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

Watford vs Preston

• Kick off: 3:00pm Sat 7 Nov 09
• Referee: Kevin Wright
• Venue: Vicarage Road

Final score:

Watford 2 - 0 Preston North End

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90:00: That was a great win to leave the Hornets in fine heart going into the international break. The home side were rampant at times in the opening period and, in truth, Preston were lucky to just be two down at the interval. Mackay's men were not as free-flowing after the break, but they showed great professionalism and the visitors barely had a sniff of getting back into the game. The manager also takes enormous credit for getting his young charges to produce a display like that on the back of what happened seven days ago. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and we'll be back at the Vic again in a couple of weeks for the visit of Scunthorpe United.

90:00: Final whistle Watford bounce back superbly from their West Brom Halloween hammering to pick up a thoroughly deserved three points.

90:00: Excellent cross-field ball from Cowie picks out Ellington but the 'Duke' wants to turn his man one too many times and the shooting chance is lost.

90:00: Fine save from Loach, plunging low to his right to tip away a low drive from Parkin.

90:00: Yellow card Parkin finally, finally gets booked for a foul on Eustace.

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

89:00: Yet another opportunity for the home side. Cowie's capitalises on a lapse on the right to cross to the far post where Henderson heads down and back across but, unfortunately, the ball lands behind Ellington.

89:00: Very nearly another Hornets chance. Henderson gets to the ball ahead of Lonergan on the right side of the area, it spins up but a defender then just gets a toe to it before Ellington can bring it under control.

87:00: Today's attendance: 13,524 including 686 who have made the long journey down the M6 and M1.

86:00: Ellington spins and hits a left-footed effort wide of the far post following a corner.

83:00: Substitution Liam Henderson on for the tiring Graham

82:00: Yellow card Hart only sees yellow after bringing down Cowie on the edge of the box when he seemed clear through. Lansbury's free kick was narrowly wide

81:00: After Loach could only punch a lofted cross, Hart dragged a shot from 30 yards well wide

78:00: After Eustace had a header deflected narrowly wide from a corner, Hodson forced Lonergan into a good save with his feet

73:00: Substitution A change for either side. Chris Brown comes on for Sedgwick before Cleverley gets a great reception as he makes way for Watford's other frequent substitute, Jon Harley.

71:00: Substitution Helguson departs to a rousing standing ovation as he is replaced by Nathan Ellington.

67:00: Neat turn from Sedgwick on the left angle of the Watford box but his curling effort comfortably clears Loach's bar.

66:00: Substitution Double change for Preston. Paul Parry replaces Davidson and Stephen Elliott comes on for Mellor.

65:00: Lansbury lets fly with an angled daisy-cutter from 20 yards which the diving Lonergan pushes away.

62:00: Eustace shows there's much more to his game than being a midfield destroyer. He picks out Doyley with a superb left-footed pass and then tries a couple of clever flicks in the area.

60:00: So nearly a third. Helguson gets up at the back post to meet Lansbury's cross from the right but heads it narrowly wide of Lonergan's right-hand post.

58:00: The visitors win their first corner of the match but Helguson heads it clear.

54:00: Cowie's not too far wide of Lonergan's right-hand upright with a free kick from 25 yards.

50:00: First goalmouth action of the second half goes to the visitors. Wallace whips in a free kick from the right side of the Hornets box but Loach deals with it as his near post.

47:00: It's worth recapping but such was the Hornets' dominance in the first half, the shot count was 15-4 in their favour at the break.

46:00: And we're underway again with Watford, rather unsually, attacking the Vicarage Road End in the second half.

45:00: Half time Watford have completely dominated but if Parkin's late chance had gone in the game could have changed quickly. So Malky Mackay will be hoping his side can keep concentrating at the back

45:00: Preston almost pulled one back on the stroke of half time. Mariapppa scuffs his clearance and Parkin turns and shoots across goal just wide

45:00: Yellow card Watford should of had a a free kick on the edge of the area after Graham was being pulled back but the ref played on and then Helguson was late into a challenge on Lonergan and is booked

45:00: As the referee holds up the board to indicate two minutes added time, the referee has a word with Parkin after the striker again led with his arm into a challenge

42:00: Cowie picks out Helguson again and the striker composed himself well to shoot but then Collins flicked the ball off his toe as he was about to shoot

41:00: Helguson is winning his aerial battle and he almost headed the ball into Cowie's path but Davidson just cleared before Cowie or Lonergan arrived

38:00: Parkin shot over but he was penalised for pushing Cathcart in the back

37:00: Preston have their first chance in some time. Parkin smashing a half volley towards Loach's near post but the keeper parries it away

