Victor Moses, Alan Lee and Darren Ambrose's goals see Watford lose 3-0 at Crystal Palace (From Watford Observer)
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Victor Moses, Alan Lee and Darren Ambrose's goals see Watford lose 3-0 at Crystal Palace
4:59pm Saturday 28th November 2009 in
A below-par Watford lost for just the second time in seven matches as they were beaten 3-0 away to Crystal Palace.
The home side started with a bang as they went 2-0 up within six minutes through Victor Moses and Alan Lee.
Watford should have got back into the game on the stroke of half time when they were awarded a penalty but Danny Graham's effort was well saved by Julian Speroni.
The game was all but secured nine minutes after the restart when Darren Ambrose excellently found the top corner for his sixth goal in six games.
Moses had a shot saved in the first minute but the forward did open the scoring in the second. Lee flicks the ball on from a long ball by Julian Speroni and Moses beats Adrian Mariappa and Lee Hodson before slipping the ball past Scott Loach.
Palace doubled the lead four minutes later after they hit Watford on the break. Tom Cleverley had a shot blocked and then Neil Danns broke from midfield, Danny Butterfield was allowed to advance and pick out Lee at the back post and the striker beat Lee Hodson in the air to head past Loach.
Cleverley had a free kick go agonisingly wide of the post but the Hornets were on the back foot early on.
Watford were unable to made the best of their opportunities – a prime example being when a Cleverley break saw three-on-two but Cleverley's pass sent Henri Lansbury too wide and Graham's header was easily saved by Julian Speroni.
The Hornets should have gone in just one goal behind when Lansbury was brought down in the box by Lee on the stroke of half time but Graham's penalty was well saved by Speroni.
The game was all but put beyond Watford soon after the restart when Moses broke from his own half and passed to Ambrose on the edge of the area. He shifted the ball onto his right foot and fired his shot into the top corner on 54 minutes to make it 3-0.
Watford brought on Nathan Ellington to make it three up front but to little effect.
There were few chances in the second half, although Cleverley almost pulled one back in injury time but his 20 yard shot hit the post.
Crystal Palace: Speroni; Butterfield, Davis, Fonte, Hill; Derry; Danns, Ertl; Ambrose (N'Diaye 90+2), Lee, Moses (Smith 83).
Subs: Clyne, Carle, Sears, Andrew, Comley.
Watford: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Cathcart, Doyley; Cleverley, Eustace, Lansbury, Harley (Ellington 61); Helguson (Henderson 85), Graham.
Subs: Lee, Bennett, Sadler, Severin, Bryan.
Attendance: 14,085.
Referee: Oliver Langford.
Click here to see exactly how the match unfolded
Comments(31)
bristol hornet
says...
5:16pm Sat 28 Nov 09
Every away game is the same (and some home matches), when we cannot compete in the air with midgets like Hodson, Mariappa, Doyley and Cathcart.
It amazes me that we are managed by two former centre halfs in Mackay and Dyche, who were commanding in the air, and knew how to head a ball.
I know there is not much money in the kitty, but a commanding centre half is a MUST, especially now that Demerit is talking of leaving.
We are continually linked with midfield players, wingers, and forwards, when our defence is probably the worst in the Championship!
To lose 3-0 to a very ordinary Palace is very disappointing, to say the least.
smeg
says...
5:23pm Sat 28 Nov 09
bristol hornet
says...
5:43pm Sat 28 Nov 09
We are now the only team in the top 13 with a minus goal difference, having conceded an amazing 29 goals in just 18 games.
Surely Malky can see this??
johnnyc72
says...
5:47pm Sat 28 Nov 09
There is little point barracking the team, and saying our defence isnt good enough.
The football we have played this season is by the far the best for a long, long time. Where we are now, compared to where everyone thought we would be, is beyond belief.
Carry on having a go at the team. cos it really helps!
This what life is about being a Watford fan. Sublime football for the last couple of games, bit of a thumping in others.
smeg
says...
