Ten-man Hornets pick up a point (From Watford Observer)
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Adrian Mariappa sent off as Watford draw with Hull City
4:58pm Saturday 14th April 2012 in npower Championship Table & Results By Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor
Watford safely negotiated 25 minutes with ten men to pick up a point against Hull City in their penultimate game of the season at Vicarage Road following a 1-1 draw.
Both goals came inside the opening 12 minutes – James Chester heading in an Andy Dawson corner before Troy Deeney applied the finishing touch to a John Eustace effort to equalise – but the Hornets were numerically up against it from the 65th minute.
Adrian Mariappa came on at half-time as a replacement for Martin Taylor but his return from injury was to be shortlived as he picked up two yellow cards within the space of three minutes and left referee Phil Dowd little option but to send him off.
There was no complaint about the two yellow cards but the challenges were mistimed and probably stemmed from the rustiness of having missed the last five games.
Sean Dyche made one change from the side that performed well in holding Cardiff City to a 1-1 draw on Monday, with Joe Garner replacing Britt Assombalonga, who dropped to a bench that featured the fit-again Mariappa.
The Hornets were on the front foot from the whistle, winning a corner inside the opening minute, but the visitors soon responded with one of their own – and they made the breakthrough from it in the fourth minute.
Dawson whipped in the set piece from the right and centre-half Chester flicked in a near post header that gave Tomas Kuzczak no chance to score just the Tigers’ fourth goal in eight matches and make it 1-0.
After Taylor had received treatment for a head injury, Watford had their first attempt in the tenth minute when Garner struck a powerful half-volley across goal and wide after Sean Murray had headed the back across the area following a free-kick from the youngster that had caused problems.
Deeney then had the chance to run at the Hull rearguard but his shot from the edge of the area didn’t really trouble Vito Mannone. But it didn’t take the hosts long to pull level.
After Garner’s attempted cross from the right had been put behind by Dawson, Murray’s corner from the right found Eustace in space in the area and he was able to bring the ball down before stabbing it goalwards and Deeney applied the decisive touch to equalise in the 12th minute.
Soon after though, Kuszczak was called upon to make a fine save from another Chester header after Dawson had whipped in another dangerous corner from the right.
The Hornets keeper also made a sharp reaction stop to thwart Matty Fryatt from close range in the 21st minute but Robert Koren looked to have a straightforward opportunity to convert the rebound, only for the ball to bounce up awkwardly and his effort was deflected behind.
Fryatt hit another effort wide of the near post as Hull continued to ask questions with their movement and numbers getting forward to support the lone striker as they enjoyed plenty of possession.
But it was Watford who had the next opportunity in the 33rd minute when Eustace’s diagonal ball picked out Murray coming in from the left at the back post but he was unable to generate too much power on his angled effort and Mannone saved comfortably.
Hull continued to have the better of the exchanges as the half came to a close and Koren wasn’t too far away from something special two minutes before the break, curling a free-kick from all of 35 yards narrowly off target, although Kuszczak looked to have it covered.
There were more nervous moments in the Hornets defence as the game moved into the first minute of stoppage time. Again a Dawson corner caused problems, this time Fryatt diverted the ball back across goal and the home side failed to clear their lines before Joshua King put a header over from close range.
The Hornets were forced into a change at the start of the second half, with Mariappa replacing Taylor, who’d been struggling with effects of the head injury he sustained earlier in the game.
Hull looked to have created the first opening three minutes after the restart when Tom Cairney’s pass slid in Fryatt but Nyron Nosworthy’s fine challenge forced the striker to snatch his shot wide of Kuszczak’s left-hand upright.
Nick Barmby made his first change in the 52nd minute, with Cameron Stewart replacing King, who limped off, before Chester picked up the game’s first yellow card four minutes later for a mistimed challenge on Garner.
Carl Dickinson had Watford’s first effort of the half in the 59th minute when he broke forward from left-back and hit a 25-yard strike that wasn’t too far off the mark.
Mariappa’s return to action was marked by an unwanted, but justified, yellow card two minutes later for taking out Stewart near the edge of the area but although Dawson got his free-kick up and over the wall, Kuszczak read it and saved relatively easily.
Having been booked, the last thing Mariappa could afford was another poor challenge but he committed it just three minutes later, clattering into Liam Rosenior and he knew what was coming before referee Dowd had produced a second yellow card followed by the inevitable red.
