Hornets earn Forest point (From Watford Observer)

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Hornets earn Forest point

5:01pm Saturday 11th February 2012

By Anthony Matthews »

Watford will be the happier of the two sides this evening after they added another point to their tally with a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

The visitors never really got into their stride in a game low on quality but they secured a point thanks to Troy Deeney’s header in the last minute of the first half after Gareth McCleary had remarkably scored Forest’s first goal at the City Ground in eight matches to put Steve Cotterill’s strugglers ahead.

Although John Eustace hit the crossbar after the break, Forest spurned several decent opportunities to have picked up only their second league win in 12 outings.

Chris Gunter also hit the bar, when he really should have scored, in the second half and fired another clear opening over the top, while Ishmael Miller spurned a great opportunity to double the hosts’ advantage in the first half, only to shoot straight at Scott Loach.

With no fresh injury concern, there was no surprise that Sean Dyche named an unchanged team for the third match running as his side went in search of a third straight win.

By contrast, the Forest line-up showed five changes from their last game at the end of January after last Sunday’s trip to Derby County was postponed – and it was a team that included three debutants in loan signings Scott Wootton, Danny Higginbotham and George Elokobi.

Following a minute’s applause in tribute to Forest owner Nigel Doughty, who died last Saturday at the age of 54, the Hornets started positively, retaining possession well. But it soon began to go downhill for them in the first half.

It was the hosts who had the first sniff of an opening in the fourth minute when, following an inswinging free-kick from the left, Nyron Nosworthy was forced to head behind his own goal and concede a corner. Higginbotham then fired another free-kick into the Hornets’ wall before Deeney had the visitors’ first effort of the game, hitting a shot on the turn wide from the edge of the area.

Lloyd Doyley was rather harshly awarded the game’s first yellow card in the 13th minute for a foul on Chris Gunter on the right edge of the 18-yard box and from Adlene Guedioura’s resultant set piece, Luke Chambers headed down towards goal but his effort lacked power and Loach was able to save.

The hosts continued to apply the pressure, with Marlon Harewood having a shot blocked before the ball cannoned back out to Higginbotham, who fired over the top from around 20 yards out.

But in the 18th minute came a moment the majority inside the City Ground have waited for since November 19 – a goal for their team at home.

There didn’t appear to be any immediate danger when McCleary picked up the ball on the left and cut inside before hitting a right-footed 20-yard effort that deceived Loach and finished up in his bottom left-hand corner, ending Forest’s seven-match goal famine in front of their own fans. However, the fact the Watford keeper dived late suggested the shot took a deflection, although that was not immediately apparent from the side of the pitch.

One almost became two soon after when Gunter was played in on the right side of the area and he lifted the ball wide of the advancing Loach, but the effort was going wide before the Hornets managed to clear their lines.

However, the visitors were clearly rattled and should have been 2-0 down moments later when Miller was put clear on the left side of the area but he fired straight at Loach.

Instead of being in big trouble, Watford very nearly levelled in the 22nd minute when Sean Murray drifted in a free-kick from right of centre and Eustace got in a clear header, only for the sprawling Lee Camp to keep it out.

McCleary was clearly in the mood following his goal and chanced his arm with another right-footed shot from outside the area in the 29th minute. This was again well struck but this time Loach was able to save, albeit at the second attempt.

The Hornets began to enjoy more possession as the first half drew to a close, without threatening too much, although that almost changed in the 41st minute when Murray latched onto the ball on the right and attacked Higginbotham before getting the break of the ball and stabbing a shot wide of the near post.

But three minutes later, Watford were level.

It initially looked like referee Jon Moss might not have done the Hornets any favours when he pulled back play for a foul on Joe Garner as Alex Kacaniklic seemingly looked set to cross from the left. However, Murray took a superbly flighted set piece from close to the left touchline and Deeney got up first with a back header that was out of the reach of Camp to make it 1-1 at the break.

Miller had the first attempt of the second half blocked by Nosworthy in what was a stretched resumption to play that featured a second booking for the visitors after Jonathan Hogg was cautioned for a foul on Gunter.

Harewood dragged a 25-yard attempt from a free-kick wide of Loach’s right-hand post before Nosworthy joined the Hornets’ yellow card contingent for going through the back of Miller.

But the Hornets survived a massive let off in the 58th minute when Steve Cotterill’s side really should have retaken the lead.

Harewood was the creator with a fine cross from the left that picked out Gunter on his own at the far post but the right-sided midfielder, if anything, caught his volley too cleanly and his effort cannoned back off the crossbar.

Gunter had another chance soon after following a cross from McCleary, who, not for the first time in the match, had beaten Lee Hodson for pace, but this time the full-back by trade put his effort too close to Loach.

Kacaniklic, who had struggled to make an impact, made way for Mark Yeates after 62 minutes and the substitute’s first involvement was to strike a corner that Adrian Mariappa flicked goalwards but Camp was able to gather safely.

Gunter became the first Forest player to be booked in the 66th minute after catching Hodson late before Murray made way for Chris Iwelumo, either side of a fourth booking for the visitors, this time after Joe Garner had fouled Gunter.

The Forest man had his latest attempt soon after, heading over a McCleary cross from the left, but then it was Watford’s turn to hit the woodwork.

Deeney did well on the left to get over a low cross and Eustace arrived late on the edge of the six-yard box to connect with a rising left-footed effort that caught the top of Camp’s bar before going over.

Miller’s last meaningful involvement was to get booked for a foul on Doyley before he made way for Robbie Findley. But then Gunter spurned another glorious opportunity, firing badly over from a central position after another good cross from McCleary had found him in space.

Dexter Blackstock came on for Harewood with ten minutes remaining and then Wootton made way for Andy Reid after Deeney had fired a speculative attempt high over the target.

But Forest blew a good chance to win the game in the first minute of injury time when a good pass from Reid released Findley but his touch was heavy and Loach was able to gather safely.

Nottingham Forest: Camp; Wootton (Reid 87), Chambers, Higginbotham, Elokobi; Gunter, Moussi, Guedioura; Harewood (Blackstock 80), Miller (Findley 75). Not used: Smith and Lynch.

Watford: Loach; Hodson, Nosworthy, Mariappa, Doyley; Murray (Iwelumo 69), Eustace, Hogg, Kacaniklic (Yeates 62); Deeney, Garner. Not used: Dickinson, Buaben and Bond.

Bookings: Doyley for a foul on Gunter (13); Hogg for a foul on Gunter (52); Nosworthy for a foul on Miller (56); Gunter for a foul on Hodson (66); Garner for a foul on Gunter (69); Miller for a foul on Doyley (73).

Attendance: 21,712.

Referee: Jon Moss.

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Comments(52)

buckler says...
5:22pm Sat 11 Feb 12

Good point but whatever way you look at it Liability Loach let another softie in! Simple shot not dealt with so it should have been 1 nil ! Even Dyche has said it was a mistake! Got to drop this clown and sack the Gk clown coach!