6:09pm Sat 28 Nov 09
johnnyc72 wrote:I'm not having a go at the team. Just saying that Cathcart isn't good enough. There may well be no point moaning but there is equally no point in sticking your head in the sand and pretending everything is rosey. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving this season with some great football but we very much need a number one cebtre half. Even when JD is back he needs a leader next to him. All power to Malky, he seems to know what he is doing so one can only hope it is top of his Christmas list.
Must admit that I was feeling confident of a win today. However these things happen. There is little point barracking the team, and saying our defence isnt good enough. The football we have played this season is by the far the best for a long, long time. Where we are now, compared to where everyone thought we would be, is beyond belief. Carry on having a go at the team. cos it really helps! This what life is about being a Watford fan. Sublime football for the last couple of games, bit of a thumping in others.
johnnyc72
says...
6:22pm Sat 28 Nov 09
I am just grateful to be where we are, with a club we all love and support, and seeing some great football.
enlightened one
says...
6:46pm Sat 28 Nov 09
blissett1
says...
7:24pm Sat 28 Nov 09
Some were talking about play offs last week.
Just get behind them and enjoy the ride.
Muppets!!!!
Derek Payne
says...
7:29pm Sat 28 Nov 09
Maybe you shouldn't make such ridiculous attacks on players if you haven't even been to the match.
Wags it all about?
says...
7:40pm Sat 28 Nov 09
But could you explain why on earth you feel the need to utter your complete drivel? - it is never constructive and you seem to be stuck in a time warp, forever associated with the disgraced former regime.
Are you sure you are not related or indeed one of the self serving incompetents?
Not our best performance granted but if we had started a bit tighter and converted the pen maybe we might have got something from the game.
Hardly the time to start panicking - MM is so right in acknowledging the team have much to learn and need to become much more resilient. I prefer his honest appraisal a zillion times over the delluded egocentric amateur that was hoofroyd.
mellow yellow
says...
8:39pm Sat 28 Nov 09
A dreadful penalty, a hit post and some good creative stuff in the middle third asside, this game was probably a 2-1 victory to Palace in fairness to all parties. We are a young team, but I still feel we have enough to compete with the rest of the play-off chasing pack.
Believe.
apatters
says...
8:56pm Sat 28 Nov 09
I'm going - hope the boys don't get stage fright.
Watford_Writer
says...
8:56pm Sat 28 Nov 09
WFC4ever
says...
9:42pm Sat 28 Nov 09
I know its a young team but bit worrying really we only appear to perform when getting a goal ahead or rather once letting in a cheap goal (or two) perform so poorly.
Palace really just grew in confidence and basically physically kept us out with the odd moments of counter attacking against our defence which had one of its "we won't defend well" games.
Ofcourse we'll probably beat Newcastle next week...
I would've fancied H to score the penalty to get us back in the game which might have lifted our game but nobody could say they performed.
Shame as the support was decent and large in numbers.
derry pigweed
says...
9:59pm Sat 28 Nov 09
V.o.R wrote:You got back from selhurst park quick ?
Absolute shambles of a defence. Save money and out Carthorse, use Bennett - you know the one? he's the one that's actually ours!! sec:use-less
V.o.R
says...
10:14pm Sat 28 Nov 09
derry pigweed wrote:Derek Pain & Spazzo.......
V.o.R wrote:You got back from selhurst park quick ?
Absolute shambles of a defence. Save money and out Carthorse, use Bennett - you know the one? he's the one that's actually ours!! sec:use-less
Left early to get back to the Hilton, Croydon and now getting ready for a limo to the west end....
Any other questions?
derry pigweed
says...
10:41pm Sat 28 Nov 09
V.o.R wrote:Do you support Watford fc ?
derry pigweed wrote:Derek Pain & Spazzo....... Left early to get back to the Hilton, Croydon and now getting ready for a limo to the west end.... Any other questions?V.o.R wrote: Absolute shambles of a defence. Save money and out Carthorse, use Bennett - you know the one? he's the one that's actually ours!! sec:use-lessYou got back from selhurst park quick ?
wfc cassiobury
says...
