Sport: Local and national sport in and around Watford - Watford Observer

Watford vs Blackpool

• Kick off: 3:00pm Sat 22 Aug 09
• Referee: Darren Deadman
• Venue: Vicarage Road

Final score:

Watford 2 - 2 Blackpool

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90:00: Final whistle And that's it. Enjoyable game but disappointing result for the Hornets. They hit the woodwork twice and had enough other chances to win it. But the final whistle brings a huge ovation for Smith, who responds by applauding all three sides of the Vic. On behalf of all Hornets fans can I say that if this was his last appearance in yellow, thanks for the memories Tom and good luck.

90:00: I almost spoke to soon. The ball is played to Smith on the right, he lays it back to Eustace who beats Rachubka with a superb right-footed curler, only to see the ball rebound out off the right-hand post. Lansbury has to put his foot down to reach the rebound, but he gets there, only to volley over the top. How close can you get...!

90:00: Time rapidly running out and no real sign of a late surge from the Hornets.

90:00: Substitution Double change for Blackpool. Billy Clarke comes on for Emmanuel-Thomas and Taylor-Fletcher makes way for Brett Ormerod.

90:00: Four minutes of added time to be played.

89:00: Substitution Henri Lansbury gets the briefest of debuts as Cleverley's replacement.

84:00: Substitution Jon Harley comes on for Cowie.

83:00: Close call at the other end. Adam's jinking run looks to have ended when he was tackled by Doyley, but Blackpool's stand out performer digs out a left-footed cross that goes across goal and curls narrowly wide of the far post.

82:00: That was a chance. Cleverley drills in a corner from the right and Eustace meets it well, but heads wide of Rachubka's right-hand post.

79:00: Yellow card Keith Southern picks up Blackpool's third yellow card for a late challenge on Lloyd Doyley.

78:00: Congratulations to Jonathan Trott on his maiden century for England.

76:00: Substitution Jason Euell makes way for Ben Burgess.

73:00: From the resultant free-kick, the ball bounces through in the area and sits up invitingly for Eustace on the edge of the six-yard box, but he is unable to react quickly enough and Rachubka collects it.

73:00: Yellow card Ian Evatt is booked for taking out Smith.

72:00: Watford 2 Blackpool 2. Watford fail to deal with Adam as he gets to the byline to the right of goal and squeezes in a cross which Taylor-Fletcher bundles in from close range.

72:00: Goal! It's all square again. Taylor-Fletcher scores.

69:00: Moments after fizzing a left-footed shot wide of Loach's left-hand post, Adam sees an acrobatic attempt from the edge of the area go narrowly wide of the other upright following Emmanuel-Thomas' ball in from the left.

67:00: Amidst all the action forgot to mention that England are now eight down - but 507 in front at the Oval.

63:00: Substitution Before play restarts John Eustace comes on for Scott Severin.

63:00: Watford 2 Blackpool 1. Smith breaks down the left, gets to the byline, plays a fine ball across the six-yard box and Cleverley gets in round the back to fire across and beyond Rachubka. Fine goal for the Hornets.

63:00: Goal! Get in there! Cleverley puts Watford in front.

60:00: Watford switch off at the back as Vaughan is played in on the left side of the area, but fortunately for the home side he drags his shot wide.

58:00: Yellow card Neal Eardley can have few complaints about that after chopping down Smith from behind.

56:00: Watford 1 Blackpool 1. Emmanuel-Thomas meets a corner from the right with a thumping header that Loach can only parry and the ball drops in. The goal is credited to Alex Baptiste, who was following in, but the view among the press contingent is that he did not touch it.

56:00: Goal! What is it they say about taking your chances...Blackpool equalise.

53:00: And another opportunity goes begging. Graham latches on to Smith's through ball, gets goal-side of the defence but passes the ball straight into Rachubka's arms.

52:00: So close to a glorious second for Watford. Cowie picks up the ball 25 yards out and hits a right-footed curler that dips over Rachubka, only to rebound off the face of the bar. Unlucky!

50:00: Speaking of the cricket, Swanny takes England past 300 at the Oval and moves on to 41 from 40 balls.

49:00: Is everyone watching the cricket? The attendance is a disappointing 12,745, with 670 of those of an orange affiliation.

45:00: And we're underway again here at the Vic. No changes for either side, but an interesting stat for you. Blackpool have not been beaten away since February.

45:00: Thanks to bigroy for his question. The seven on the bench rule was introduced at the start of this season in the Championship, but it's still only three can be used.

45:00: Half time Watford 1 Blackpool 0. So far so good for the Hornets. Deservedly in front and some of their build-up play has a lot to like about it. Cleverley also impressive with both ball retention and usage.

44:00: One minute of stoppage time to be played.

43:00: And another one. Smith pulls the ball back from the left byline, Ross Jenkins catches it well first time from the edge of the area, but his shot is deflected narrowly wide of Rachubka's right-hand post.

42:00: Chance for the Hornets. Smith picks out Cowie breaking into the left side of the area but the Scot is unable to keep his shot down. Should have hit the target.

41:00: Back at the Oval England are 462 ahead at tea on day three. What do you reckon? Get up to 500, declare and then have an hour at the Aussies...?

39:00: Shades of Scholes? Well, almost. Blackpool play a corner back to Charlie Adam 25 yards out, the former Rangers midfielder connects well enough with the volley but is unable to keep it down.

37:00: Nice from Cleverley. He plays the ball into Smith on the edge of the area, Watford's scorer lets it run, but Cowie is unable to sort his feet out in time.