The defensive reorganisation saw Lloyd Doley move in alongside Nosworthy at centre-half, with Prince Buaben moving to right-back. But despite being at a numerical disadvantage, the Hornets didn’t come under considerable pressure following the dismissal, although substitute Robbie Brady, who had replaced Richard Garcia, dragged a shot wide with 12 minutes remaining.
Kuszczak was forced to go to ground to push Koren’s 20-yard strike around his near post before Chris Iwelumo came on for Garner with seven minutes left. The substitute’s first involvement was to try an audacious dipping half-volley from 30 yards that was always going wide, even though it was well struck.
Although there might have been a temptation to go defensive after being reduced to ten men, the Hornets looked to attack when they could and finished strongly.
First, Mannone had to hold on to a well-struck shot from Deeney, with Iwelumo ready to pounce if the keeper let the ball slip from his grasp, and then the substitute had a powerful effort blocked.
Indeed, the Hornets weren’t far away from snatching an injury-time winner when a long free-kick into the Hull box was inadvertently headed back towards his own goal by Chester and Mannone managed to get down to it but the rebound didn’t fall kindly for the hosts.
Watford: Kuszczak; Doyley, Nosworthy, Taylor (Mariappa 46), Dickinson; Eustace, Hogg; Garner (Iwelumo 83), Buaben, Murray; Deeney. Not used: Loach, Whichelow and Assombalonga.
Hull City: Mannone; Rosenior, Chester, Cooper, Dawson; King (Stewart 52), Evans, Cairney, Garcia (Brady 75); Koren; Fryatt. Not used: Oxley, Brady, Bradley and Olofinjana.
Bookings: Chester for a foul on Garner (52); Mariappa for a foul on Stewart (62); Mariappa for a foul on Rosenior (65) – sent off.
Attendance: 11,596.
Referee: Phil Dowd.
Comments(40)
Casterbridge
says...
6:36pm Sat 14 Apr 12
When Mariappa went off, we were crying out for a target man up front as an outlet for the hard-pressed defence, yet he put his track suit back on and returned to the bench.
Once again, it will be a big ask for Murray to play a second full game in 4 days, so why doesn't Dyche make full use of the players available to him?
Went to the ticket office before the game to renew my season ticket, but although booking has been open for a fortnight, I was told they couldn't do it! Crazy!
Roger Joslyn
says...
7:09pm Sat 14 Apr 12
WFC4ever
says...
7:20pm Sat 14 Apr 12
It is a worry most of Dyche's orginal signings haven't really impressed despite the improvements mates over the season...
Have to get more quality in the squad if we can TBH.
buckler
says...
7:21pm Sat 14 Apr 12
Roger Joslyn wrote:Hopefully Yeates was busy looking for another club!
We didn't look confident today. Hull are strong in breaking forward and the defence seemed to be wary of them so we played very deep all game. There were acres of space for Hogg, Eustace and the prince but we struggled at putting passes together. Lost count how many times we lost possession easily. Garner played too far off Deeney so any flick ons from either went nowhere. Iwelumo has his critics but we looked more balanced when he came on for the last ten mins, he knows how to hold up the ball and has an awareness where others are and does work well with Deeney. One thing's for sure we need to bring in a few in the summer if we are to do better next season but we also need to move a few on as well. What's happened to Yeates?
MJ1
says...
7:34pm Sat 14 Apr 12
amershamhornet
says...
9:14pm Sat 14 Apr 12
mooneysmagic
says...
9:50pm Sat 14 Apr 12
shaky100
says...
11:33pm Sat 14 Apr 12
Garner isn't a right winger/midfielder and I'd rather see him playing as an attacking midfielder - behind Deeney or Iwelumo. He's the kind of player who needs to be involved in the game, otherwise he switches off.
Frankie Frazer
says...
11:44pm Sat 14 Apr 12
I don't 100% agree with the last post about Joe Garner as I can remember the same comments about Troy last season and look what a run of games has done for him!! I think he needs to be given a proper run in the team to see what he is about, he does go down to easily but I also think he attempts some nice little touches that don't tend to come off when your a bit game rusty, he has great technique and feel he could come good if given a chance (but then I did say that about Hoskins too!!!!!)