11:30pm Sat 28 Nov 09
gef892
says...
11:39pm Sat 28 Nov 09
bownie
says...
12:00am Sun 29 Nov 09
doubleohmike
says...
1:23am Sun 29 Nov 09
WFC4ever
says...
9:39am Sun 29 Nov 09
gef892 wrote:If Cathcart is an example of a future Man U defender then its little wonder they like to go out spending big.
Having taken two and a half hours to get home and thinking about it. Comments about shambolic defending are spot on. I know they are young but away from home they are beginning to look very brittle and much more of it then we will be were we expected to be. Going forward it looks good but Malky has to find a way of shoring up the problem as good home results are being wasted with this type of away performance. and a worrying goal difference to boot.
He just doesn't jump and is no more confidence/assured than our own young defenders like Mariappa and Hodson.
We need Jay DeMerit back soon or dare I say it another loan signing but with experience.
Malky actually knew Palace would be strong but we didn't cope with that as I feared.
Those 2 goals knocked our hopes sideways (much like those teams we've beaten at home in the last 3 games have been badly affected) so clearly we have to start on the front foot or its a case of nothing for us today.
Billie
says...
11:47am Sun 29 Nov 09
V.o.R wrote:vOr...Spazzo?...you really are a disgusting little clown. Get it off the site WO.
derry pigweed wrote:Derek Pain & Spazzo....... Left early to get back to the Hilton, Croydon and now getting ready for a limo to the west end.... Any other questions?V.o.R wrote: Absolute shambles of a defence. Save money and out Carthorse, use Bennett - you know the one? he's the one that's actually ours!! sec:use-lessYou got back from selhurst park quick ?
As to the supporters on the site, OK, we are inconsistent and I am sure MM is trying to address this. We are still going well overall, so keep it all, wins and losses, in perspective.
Chris the Vic
says...
2:15pm Sun 29 Nov 09
So lets out cathcart, buy a good centre half etc.
Get real 27 points for us is great, cathcart will get better and maybe be available to us next year. Graham ...one goal in 9 games and a missed penalty everyone here says he works so hard...Danny has a lot to prove as does Cathcart. Hodson is great going forward but in defence he has a lot to learn but we are a penniless club with only threequarters of a ground so lets be patient and give them all time..for me Malky and the Boys are doing really well which is more than I can say for the missing home supporters and a bigger concern is whether we collect in monies owed to us by Pompey.
bristol hornet
says...
2:50pm Sun 29 Nov 09
He is certainly well on the road to recovery.
Probably too soon for Newcastle next week, but maybe QPR on soon after.
We certainly need him, because away from home our defence is terribly weak when put under aerial pressure, and lacks the leadership of Jay.
COYH.
bonserout
says...
5:59pm Sun 29 Nov 09
Steve, Abbots Langley
says...
1:45pm Mon 30 Nov 09
Dr.Oftaw
says...
2:29pm Mon 30 Nov 09
WFC4ever
says...
4:19pm Mon 30 Nov 09
Dr.Oftaw wrote:You not a fan?
hodson the next gibbs? don`t think so! once jay is back ship marriappa out to right back, that will be a far more solid back 4.
I think Hodson has done better than our other defenders at times this season and gets forward well.
Dr.Oftaw
says...
10:03pm Mon 30 Nov 09
WFC4ever wrote:yes i agree, with the current creative attacking midfield he has had the opportunity to get forward and has done so well but that has distracted the truth of some basic defending errors costing goals. i think he is similar to harley who cannot keep doyley out of the left back spot!!!!plus i also think cathcart is too often being made the scapegoat.
Dr.Oftaw wrote: hodson the next gibbs? don`t think so! once jay is back ship marriappa out to right back, that will be a far more solid back 4.You not a fan? I think Hodson has done better than our other defenders at times this season and gets forward well.
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V.o.R says...
5:16pm Sat 28 Nov 09
Save money and out Carthorse, use Bennett - you know the one? he's the one that's actually ours!!
sec:use-less