Mackay feels sorry for centre backs (From Watford Observer)

Mackay feels sorry for centre backs

2:52pm Monday 22nd March 2010

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Malky Mackay “felt sorry” for his “excellent” centre backs yesterday despite admitting he was unhappy with the goals Watford conceded in the 3-1 defeat to Cardiff City.

The Hornets went a goal behind in the seventh minute as Ross McCormack volleyed powerfully past Scott Loach after a corner routine straight from the training ground.

It was Cardiff’s first real attempt at goal and despite the final scoreline, Watford were the better side for most of the match and created a number of excellent chances, particularly in the first half.

The Welsh side were clinical though and twice scored slightly against the run of play in the second half.

Scott Loach made a superb stop to deny Jay Bothroyd but apart from that, City rarely caused the centre back pairing of Martin Taylor and Adrian Mariappa too many problems.

Mackay said: “I feel sorry for my two centre backs today [Saturday] because I thought they were magnificent.

“The amount of effort they put in against three of the best strikers in the division in Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack, I really feel sorry for them because I thought they were excellent today [Saturday].”

Mackay was upset by the manner of the goals his side did concede, although he did praise McCormack for his “excellent technique” as the striker opened the scoring.

Cardiff made it 2-0 when 5ft 8ins Peter Whittingham was allowed to head into the bottom corner at the back post for his 21st goal of the season.

“It was a very soft goal,” Mackay admitted.

“A hopeful ball into the box and Peter Whittingham, who is not renowned for his heading ability, ends up putting the ball in the back of the net.

“So it was a very soft goal as far as we were concerned and it seemed to relax Cardiff and allows them that bit of breathing space and with us 1-0 down and pressing and being on the front foot, that goal went it and you could see with some of the players that the wind was taken out of their sails.”

Mackay was also angry with Cardiff’s third as the home side broke from a Watford attack and Lee Hodson was unable to make a tackle on Chris Burke as he dribbled from his own half and scored. Lloyd Doyley made a challenge inside the box but the ball broke to Burke again and the winger slid the ball underneath Loach.

Mackay said: “Again you don’t let someone run 50 yards with the ball and put in the net. It was naive defending but they are young players and that learning process unfortunately has heavily punished us.

“I am disappointed with the third goal and again it is when we are pressing but that is something that we have to tighten up quickly.”

Watford did pull a goal back in injury time through a well-taken Heidar Helguson volley.

Mackay said: “It was maybe one of those goals that if that happens at another point in the game then things are different.

“It was an excellent ball from Stephen McGinn, a lovely flick on from Tom Cleverley and Heidar has finished it fantastically in the top corner from 20 yards. The timing of that doesn’t really help us though.”

Mackay was clearly disappointed after the defeat, which extended their winless run away from home to 13 games in all competitions.

The Watford manager stated his team need to be more clinical in both boxes but after dominating large spells of the match, Mackay was able to take positives from the defeat.

He said: “If we were sitting penned in for the whole of the game every time we were away from home then you would be looking at it and worrying.

“But we are actually creating some great chances and having vast parts of the game away from home, but at the end of the day, it is both boxes that count.”