Hornets' undefeated run ends (From Watford Observer)

Watford beaten at Portsmouth as keeper sees red

5:09pm Monday 2nd January 2012 in Championship Table By Anthony Matthews

Watford’s eight-match unbeaten run is over after a below-performance saw them beaten 2-0 at Portsmouth and finish the game with ten men following the dismissal of the impressive Scott Loach.

The Hornets keeper had made some good saves in the first half in which the hosts were the better side, without dominating, but the hosts upped their game after the break and took the lead through Marko Futacs.

Liam Lawrence had a goal ruled out for offside before Loach, who was otherwise his side’s best performer, was harshly sent off for deliberate handball after coming out for a ball towards the edge of his area.

Jonathan Bond came on for his Watford debut but within minutes he was picking the ball out of his net as Hayden Mullins wrapped up the win.

Although the Hornets were playing their second game in three days, there was no surprise that Sean Dyche again started with the same team that racked up the biggest victory of the season so far on Saturday, 4-1 over Doncaster Rovers, given he had no fresh injury problems.

After the hosts had shaded the opening five minutes, it was Watford who created the first opening when Mark Yeates’ slide-rule pass put Troy Deeney in, but the striker was unable to stretch his right leg far enough to reach the ball.

But Pompey’s response was instant. First Erik Huseklepp had a goal-bound piledriver deflected narrowly wide of Loach’s right-hand post, with the Hornets keeper helpless, and from the resultant corner Futacs also saw an effort from inside the box helped over the bar by a Watford defender.

Huseklepp was certainly in a shooting mood and saw another long-range strike deflected wide, although this time Loach had it covered, but the Hornets weathered that early mini barrage and the game became more even as the halfway point of the opening half approached.

David Norris struck a left-footed shot wide from a Dave Kitson knock down but the Hornets were doing well at frustrating their opponents, although Loach did have to make a smart stop in the 31st minute when a low Huseklepp centre was inadvertently turned towards his own goal by former Portsmouth loanee Jonathan Hogg.

The Watford keeper had to make an even better save minutes later, diving full length to tip a Kitson drive around his right-hand post, and he was called into action again two minutes before the break.

The visitors were to a degree unfortunate that Lee Hodson’s attempted interception to Huseklepp’s pass fell straight for Kitson on the edge of the area, but they were then thankful that Loach was able to help his rasping, rising drive over the top.

Having survived that, Watford were not too far away from taking the lead with their first attempt of the match in the last minute of the half. Yeates’ free-kick from the right and just inside the opposition half fell for Prince Buaben in the area but his shot was deflected narrowly wide.

Kitson had the first chance of the second period when he was picked out by Joe Mattock’s cross from the left but he couldn’t generate enough power on the header and Loach was able to comfortably save.

But there was nothing comfortable about the save Loach made soon after, diving away to his left to superbly tip away a stinging Lawrence drive that was destined for the inside of the far post.

But the Hornets were still regrouping as Lawrence quickly took the resultant corner and Futacs was found in space in the heart of the area to head the hosts into a 1-0 lead.

After Carl Dickinson had picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Mullins, Loach again had to show impressive reactions to beat away a shot from Norris. Mullins also fired narrowly wide of the near post as the home side sought to further capitalise on their advantage.

Dyche decided to make his first change after 65 minutes, bringing on Chris Iwelumo for Deeney, moments after the striker was again unable to get on the end of a ball in the box following good work by Kightly.

Adrian Mariappa was rightly booked a minute later for a mistimed challenge on Mullins but moments after John Eustace came on for Yeates, Pompey thought they had doubled their lead.

Loach was again involved, parrying a Mattock drive back out to his left where Lawrence reacted first to head home but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Kightly did have a shot held at the second attempt by Stephen Henderson before Loach racing towards the edge of this area, with referee Iain Williamson producing a red card after adjudging the keeper had handled in the process of going over Kitson.

After Bond came on for his debut in place of Buaben, and shown some nice composure with his first touches, the keeper was soon picking the ball out of his net after Mullins had been found in space in the heart of the area and finished left-footed at the second attempt.

Futacs wasn’t far away from making it three during six minutes of injury time, seeing a stinging left-footed drive from the edge of the area clip the top of the bar as it went over, with the hosts finishing deserved victors.

Portsmouth: Henderson; Ben Haim, Mokoena, Pearce, Mattock; Lawrence, Norris, Mullins; Kitson, Huseklepp; Futacs. Not used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Williams, Benjani and Kanu.

Watford: Loach; Hodson, Nosworthy, Mariappa, Dickinson; Yeates (Eustace 71), Buaben (Bond 84), Hogg, Kightly; Sordell, Deeney (Iwelumo 65). Not used: Doyley and Bond.

Bookings: Dickinson for a foul on Mullins (55); Mariappa for a foul on Mullins (66); Kitson for a foul on Mariappa (80); Loach for handball outside of area – sent off (83); Futacs for a foul on Eustace (88).

Attendance: 14,362.

Referee: Iain Williamson.