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5:08pm Sunday 21st March 2010 in
Defensive mistakes cost Watford dearly as they lost 3-1 to promotion-chasing Cardiff City this afternoon.
The Hornets went 1-0 down after seven minutes through an excellently-taken Ross McCormack goal but the visitors were the much better side for the remainder of the first half and created a number of good chances.
Cardiff were not at their creative best but defensive mistakes allowed Peter Whittingham and Chris Burke to make it 3-0 in the second half, before Heidar Helguson grabbed a cracking consolation goal in injury time.
Watford, who have not won on the road since mid-October, suffered a blow before kick off as Henri Lansbury and captain Jay DeMerit were ruled out with hip and back problems respectively.
And their chances of beating the promotion-chasers took another set back within seven minutes as a well-worked corner routine saw McCormack volley powerfully into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
However, Watford responded well and were the better side for much of the first half.
Will Hoskins, who scored the winner on Tuesday night, had an overhead kick go narrowly over the bar from eight yards out soon after Cardiff's opener.
Minutes later Heidar Helguson had a header from close range blocked and from the subsequent corner, Martin Taylor hit the bar with a header and the ball was almost bundled home by Hoskins, but David Marshall saved.
Eustace and Helguson spurned half chances before the on loan QPR striker almost bundled home the equaliser in the 42nd minute.
Good hold up play from Hoskins put Don Cowie through wide right and his low cross was missed by Marshall and Helguson would have been left with the simplest of finishes had Gavin Rae not slid in and cleared two yards from his own goal line.
Tom Cleverley struck a free kick straight at Marshall in first-half injury time but the Hornets were unfortunate to go into the break a goal down.
Whittingham started the second half by firing comfortably over and after a couple of half chances went wide from Helguson and Cowie, he made the win safe on 63 minutes.
Poor marking from Lee Hodson allowed Whittingham to head almost unchallenged into the bottom corner from close range.
Watford were not being overrun but struggled to create chances in the second half and Cardiff were clinical with the few they created.
Minutes after Loach made a super stop to deny a Bothroyd header, Cardiff broke quickly and poor defending once more allowed the home side to snatch a third with 12 minutes remaining.
Burke dribbled from his own half and after beating Hodson and receiving a lucky break after a challenge from Lloyd Doyley in the box, the winger slid the ball underneath Loach from a tight angle.
Watford continued to search for a way back into the game but struggled to take advantage of the possession and good positions they had as the game came to a close.
However, they did grab the goal their performance deserved in injury time as McGinn chipped the ball into the box, Cleverley flicked it on with his head and Helguson volleyed into the top corner from 18 yards out.
Watford: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Taylor, Doyley; Cleverley, Eustace, Jenkins (McGinn 53), Cowie (Buckley 67); Hoskins (Graham 63), Helguson.
Subs not used: Lee, Bennett, Harley, Bryan.
Cardiff City: Marshall; Rae, Gyepes, Blake, Kennedy (Capaldi 46); Whittingham, McPhail, Quinn, Burke; McCormack (Chopra 86), Bothroyd (Feeney 81).
Subs not used: Enckelman, Matthews, Wildig, Taiwo.
Referee: Phil Crossley.
Attendance: 20,130.
Click here to see how the match unfolded in more detail
Comments(38)
Tricky Rick
says...
5:28pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Tricky Rick
says...
5:33pm Sun 21 Mar 10
herts hornet wrote:Good call, Johnson would be the ideal candidate. He has a Watford background, and good knowledge of the Championship. We will achieve nothing under Mackay except relegation.
So yet another away defeat ,we give another early goal away ,rally a bit and play better for rest of half then unfortuntley half time arrives and the management team get to influence things again and we come out and do nothing ,then despite asking for subs to be made earleir in games for weeks and bringing on strikers and nothing happening he goes from one extreme to the other and takes off a goalscorer in Hoskins ! within seconds we concede AGAIN and then again ,lost count of away defeats now at least no wins in 12 we cannot even get a draw !! ,Now off to Sheff Weds for another defeat then Middlesborough and palace at home ,we are going down if not very very careful MM not up to it for me ,Gary Johnson anyone too many years at Bristol city but experienced manager that is not available very often ARE our board up to it and prepared to make changes NO CHANCE IN MY BOOK as nobody in real control ,so we will have a Div 1 club next season ,after telling us in press release this week we need to sell players followed by then asking us to renew season tickets and hoping for 10k of sales again ,i know only watford could release these two statements in the same week ! ,i just despair !!!
watters84
says...