33:00: Graham and Helguson link up and then Lansbury breaks from midfield, picks out Cleverley on the left and the Manchester United midfielder slid the ball underneath Lonergan from eight yards out

33:00: Goal! Watford score again and it is the two loanees who caused mayhem against Sheffield Wednesday who have done the business again

32:00: Yellow card Referee goes back to book Lansbury after Helguson fires well over from distance

31:00: Lonergan slices a kick to Cowie but the Scotland international was unable to catch the keeper off his line and shot wide

29:00: A Doyley low cross is missed by Helguson but causes mayhem in the visitor's defence. In the end the ball breaks to Cleverley on the edge of the box but his volley goes over

28:00: Watford have a hand ball appeal on the edge of Preston's area turned away

27:00: Mariappa leaps well at a long ball from Lansbury and his header is saved by Lonergan

26:00: Watford work the ball through midfield and Lansbury is picked out by Cowie on the edge of the area but his shot is saved by Lonergan and Eustace's powerful shot from 25 yards in deflected out for a corner

23:00: Preston have started with the two big strikers in Mellor and Parkin but so far Cathcart and Mariappa have coped well

21:00: Watford win a free kick on the edge of the Preston area after Lansbury went to challenge Lonergan and was body-checked off by Davidson, who didn't receive further punishment. Cleverley smashed the free kick into the wall though

18:00: Again Cleverley starts a move from midfield and Cowie picks out Helguson but his header was cleared yards from the line. Mariappa then won the initial header from the corner but Graham couldn't provide the finish and when Cleverley crossed once more, Eustace's header went wide

17:00: Watford almost made it two. Cleverley put Eustace in behind the defence but his shot was saved by Lonergan's legs and Helguson slipped as he tried to score from the follow up

16:00: Watford are on top so far but there is already a bit of bite to the match with a couple of late challenges

15:00: Preston have a throw in deep Watford's half and results in a dangerous cross but offside was given

9:00: Watford's corner is not cleared. Eustace passes to Cowie on the right and his deep cross is headed back across goal into the bottom corner by Helguson

9:00: Goal! Goal to Watford and it is Heidar Helguson

8:00: Good play from Watford sees Lansbury pass to Graham on the corner of the box but his shot is too central and is saved

7:00: Watford win a free kick, Cowie whips in an in-swinging delivery and Cathcart heads just wide

5:00: Another free kick given away by Cathcart 30 yards out on the right-hand side. Shumulikoski cross into the middle of the box sees a few players fall to the floor and Parkin was unable to finish

4:00: Cathcart gives away a free kick wide right. Watford switch off and Sedgwick is able to cut in on his left foot and Loach saved low down at the near post

1:00: 32 seconds on the clock and Watford had the first opportunity. Cleverley won the ball in midfield and put Helguson through out wide left. He cross to Graham on the edge of the box but the striker couldn't keep his effort down

0:00: The minute silence was observed and now the game has kicked off. Watford are kicking from right to left. Chants of 'Heidar, Heidar' has already started

0:00: The players are walking out on to the pitch. Will the inclusion of Heidar Helguson be the difference this afternoon? If he can repeat his last display here against Leicester, then he should.

0:00: It is four-and-a-half years minus a day since Heidar Helguson last started a game for Watford, but the Hornets’ legend is back in the team this afternoon as Malky Mackay’s men bid to right the wrongs of last weekend’s hammering at West Bromwich Albion against Preston. The inclusion of the Icelandic international for his first full appearance since rejoining the club on loan from Queens Park Rangers is the only change from the 5-0 defeat; Jon Harley being the player to make way. By contrast, Preston boss Alan Irvine has made five changes to the team that was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Crystal Palace last time out. Shoulder-injury victim Richard Chaplow misses out completely, while Chris Brown, Darren Carter, Paul Parry and Eddie Nolan drop to the bench. Their places are taken by Michael Hart, Callum Davidson, Chris Sedgwick, Valiche Shumulikoski and Jon Parkin. Watford: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Cathcart, Doyley; Cleverley, Lansbury, Eustace, Cowie; Graham, Helguson. Substitutes: Severin, Harley, Bennett, L Henderson, Ellington, Bryan, Bond. Preston North End: Lonergan; Hart, Collins, Chilvers, Davidson; Sedgwick, Jones, Shumulikoski, Wallace; Parkin, Mellor. Substitutes: Mawene, Brown, Carter, Parry, W Henderson, Nolan, Elliott.

0:00: Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to Vicarage Road as Watford take on Preston North End.