TC was good again, do any of you think we gave any chance for a permanent contract or will his wage demands be too much?
Feff
says...
12:04am Sun 15 Apr 12
Eastsussexhornet
says...
7:49am Sun 15 Apr 12
Hornet Cornet
says...
7:54am Sun 15 Apr 12
SAHornet
says...
8:23am Sun 15 Apr 12
Hornet Cornet wrote:I live over 6,000 miles away and think that this season's has been much more exciting and rewarding than last season. One of my questions has been answered....should SD go or stay. Answer...STAY and I was a huge detractor of his at the start so well done Sean. As for Bas, well, I'm still not convinced but am willing to keep my mouth shut to see if some of his promises are fulfilled in the coming months. I want to believe in him but somehow he just doesn't convince me.
Roll on next season. This ones been a bit bonkers .
KeithMercer
says...
9:29am Sun 15 Apr 12
SAHornet wrote:Have to agree with most of this !
Hornet Cornet wrote:I live over 6,000 miles away and think that this season's has been much more exciting and rewarding than last season. One of my questions has been answered....should SD go or stay. Answer...STAY and I was a huge detractor of his at the start so well done Sean. As for Bas, well, I'm still not convinced but am willing to keep my mouth shut to see if some of his promises are fulfilled in the coming months. I want to believe in him but somehow he just doesn't convince me.
Roll on next season. This ones been a bit bonkers .
and was that really Franky Frazer with a few negative comments ?
Frankie what becomes of you ? wash your mouth out and a 100 hail Bassinis !!
All considered decent point and lets continue to find the weak from the chaff and look to build for nexy seasons promotion charge.
Feff
says...
10:35am Sun 15 Apr 12
bigthunder
says...
11:08am Sun 15 Apr 12
Amazing again that iwelumo did not start , yes we would all not have said that a beggining of season but in last 10 games or so he has been up there as our best player , he created more in his cameo perfomance yesterday than anybody else did in rest of game
1 upfront at home, 5 in midfield , everyman back for corners and they still score from one and could have scored a few more from them , playing games again not to lose instead of play to win , see signs of all the bad things that started the season !
Dyche has done well over all to get us to mid table but the football is appalling in my view, many minutes of the games i am quite frankly bored and getting neck ache , you want to encourage fans to support the team vocally and buy season tickets well you have to give them something to cheer about , would be interesting to know what sort of team people will be investing in next season as from team that started yesterday there will be no kusack in goal who has been exceptional , and how many more will be sold not that there is much left of real quality to sell .
A big few months for this football club on and off the field , well done overall dychie working with what you are given but i hate the football style being played and have no faith in the behind the scenes set up and in Bassini , as someone says above tried to renew there season ticket yesterday and could not that is just appalling and says everything about the rudderless ship watford fc is behind the scenes , I will not be renewing next season .
Dunderdale Pinner
says...
11:39am Sun 15 Apr 12
corbindallas
says...
12:27pm Sun 15 Apr 12
WFC4ever
says...
12:32pm Sun 15 Apr 12
What we really need for a "longball" style to work is pace as we had under GT and Aidy's 1st season which isn't there ATM.
Garner spends more time on the floor and Deeney/Big Chris are physical rather than quick.
corbindallas
says...
12:39pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Mr Magee
says...
1:00pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Feff wrote:Good result, in the end with 10 men, i think Sean got it wrong with the bench yesterday, whats this thing about senior players. Mapps didnt need to be on the bench hes not fit and is being sold next season, Bennett should of been on the bench weve 4 games left cant go up cant go down, Mapps comes on rusty not match fit two clumsey tackles deserves to go off then buggers up Whichelows chance, Sean your a good manager but poor selection yesterday start blooding more youngsters for next season.
I totally disagree with Eastsussexhornet. This IS the time to try out some of the young players now that results do not matter. Let's find out who could play in the 1st team and who can't. Eustace and Doyley cannot go on for ever. Let's keep Buaben in midfield and bring back Hodson at right back. Give Whichelow a game or two and, with Mariappa suspended and Taylor injured, try Bennett in the centre of the defence. Get rid of the useless ones like Mirfin and Yeates. Forsyth? Who knows?
Andrew1963
says...
3:52pm Sun 15 Apr 12
SAHornet
says...
