have reached a combined total of five FA Cup semi-finals down the years, both enjoyed their fair share of chances but it was the hosts who ended Palace's run of 13 games unbeaten - a record stretching back to Watford's 2-0 league win back in October.

Eagles boss Neil Warnock kept his promise to ring the changes for the clash and named 15-year-old John Bostock in his starting XI - one of five new faces to the side held by Norwich in the Championship on New Year's Day.

Hornets manager Adrian Boothroyd took a different approach, naming the same line-up that comfortably brushed aside Southampton 3-0.

But it was Palace's youngsters who imposed themselves on the tie in the early stages, Sean Scannell first to see his long-range effort fly narrowly wide before Bostock and Ben Watson both tried their luck from distance.

The away side's attacking threat seemed to spark Watford into action and they soon started to dominate affairs, with Darius Henderson forcing a good save from keeper Scott Flinders before seeing his header drift wide.

And the hosts got their reward in the 28th minute courtesy of Shittu's sixth goal of the season - the central defender rising highest to head home Williamson's near-post corner from six yards.

Carl Fletcher attempted to drag Palace back on level terms as the half drew to a close but his effort was well blocked by Jordan Stewart.

Watford flew out of the traps at the start of the second half with Stewart volleying a left-footed effort narrowly wide from 20 yards nine minutes after the restart.

Henderson and Jobi McAnuff also went close for the home side before Warnock opted to make a much-needed change, Victor Moses coming on for Bostock.

But it proved to be to no avail as Shittu found the net again to register his second of the afternoon after 65 minutes.

The Eagles defence failed to learn their lessons from the first half as the defender once more broke free in the penalty area to head home Stewart's inswinging corner from close range and put the tie beyond the visitors.

Warnock's youngsters refused to give up hope and Fletcher volleyed a good chance over the crossbar from 20 yards with 16 minutes remaining.

But it was merely a glimmer of hope as the hosts dominated the closing stages to end a seven-game winless streak at Vicarage Road and leave Hornets fans once again dreaming of an extend run in the FA Cup - last year they were beaten in the semi-finals by Manchester United.

 

Catman

Watford V Stoke
Former Liverpool striker Mellor had been on the pitch for just two minutes when he lashed home from close range to settle a close affair at Deepdale and end a three-game losing streak for the home side.

Adrian Boothroyd's side have the best away record in the whole division but were outplayed for the majority of the clash by Irvine's men before Mellor's 75th-minute finish which boosted the Lilywhites' hopes of avoiding relegation.

Irvine's side have a tough run of fixtures over the next six weeks - which sees them take on West Brom, Stoke twice and Watford again - but they showed enough commitment and organisation to suggest that they have enough to survive.

Marlon King took his place in the Watford side after the club turned down a £4million bid from Premier League strugglers Fulham this week, while Richard Chaplow and Chris Brown were both handed debuts by Irvine after their moves from West Brom and Norwich respectively.

King was subdued throughout and with reports of a fresh bid circulating his future is uncertain.

North End's left winger Lewis Neal had the first effort of the match but his ambitious strike from 35 yards sailed harmlessly over after a crisp passing move from the home side.

Neal was at the hub of everything about Preston's bright start and, after he did brilliantly to keep the ball in on the touchline, his low cross was dummied by Chaplow but Brown's effort was well blocked by Jay DeMerit.

Chaplow was then robbed by Jobi McAnuff 25 yards from goal and only a fingertip save from Andy Lonergan kept out his low drive before Watford defender Matt Jackson was lucky not to be sent off for cynically hauling down the rapid Karl Hawley after he had misjudged a long ball.

The former Wigan man was only booked by referee Scott Mathieson for the foul and Boothroyd's side almost rubbed salt into the wound by scoring instantly.

Tommy Smith's cross caused havoc in the Preston defence and Darius Henderson somehow found the ball at his feet just eight yards from goal.

He got a shot away but Lonergan reacted superbly to palm the ball away and deny Henderson his 11th goal of the season.

The second period struggled to get going as both sides squandered possession far too cheaply with Simon Whaley's blocked shot after a bright Sean St Ledger run the only highlight of the opening 15 minutes.