33:00: Worrying moment there. Taylor-Fletcher plays a give-and-go with himself, running around Jay DeMerit. Although Lloyd Doyley is covering, he then almost over-hits a back pass to Loach, with Taylor-Fletcher charging him down. No damage done, but all rather unnecessary.

31:00: My thanks to DavidWeale for being our first commentor of the afternoon. A few more would be nice, please...

29:00: Chance for the visitors. The ball bounces up invitingly for David Vaughan on the edge of the Hornets' box and he hits a half-volley narrowly over Scott Loach's bar.

26:00: Just a quick footnote to that goal because it has historical significance. It was Smith's 64th for the Hornets, taking him above Tommy Mooney in the club's all-time charts and level with another modern-day great, Heidar Helguson.

23:00: Watford 1 Blackpool 0. If this is to be Smith's final game in yellow, what a way to say goodbye. The visitors' defensive line is all over the place as Graham slides the ball into Smith in plenty of space in the area and he beats the advancing Rachubka confidently.

23:00: Goal! And Smudge has done it!

23:00: Just distracted by the monitors briefly...and by Swanny reverse sweeping!

20:00: The Hornets are beginning to get on top. Mike Williamson flicks on an Adrian Mariappa long throw from the right, Smith goes for the spectacular, but the ball drifts harmlessly wide.

15:00: Almost...almost. Cowie plays a lovely reverse left-footed pass to Graham who, from the right side of the area, manages to squeeze in a shot, but the ball trickles agonisingly wide of the far post after keeper Paul Rachubka just manages to get a touch on it.

13:00: Has anyone got anything to say out there? No comments received yet.

12:00: Watford win the first corner of the game - but Graham is beaten to the header in the near post area.

9:00: The visitors are indeed playing 4-3-3 when they have the ball, with a heavy double-barreled emphasis to their attack. It's Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas either side of Jason Euell.

6:00: First glimpse of an opening for the Hornets. Cowie almost slides Danny Graham in, in the area, but the striker slips as he seeks to get onto the ball.

4:00: Quiet opening to the game. No attempts on goal from either side yet.

2:00: Meanwhile England's bowling hero Stuart Broad is out at the Oval. England effectively 415-7.

2:00: Slight alteration to the Watford line-up from earlier. Cowie's started on the left, with Cleverley on the other flank.

0:00: Referee Darren Deadman blows his whistle and we're off.

0:00: Most of the pre-match chanting from the Rookery is directed at one man...Tommy Smith. And he gets a huge cheer when the teams are read out. Nice reception for new boys Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury as well.

0:00: It's Z-cars time. The teams are emerging from the tunnel in front of a Vic that is some way short of full. We'll be underway soon.

0:00: I don't know - some people have got their priorities wrong. There are three TV monitors above the press box and all are showing the cricket. What's the betting something controversial happens today that needs a second viewing...? England's lead is now 409, by the way.

0:00: Back to the Oval folks. England's lead is almost 400. Latest is 225-6 - that's an advantage of 397. Happy days!

0:00: And remember, please use the comments facility if you have any questions or observations and Frank and I will do our best to help.

0:00: Malky Mackay has made just the one change for this afternoon’s clash with Blackpool at Vicarage Road, but it is a significant one. It is not surprising that Don Cowie is back in the side after missing the 4-2 win at Nottingham Forest through injury, but the absence of Jobi McAnuff from the matchday squad has raised eyebrows. Time will tell if this is Tommy Smith’s last appearance in a Hornets shirt, but he once again starts, while new loan recruit, Arsenal’s Henri Lansbury, is on the bench. Blackpool, meanwhile, make two changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Derby County. Stephen Crainey comes in for Rob Edwards in the backline, while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas replaces Brett Ormerod in what is thought to be a three-pronged attack. Watford old boy Al Bangura is among Ian Holloway’s seven substitutes. Watford: Loach; Mariappa, DeMerit, Williamson, Doyley; Cowie, Jenkins, Severin, Cleverley; Smith, Graham. Substitutes: Lansbury, Harley, Lee, Hoskins, Eustace, Sordell, Hodson. Blackpool: Rachubka; Eardley, Evatt, Baptiste, Crainey; Southern, Vaughan, Adam; Emmanuel-Thomas, Taylor-Fletcher, Euell. Substitutes: Clarke, Burgess, Ormerod, Bangura, Gilks, Edwards, Demontagnac.

0:00: In-depth team news to come, but a quick snap-shot. Watford make one change from the win against Forest. Don Cowie is fit to return, new loan signing Henri Lansbury is on the bench but Jobi McAnuff is not involved at all.

0:00: Absolutely typical!! Just as I was typing that update, England go and lose a wicket. Freddie Flintoff's last Test innings is over, so England are six down but they should still finish with a lead of more than 400.

0:00: Naturally, we are concentrating on the football this afternoon, but Frank and I would be failing in our duty if we didn't bring you updates from the Oval. So here's the first one - England are 196-5.

0:00: The Hornets will, of course, be hoping to build on their superb 4-2 win at Nottingham Forest in midweek, while the start of the season has something of a frustrating one for the visitors with three consecutive draws. We'll bring you the team news as soon as we have it, but Nathan Ellington is having his picture taken with some young fans at the entrance to the tunnel, so it's a safe bet that's he's not involved again after missing the Forest win through injury.

0:00: Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Vicarage Road for this afternoon's Championship clash with Blackpool. Anthony Matthews will be bringing you the action, with Frank Smith alongside him to keep another eye on events as they unfold. Weather-wise, it's overcast but pleasantly warm - in other words perfect for football.