What a difference two decisions make... (From Watford Observer)

What a difference two decisions make...

5:51pm Monday 23rd March 2009 in Avi Govind By Avi Govind

Just over a week ago, before the Watford v Sheffield Wednesday game, I sat in a pub watching the Manchester United v Liverpool game on Sky. As we were about to leave, Nemanja Vidic was rightly sent off for a professional foul on Steven Gerrard, and the commentator said that fans mainly want to see referees geeting big decisions right.

One week on, and two big decisions going against Watford have denied us three points, which would have left us on the "magic" 50 point mark.

The first of the decisions was in the Sheffield Wednesday game last Saturday. The first half saw a strangely subdued display from Watford, given the quality of performances over the last few weeks. Although Sheffield Wednesday were comfortably the better team, it took a fumble by Scott Loach from a corner to allow them to take the lead. Watford drew level just before half-time when a long, hopeful ball from Jon Harley was smashed past his own goalkeeper by a Sheffield Wednesday defender for a quite stunning own-goal.

Will Hoskins was introduced at half-time and Watford immediately looked like a different team. Fairly soon after the restart, Jobi McAnuff put Watford ahead with a far-post header, and Watford were the better team for the rest of the half without managing to extend their lead. And that proved costly later on, but not before almost the whole ground couldn't believe that Richard Wood wasn't sent off for bringing down Tamas Priskin as he tried to run through on goal. Even the Sheffield Wednesday manager commented as much after the game.

Had that decision gone as expected, it's unlikely that Sheffield Wednesday would have been able to win a 96th minute penalty (which seemed to be the right decision, even though the referee didn't initially award it but was overruled by the linesman). Francis Jeffers scored the equaliser to leave most fans bemoaning the performance of the officials as they left Vicarage Road.

And the mood of the Watford fans was the same when they left Ninian Park on Wednesday night. The last time I visited Cardiff was for the Play-Off Final in 2006, when all I saw of the city was the very busy area around the Millenium Stadium. This time, I had time to look round the regenerated Atlantic Bay area, which houses the new Welsh Parliament building and the impressive Millenium Centre.

But the main reason for the visit was obviously the football match, and Watford started the better, with Jobi McAnuff's long run into the box being illegally ended by Stephen McPhail for Tommy Smith to score from a penalty. Unfortunately Jay Bothroyd soon put Cardiff level, and the rest of the game was fairly even, with Watford looking dangerous on the break.

But once again Watford fell victim to a controversial decision, this time in injury time. A Cardiff header from the corner looked to be going wide, and when Ross Jenkins tried to shepherd the ball away from the goal, a penalty was awarded. Jenkins tried to show the referee that the ball had hit his chest. Other Watford players tried to convince the referee to speak to the linesman, who didn't think it was a penalty. But the referee didn't change his mind, and Ross McCormack stepped up to score the winner for Cardiff in the 96th minute.

Saturday's well-earned point against Ipswich means that Watford continue to edge closer to safety. Scott Loach was probably the man of the match, making three good saves. Watford also had their chances, most notably when Tommy Smith's header was saved by Richard Wright.