RAY LEWINGTON blamed himself for Watford's defensively slip-shod start at Yeading on Saturday, July 27.

The Watford boss was so surprised at the state of the pitch, he told his players before the game: "Just treat this as a training exercise."

Admitted Lewington: "I probably gave them too many negatives.".

However, the embarrassment of finding themselves 3-1 down was sufficient to stir the Hornets, who looked a far better proposition in the second-half, doing everything but register the 6-3 success their chance-making probably warranted.

Once again Watford did not have the full compliment of players available with Stephen Hughes, Micah Hyde and Heidar Helguson the notable absentees.

However, the game did showcase the welcome return to action of Richard Johnson, who came on for the final half-hour and Paolo Vernazza showed up well for 55 minutes before being replaced by another player whose pre-season has been hampered by injury Stephen Glass.

Among the positives to emerge was the successful deployment of Allan Nielsen in a more central midfield role. He opened the scoring after 25 seconds with a low shot from slightly less than 30 yards out. Nielsen could have had a hat-trick or more but was frustrated in the final assessment as the Yeading goal experienced something of a charmed life.

However, Nielsen, breaking forward to support the front players from a central position, did look a useful addition and, as Lewington remarked afterwards, Hyde can also achieve the same effect, particularly as the new manager prefers a 3-5-2 formation.

Originally this had been scheduled as a reserve-team fixture but, because Vialli had planned so few first-team games, Lewington switched the emphasis on this game. So, ironically the first team toiled in the sun against a Ryman League Division One side on Saturday whereas the Reserves met a Premier Division outfit on Monday night.

Watford gained the ideal start although it may have persuaded them this "training exercise" would be a formality after Nielsen's low shot, following passes by Vernazza and Tommy Smith, eluded the keeper.

Vernazza should have made it two when played in but the keeper read his chipped effort.

Yeading then pushed forward and Dyche was forced to make a fine intervention before a seventh-minute left-wing cross was headed down by Miller and Telemaque lashed the ball into the net.

Chamberlain saved from Miller before Nielsen came back for the Hornets with a volley the keeper held well.

Watford fell behind after 15 minutes when Dwaine Lee fired in a fierce 25-yard shot that gave Alec Chamberlain no chance.

Smith then forced the keeper to tip over when he powered in a shot and Dominic Foley shot wide from a pass by Smith. In the 29th minutes, hesitation by Marcus Gayle, again deployed as a central defender, allowed Miller to score after Watford had seemed to deal with a left-wing cross.

Sam Swonnell was denied by the keeper before Nielsen was brought down and Smith converted the penalty to reduce the arrears just before the interval.

Early in the second half, Nielsen had a shot deflected onto the post as the game developed into almost one-way traffic.

Nielsen was thwarted again by the keeper and saw a header blocked near the line. Then Johnson beat the keeper with a drive that bounced down off the underside of the bar and Norville steered the rebound wide. Dyche had an attempt cleared off the line and Neil Cox was just wide with a header.

Nielsen, catching the eye repeatedly, sent Norville clear with a fine piece of skill but the youngster's first touch let him down and Watford had to accept defeat.

August 2, 2002 12:30