5:33pm Sun 21 Mar 10
the sniper
says...
5:36pm Sun 21 Mar 10
the sniper
says...
6:03pm Sun 21 Mar 10
rousman 2
says...
6:04pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Richard - Come On You Golden Boys!
says...
6:37pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Richard - Come On You Golden Boys!
says...
6:37pm Sun 21 Mar 10
luther67
says...
8:01pm Sun 21 Mar 10
luther67
says...
8:01pm Sun 21 Mar 10
rousman 2
says...
8:15pm Sun 21 Mar 10
luther67 wrote:I do not & anyone who belive's that GJ will be showing up any time soon well as you say there is as much chance of Rooney turning up.
Does anyone on here really think that Watford have the funds to pay off the current team? Does anyone really think they have the funds to then appoint Gary Johnson. Does anyone really think he would then want to join a club who are constantly flirting with administration, have no money to spend and rely mostly on young players coming through and inventive loan signings? If your answer is yes to all three Tricky Rick then why don't you just suggest that we sign Rooney too and be done with it. That will help us avoid relegation too.
Feff
says...
8:53pm Sun 21 Mar 10
solihull horn
says...
9:05pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Forces Hornet
says...
9:43pm Sun 21 Mar 10
V-o-R
says...
10:33pm Sun 21 Mar 10
4boys
says...
10:45pm Sun 21 Mar 10
T.O
says...
11:08pm Sun 21 Mar 10
4boys wrote:Eustace had a great game v Ipswich and takes more control over midfield than Jenkins ever has. AB always crap?? Hmm, don't remember him being too crap when we spanked Leeds in Cardiff! Although he is not the great personality some people think he was. He is old news anyway.
What is Malkay doing taking Jenkins off and leaving Euseless on, all he does is give the ball away time and time again when will he learn you control the game from the centre and as long as he keeps picking that useless t---t we are going nowhere. VOR what a NOB, AB is and always was crap
There was only one Scully
says...
11:22pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Hornet Cornet
says...
11:56pm Sun 21 Mar 10
V-o-R wrote:Retard's right, I'm afraid to say, I dont want us lot to go down but it looks like it is the only way we're going to get sorted.
You reap what you sow....... we're doomed and the blame resides at the majority of the supporters doors. The journey under sir A.B was a great deal better wasn't it? I honestly believe it would be better to get relegated so we can start playing our youngsters and not relying (too heavily) on a full allocation of loans, it serves to paper over cracks and gives a false position to where the club is at. I was right with A.B, I was right with the Russos, I was right with BR after the Brum game and it looks like I will probably be proved right regarding MM. Success is proved by what happens on the pitch, unfortunately that is some way off for the foreseeable, in which case I do worry,,,,,,, Bring back the good old days coz at the moment we have no sellable assets left!!
T.O
says...
12:35am Mon 22 Mar 10
Hornet Cornet wrote:How the hell will going down get us 'sorted'??? Never heard such crap. Are you one of these tw@ts that boo the team off at half time, even if we are not losing? You seem ready to insult other posters on here you don't know so i've felt free to do the same! People like you sum up why are home support is so devoid of passion with idiots ready to get on the teams back as soon as someone miss hits a pass. We are Watford, we have struggled before, this is nothing new. We are not a big club and after what happened in the summer, championship survival would be a good season. Wind your neck in.
V-o-R wrote: You reap what you sow....... we're doomed and the blame resides at the majority of the supporters doors. The journey under sir A.B was a great deal better wasn't it? I honestly believe it would be better to get relegated so we can start playing our youngsters and not relying (too heavily) on a full allocation of loans, it serves to paper over cracks and gives a false position to where the club is at. I was right with A.B, I was right with the Russos, I was right with BR after the Brum game and it looks like I will probably be proved right regarding MM. Success is proved by what happens on the pitch, unfortunately that is some way off for the foreseeable, in which case I do worry,,,,,,, Bring back the good old days coz at the moment we have no sellable assets left!!Retard's right, I'm afraid to say, I dont want us lot to go down but it looks like it is the only way we're going to get sorted. Who said we can't afford to sack MM? How much will it cost to sack him? Anyone know? And how much will it cost us not being in the Championship? it'll cost us a bucket load more than sacking MM, so why dont we just boot him and his bunch of numpties out at the same time. As for the players, they should be paid on their performances, not the fact that they're happy to turn up and lose every week. I don't care for you happy clappers who think we should back the team come what may. If the management are hopeless, then I will continue to to show my displeasure. if I was getting paid as much as they are, I'd be embarrassed to go and collect my pay cheque every week. As for the players, why should I support them when most or all of them blatantly don't give two hoots about what it means to play for the club. There's no desire and no passion there. They deserve nowt but a kick in the proverbials until they start earning their excessive wages. 'There was only one Scully', I have been to more Watford games than you've nicked cars - open your eyes and see what's going on at the club. Solihull Horn, use your Clubcard points if you havent got the cash to shop in Tesco. And finally, MM, do the decent thing and leave.
northofwatfordpete
says...
