Under-fire Boothroyd explains switches
5:54pm Saturday 19th April 2008
Aidy Boothroyd said his baffling decison to replace Jobi McAnuff with Mat Sadler was tactical.
With Watford a goal behind and chasing the game, Boothroyd opted to replace McAnuff, one of his most creative players, with Sadler and move the left-footed Jordan Stewart to the right-hand side of midfield.
Nathan Ellington, meanwhile, was left warming the bench until three minutes from time when he was introduced Stewart.
"Jobi wasn't injured," confirmed Boothroyd. "I just wanted to change it around and get some inswinging balls into the box and test Speroni and their back four.
"We were dominant for long periods and bringing Jobi off and putting Jordan there gives us a better aerial threat."
McAnuff described the afternoon as "one of the most disappointing of my career".
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