Saturday, September 4, 1982

Watford's first top-flight defeat came at Maine Road, where an early injury sustained by Joe Corrigan left defender Bobby McDonald in the Manchester City goal for more than half the game.

The 22 shots at goal recorded by the visitors included only six on target, and Graham Taylor drily observed that "If you put a cardboard cut-out in goal and shoot straight at him he'll look adequate."

Dennis Tueart's goal put City top of the table, but fortunes would be reversed at the end of the season as Watford finished second, City being relegated on the final day.

Reproduced by kind permission of Matt Rowson from his book,Watford FC On This Day