5:07am Mon 22 Mar 10
watters84
says...
5:43am Mon 22 Mar 10
Chris the Vic
says...
9:07am Mon 22 Mar 10
ab11uk
says...
9:50am Mon 22 Mar 10
john the greek
says...
10:36am Mon 22 Mar 10
watters84
says...
10:45am Mon 22 Mar 10
dawlishhornet
says...
11:37am Mon 22 Mar 10
Dr.Oftaw
says...
11:41am Mon 22 Mar 10
herts hornet wrote:what are you moaning about, you wanted hodson back in the side and look what happens.
So yet another away defeat ,we give another early goal away ,rally a bit and play better for rest of half then unfortuntley half time arrives and the management team get to influence things again and we come out and do nothing ,then despite asking for subs to be made earleir in games for weeks and bringing on strikers and nothing happening he goes from one extreme to the other and takes off a goalscorer in Hoskins ! within seconds we concede AGAIN and then again ,lost count of away defeats now at least no wins in 12 we cannot even get a draw !! ,Now off to Sheff Weds for another defeat then Middlesborough and palace at home ,we are going down if not very very careful MM not up to it for me ,Gary Johnson anyone too many years at Bristol city but experienced manager that is not available very often ARE our board up to it and prepared to make changes NO CHANCE IN MY BOOK as nobody in real control ,so we will have a Div 1 club next season ,after telling us in press release this week we need to sell players followed by then asking us to renew season tickets and hoping for 10k of sales again ,i know only watford could release these two statements in the same week ! ,i just despair !!!
herts hornet
says...
12:20pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Dr.Oftaw wrote:also wanted Hoskins in team and look what happened tuesday when FINALLY he is played !! ,go ahead blame Hodson for everything ,ignore this poor management team ,taking hoskins off when 1 ni DOWN yesterday then look what happened ! No left footed players in team ,woeful tactics ,sends team out and they instantly go i nil down AGAIN what preparation do they do 1 win away in TWELVE, is an utter disgrace ,thankfully the players rally themselves in 1st half and play well untill HT then management team get at them again and we come out and give two more goals away ,cannot even manage a game to get a draw !you keep clapping ,maybe you will wake up after defeat on Wednesday against Wednesday ,hope i am wrong though but .....
herts hornet wrote: So yet another away defeat ,we give another early goal away ,rally a bit and play better for rest of half then unfortuntley half time arrives and the management team get to influence things again and we come out and do nothing ,then despite asking for subs to be made earleir in games for weeks and bringing on strikers and nothing happening he goes from one extreme to the other and takes off a goalscorer in Hoskins ! within seconds we concede AGAIN and then again ,lost count of away defeats now at least no wins in 12 we cannot even get a draw !! ,Now off to Sheff Weds for another defeat then Middlesborough and palace at home ,we are going down if not very very careful MM not up to it for me ,Gary Johnson anyone too many years at Bristol city but experienced manager that is not available very often ARE our board up to it and prepared to make changes NO CHANCE IN MY BOOK as nobody in real control ,so we will have a Div 1 club next season ,after telling us in press release this week we need to sell players followed by then asking us to renew season tickets and hoping for 10k of sales again ,i know only watford could release these two statements in the same week ! ,i just despair !!!what are you moaning about, you wanted hodson back in the side and look what happens.
SimonW, Godalming
says...
12:52pm Mon 22 Mar 10
fairwater
says...
12:59pm Mon 22 Mar 10
CreteJoe
says...
1:10pm Mon 22 Mar 10
luther blissett
says...
1:39pm Mon 22 Mar 10
ab11uk
says...
1:43pm Mon 22 Mar 10
luther blissett
says...
1:44pm Mon 22 Mar 10
WFC4ever
says...
4:12pm Mon 22 Mar 10
garston edl
says...
7:41pm Mon 22 Mar 10
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herts hornet says...
5:27pm Sun 21 Mar 10