Another long-range drive from Neal forced a good save out of Richard Lee as the hosts controlled the majority of the play with Watford content to use the pace of King and McAnuff on the break.

Chaplow and Brown were both replaced as they felt the effects of a lack of first-team football and it was Brown's replacement Mellor who found the breakthrough.

Whaley's deep cross from the right was turned back into the danger zone by Neal.

Mellor hit his shot straight at Lee but, as the ball rebounded back to him, placed his second effort right into the top corner.

Watford sub John-Joe O'Toole then shot narrowly wide from 25 yards before Henderson headed straight at Lonergan

 

Catman

Watford V Charlton
Watford goalkeeper Richard Lee made a horrendous error to give Charlton a deserved 1-1 draw and ensure the Hornets' dire home form continues. Lee appeared to dive too far across his goal when Addicks winger Darren Ambrose let fly from the edge of the area and his shot slipped through his grasp and into the net.

Nathan Ellington's first goal for the club since his club record £3.75million move from West Brom in the summer had looked to be enough to secure Watford's first home win since late October before Ambrose's speculative late strike was fumbled in.

Ellington was handed a rare start in place of Marlon King - whose £5million move to Premier League strugglers Fulham remains ongoing - but was anonymous until latching on to Darius Henderson's pass to stroke home.

Both sides struggled to string together a passing move of any note in a forgettable match played out in testing conditions and the loudest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for the arrival as a sub of midfielder Al Bangura.

Bangura was this week finally granted a work permit to remain in the United Kingdom and despite not being fully fit after an ankle injury took his place for a late cameo.

The Hornets held a nine-point lead at the top of the Championship at one stage of the season but started the match in fourth place after a dire run of form.

And without the threat and presence of King in attack Boothroyd's side served up even less of a spectacle than normal in a drab affair.

Jay DeMerit flashed a header wide from Jordan Stewart's free-kick before Damien Francis shot over after Jobi McAnuff headed back across goal in the opening exchanges before Lloyd Sam wasted a good chance to give the visitors the lead on the half hour mark.

A goal kick was flicked on by Luke Varney and Sam broke in behind debutant Calum Davenport but slashed his left-footed shot high and wide.

A rare piece of quality then saw Ambrose pick out Chris Iwelumo at the far post but his header drifted over before Ambrose then missed a sitter.

Matt Holland broke clear down the right and at full stretch cut a fine cross across the area.

Ambrose was in oceans of space with just Lee to beat but horribly scuffed his effort wide of the far post. The second half started in equally poor fashion before Ambrose forced Lee into a save with another effort from outside the box before Sam latched on to Zheng Zhi's poor touch to rifle a strike narrowly past the post.

Alan Pardew's side were piling forward in search of a goal but fell behind to a soft goal in the 59th minute.

Stewart's long free-kick was controlled by Henderson and he chipped it into the box looking for the run of Francis.

The ball ran behind the midfielder but found Ellington unmarked and he coolly steered home from 12 yards.

Watford looked like holding on to a valuable win before Ambrose again let fly from range in the 78th minute and Lee's error saw the ball end up in the back of the net.

 

Catman

Watford v Sheff U
Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson believes a lack of "composure" was the only thing that stood between his side and a win against Watford. Robson had to settle for a share of the spoils despite a much-improved second-half performance, during which David Carney cancelled out Nathan Ellington's opener in a 1-1 draw.

And although the under-pressure Blades boss was generally pleased with his side's efforts - particularly after Sunday's FA Cup heroics against Manchester City - he was upset that they were unable to kill the game off late on.

"It was the sort of game I expected," said Robson. "In the first half Watford put the ball forward, there were a lot of high balls and battling for second balls. I just thought our composure wasn't there in the first half, we played into Watford's hands.

"But it was a great response in the second half from us, considering we played on Sunday.

"I think in the second half once we'd got the goal, there was only one team who would win it."

Watford dominated play for large periods of a lacklustre first-half and Robson admitted he knew that getting a result would be a tall order.

"It was always going to be a hard game, because of the way Watford play. They're up at the top of the league, so for us to come back into the game like that was a great response," he said.