8:42pm Sun 15 Apr 12
corbindallas wrote:We don't have the initial 7m to invest in the first place and if we were to miss out on promotiuon, we would be finished as a business and thus straight back in the do-do's again.
Forgot to add, now is definatley the time to blood some more youngsters, see how they react in front of a crowd and if there are glimpses of the future for them, hopefully we have a few more Sean Murray's types in the new boy's. Also as a afterthought if we kept hold of DG and MS would we be in the playoffs? Is it worth investing 7 million to get 50 million back! Over to you Bassini!
stonehornet
says...
8:46pm Sun 15 Apr 12
stewbyhorn
says...
9:11pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Bush Hornet
says...
10:52pm Sun 15 Apr 12
stewbyhorn wrote:Yeah I agree it's not been bad and Dychie's done a v good job. But who chose NOT to buy Le Fondre when we had a chance? Seems a shame to me
What I love most is the brutal honesty of our players and manager after the game, when you read the match reports they tell us the way it is as when were poor they tell us as they do when were good. Nosworthy was imense yesterday and has been an absolute jem of a buy and as we're not a fashionable club I think Sean has done well overall with the signings this season. Sometimes you watch players from other teams and think how well they would play in our team but that's not always that simple, personally I think we've had a good season overall considering we lost Marvin but we did gain a great group of lads who fought tooth and nail for eachother and that's what you want from your team. I've had the pleasure of watching the orns from 1978 until the present day and i'm 40 this year and we've been up there with the best and down there with the worst and I've loved every minute, promotion, FA cup at Villa Park, play off's at Wembley and the Millenium Stadium, Nicky Wright's stunning goal against Bolton to the arrival of Sean Murray, Lee Hodson, Ashley Young and all of the quality home grown talent we have brought through our youth system which is the best in this country. Well done Sean and the lads for making me and my wife and boys proud to be a Watford fan, COYH!!
Michel Ngonge was Brilliant
says...
5:29am Mon 16 Apr 12
cthorn
says...
6:09am Mon 16 Apr 12
WFC4ever
says...
6:30am Mon 16 Apr 12
Michel Ngonge was Brilliant wrote:Trouble is I bet even own Dychey wouldn't complain if Garner for example fell over in the area to win a penalty..
Once more, Ashley Young is a disgrace to football and also to the Yellow of Watford. Liked him very much once but never again! As I said last week, no time for fakers in football. Also, must be about 4 years since ghost goal and still no technology in football. Time for change! ... lets hear the defenders of the system that exists!
Its not right but they all do it.
As for goal line technology..well it makes football look silly.
I know many people who don't really follow the game that say "players get paid millions but those in charge cannot be bothered to pay for a bit of technology"!
It sums the game up in its modern era a bit.
Michel Ngonge was Brilliant
says...
7:03am Mon 16 Apr 12
6:30am Mon 16 Apr 12
Michel Ngonge was Brilliant wrote:
Once more, Ashley Young is a disgrace to football and also to the Yellow of Watford. Liked him very much once but never again! As I said last week, no time for fakers in football. Also, must be about 4 years since ghost goal and still no technology in football. Time for change! ... lets hear the defenders of the system that exists!
Trouble is I bet even own Dychey wouldn't complain if Garner for example fell over in the area to win a penalty..
Its not right but they all do it.
As for goal line technology..well it makes football look silly.
I know many people who don't really follow the game that say "players get paid millions but those in charge cannot be bothered to pay for a bit of technology"!
It sums the game up in its modern era a bit.
Agree with much that you say, too much money to big wigs, Cinderella players and Fifa (Blatter). The technology is already in use at most games in the upper divisions, called video, which is pretty much all you need. Think we can get by without chips inside the ball. Cost of camera's are becoming a lot less than before. So no real excuse left for the decision makers to run.
I am a fan of football and maybe like you and most fans hate to see decisions like this weekend on TV. Not only the decision but unsportmanship from the opposing player or team taking the advantage. You cannot continue to live in a fantasy world that people will pay the money to watch a game that is becoming more and more unfair. How can you pay £30, £40, £50+ to go a game and for it to be a farce. (thats just entrance, think of pub, transport, kids etc.)
You just have to look at World Cup 2010 with Lampard's goal.
Video technology should also be incorporated in diving and play acting (are you reading Ashley Young).