"I've got nothing but praise for the players, the only thing I'm disappointed about is the result. I thought with a bit of composure we could have got the winning goal."

Sections of the home support voiced their disapproval throughout the game, and Robson was criticised for bringing on the defensive-minded Chris Armstrong as substitute in the dying stages.

"For me, Steve Quinn and Gary Speed have played 90 minutes on Sunday, and they've put some great work in tonight," he said.

"Luton Shelton's only played a handful of games this season and he puts a lot of work in with the way he plays.

"I thought the game was getting stretched and that was playing into Watford's hands. Our midfielders were tiring a bit so I though I would protect it with Armstrong and Tonge."

Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd admitted he could empathise with Robson's current situation and believes the two clubs have more in common than most people might think.

As casualties of last season's Premier League, both United and the Hornets have had to contend with the expectations of their supporters in the second-tier.

"I understand the fans because we get the same at our place, because there's an expectation," said Boothroyd. "We've both come from the Premiership and we're expected to win games and be up there.

"Particularly with the lead we've had, the players get nervous.

"We've found we've been better away from home of late, but hopefully we can get away from that and start winning at home.

"This is the hardest season I've had yet by far, managing the expectation; the players are low after relegation and a tough season.

"I totally emphasise with Bryan, we've been a bit luckier than they have, but I would think he's strong enough to take it."

 

Catman

Watford v Wolves
Tommy Smith's rapid-fire double helped Watford to a 3-0 home win over Wolves and lifted the Hornets back into the automatic promotion places. The Hornets took the lead after just 59 seconds when Steve Kabba headed his first goal for the club from a long throw before Smith scored twice in two second-half minutes to seal the win.

Bristol City's earlier defeat at QPR meant that the three points put Boothroyd's men firmly back in the frame for an instant return to the Premier League and erased any lingering regrets over the sale of top scorer Marlon King to Wigan.

The visitors struggled to find the attacking force which saw them comfortable 4-1 winners in last Saturday's FA Cup fourth round against the same opponents but were still a threat until Smith's brace settled the contest.

Boothroyd had captain Jay DeMerit out with a groin injury but handed debuts to deadline day signings Leigh Bromby and John Eustace.

And Bromby took less than a minute to make an impact.

The central defender wound up a throw from the left and his huge delivery was allowed to bounce by Wolves centre-half Darren Ward after landing in the six-yard box.

The bounce carried the ball over Ward and Kabba was on hand at the back post to head home his first goal since January 2006.

It was a terrible goal to concede and the former Sheffield United man nearly had a second inside the first few minutes after more defensive uncertainty in the Wolves back four.

Smith fired in a decent cross from the right which goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey could only palm into the path of Jobi McAnuff.

The winger snatched at his shot across the face of goal where the stretching Kabba could not quite divert his header on target.

The visitors had made a terrible start but with the lively Matty Jarvis on the left had an outlet and after his low shot was deflected behind for a corner Ward had a good chance but headed wide from 10 yards.

Stephen Elliott had the first glimpse of goal after the break but fired high over the crossbar after a Jarvis corner fell to him before Hennessey shanked a clearance straight to Nathan Ellington but the striker tamely shot wide from 20 yards.

McAnuff then rustled the side-netting from an acute angle before another Hennessey blunder almost gifted the hosts a second.

The keeper came for another long Bromby throw but failed to grasp the ball and McAnuff collected and shot low but Rob Edwards was well positioned to hack clear.

Edwards then twice produced excellent challenges as Boothroyd's side swarmed forward while Smith should have done better with a close-range header from a McAnuff corner.

Ellington then went close to his third goal in as many league games when he curled a free-kick two yards wide before Smith grabbed the second in the 76th minute.

Mat Sadler's right-wing corner was volleyed goalward by Ellington and Smith turned the ball over the line from two yards.

And he grabbed his second in the 78th minute with a breakaway goal.

Ellington's aimless punt forward was headed on by substitute Darius Henderson into Smith's path.

He strode forward unchallenged before calmly slipping the ball past Hennessey from the edge of the area to seal a much-needed win.