For those who disagree with me, I just have to say how fickle you memory is since the 'ghost goal'.
Michel Ngonge was Brilliant
says...
7:09am Mon 16 Apr 12
thepies.tv/man_utd/1
19681/snapshot-ashle
y-young-stars-in-hol
lywood-biopic-sure-t
o-be-a-flop.html
Feff
says...
12:03pm Mon 16 Apr 12
D.unstable
says...
1:11pm Mon 16 Apr 12
Feff wrote:When Ashley Young left Watford I remember saying the one thing I would not miss is watching him fall to the floor normally just in front of the penalty area always holding his eye. If I had a pound for every time he did it I would have had £27.50
Ashley Young did not dive when playing for us or Villa. He dives game after game at Man U. Wonder why? Is it because referees are more likely to award penalties to Man U than to us or Villa?
He has obviously mastered his technique somewhat since his departure, however do not like to see this ex Watford hero or not.
I recall both of his younger brothers were following in his footsteps through the ranks (Watford not cheating) however one is now playing at a lower league and the other has transferred his loyalty to Arsenal.
D.unstable
says...
1:25pm Mon 16 Apr 12
Chris the Vic
says...
1:50pm Mon 16 Apr 12
As for technology, what a joke that would be. the FA when using it have upheld red card for Sean Derry at one session and decided not to punish Mario B for his GBH in the Arsenal match. What makes you think the authorities are capable of using technology?
WFC4ever
says...
5:31pm Mon 16 Apr 12
stevyweavy
says...
9:51am Tue 17 Apr 12
Bush Hornet wrote:I think the reason why we did not pick up any of the free scoring stikers (Le Fondre included) was clearly not about the transfer fee but what the players wanted in the way of personal terms. It is clear we have a very rigid pay structure at the moment and that the powers that be did not want to upset that and leave the door open to other players wanting to re-negotiate their pay up as well. Whether that was the right move I guess we wilol never konw for sure. Le Fondre is mostly on the subs bench at Reading.
stewbyhorn wrote: What I love most is the brutal honesty of our players and manager after the game, when you read the match reports they tell us the way it is as when were poor they tell us as they do when were good. Nosworthy was imense yesterday and has been an absolute jem of a buy and as we're not a fashionable club I think Sean has done well overall with the signings this season. Sometimes you watch players from other teams and think how well they would play in our team but that's not always that simple, personally I think we've had a good season overall considering we lost Marvin but we did gain a great group of lads who fought tooth and nail for eachother and that's what you want from your team. I've had the pleasure of watching the orns from 1978 until the present day and i'm 40 this year and we've been up there with the best and down there with the worst and I've loved every minute, promotion, FA cup at Villa Park, play off's at Wembley and the Millenium Stadium, Nicky Wright's stunning goal against Bolton to the arrival of Sean Murray, Lee Hodson, Ashley Young and all of the quality home grown talent we have brought through our youth system which is the best in this country. Well done Sean and the lads for making me and my wife and boys proud to be a Watford fan, COYH!!Yeah I agree it's not been bad and Dychie's done a v good job. But who chose NOT to buy Le Fondre when we had a chance? Seems a shame to me
female hornet
says...
5:16pm Tue 17 Apr 12
corbindallas
says...
7:24am Fri 20 Apr 12
SAHornet wrote:The 7 million is (was) already on our books in DG and MS so no new investment needed and if it didn't work we still have the assests to sell. My point is DG is a proven scorer, motivator and leader for us to move forward if we really want to we need to keep hold of this type of player not sell them at the first oppotunity, otherwise we will always be the bookies relegation favourites!
corbindallas wrote:We don't have the initial 7m to invest in the first place and if we were to miss out on promotiuon, we would be finished as a business and thus straight back in the do-do's again.
Forgot to add, now is definatley the time to blood some more youngsters, see how they react in front of a crowd and if there are glimpses of the future for them, hopefully we have a few more Sean Murray's types in the new boy's. Also as a afterthought if we kept hold of DG and MS would we be in the playoffs? Is it worth investing 7 million to get 50 million back! Over to you Bassini!
WFC4ever says...
5:50pm Sat 14 Apr 12
As Dyche said a very flat match with niether team really did enough to warrant a win.
Big Chris did well though after coming on!
Shame he couldn't get on earlier...he was all ready come on before Mariappa had his red card.