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

Watford vs Nottingham Forest

• Kick off: 12:00pm Sat 26 Dec 09
• Referee: Andy D'Urso
• Venue: Vicarage Road

Final score:

Watford 0 - 0 Nottingham Forest

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94:00: Final whistle Full time and it is Watford's first draw in ten matches but they must feel as though they deserved the three points after the late penalty appeal

91:00: Unbelieveable. Camp is unable to gather a Doyley cross. It is fumbled to Lansbury. His shot is saved by Camp. The ball ends up back at the feet of Lansbury, who passes to Cleverley eight yards out and his powerful drive seemed to be almost punched away by Shorey. Seemed a stonewall penalty but the poor Andy D'Urso refused to give the penalty

89:00: The corner is only cleared as far as Hodson. His shot is deflected wide for a corner and Lansbury could only volley the ball comfortabky over the bar from Cleverley's subsequent delivery

89:00: Substitution Henderson for Graham

88:00: Watford go agonisingly close. Eustace passes to Cleverley inside the box and his low cross into the six yard box is almost diverted in by Graham but the striker couldn't quite reach the ball and Gunter kicks it out for a corner

86:00: Substitution Jon Harley for Cowie

86:00: Substitution McGoldrick off for Earnshaw

85:00: Watford work the ball well in tight space but Helguson's shot dribbled into the arms of Camp

84:00: McGoldrick's deep cross is headed towards the top corner by Blackstock but Loach somehow clawed the ball away. Great save

82:00: Cleverley jumps into a challenge with Gunter in the box and brings the Forest man down but fortunately the ref said no penalty

81:00: Watford break with numbers but Eustace gives the ball away as he tries to slip Cleverley through

78:00: Corner is taken quickly by Cleverley and Cowie's curling shot, similar to Cleverley's earlier in the match, hit the post and was cleared

77:00: Lansbury picks out Graham on the edge of the six yard box but just as he was set to pull the trigger, Gunter flicked the ball away for a corner

75:00: Yellow card Doyley has been the outstanding player on the pitch and bet two men as he attempted to get to the byline and cross. McGugan purposely took the full back out with his elbow as he ran past him. Definite yellow

71:00: Substitution Adebola off Blackstock on

69:00: Cleverley and Doyley work well as they break from inside their own half and Doyley picks out Graham on the edge of the area. Graham turns well but drags his shot wide

68:00: Cleverley again creates space 25 yards out but this time his shot is soft and easily saved by Camp

66:00: Graham turns his defender in the box but his cross is cut out by Chambers

63:00: Watford have a penalty appeal turned down as Cowie felt his shot hit the arm of Chambers

62:00: Substitution Tyson on for Anderson

60:00: Watford break when Lansbury wins the ball in midfield and after a one-two with Cowie, passes to Helguson who gives it to Cleverley. The on loan Manchester United midfielder dribbled into the box and shifted the ball on to his right foot and his curling effort was narrowly wide of the far post

59:00: McGugan fires a shot wide from 18 yards

56:00: Cleverley wins a free kick. His initial delivery is partly cleared but Lansbury sends the ball back in and Helguson's looping header has to be headed over the bar by Wilson two yards out

51:00: Attendance is 17,086. The visiting fans make up 2,242

50:00: Mariappa cross is cleared

48:00: Forest have a penalty appeal turned away as Cohen's cross appears as though it may have hit DeMerit's hand

47:00: The second half has begun and Forest straight away win a corner. Kelvin Wilson's header lands on the roof of the net

45:00: Half time A slow start from Watford but they came into the game more as the match wore on. Both sides could have scored but neither could say they deserve to go in ahead

44:00: Cleverley does well as he breaks from midfield. Eustace's cross to the back post is headed back towards the penalty area and Graham's shot is blocked and he is unable to gather the ball for a second attempt and it goes out for a goal kick

43:00: McGoldrick's shot is blocked by Doyley and goes out for a throw. The long throw is flicked on by McGoldrick and Adebola cannot direct his shot on target from close range

40:00: Watford again break quickly and Hodson sends in a deep cross and Camp is unable to claim under the pressure of Helguson. The ball falls to Graham but his shot is saved by Camp and gathered at the second attempt

38:00: Watford take a quick free kick and move the ball well for one of the first times in the game. Lansbury slips Hodson in out wide but his first touch lets him down and in the end his cross is overhit

35:00: A deep Cowie free kick goes straight out of play but Mariappa almost gets on the end of it and knocks it back into the danger area

31:00: Cleverley forces Camp to parry his shot from 25 yards out for a corner. It was a great effort that was heading for the top corner

30:00: Shorey has plenty of time to pick out Anderson in the box and somehow the winger is completely unmarked but luckily is unable to make contact with the ball as Loach gathers

28:00: A long ball from Loach almost finds its way to Graham in the Forest box but the defender does enough to put off the striker and Camp collects

27:00: McKenna switches the ball to Anderson on the left and he cuts on to his right foot 20 yards out but his shot is straight at Loach and held by the Watford keeper

24:00: Some steady build-up play results in Shorey beating Hodson and crossing but it is cleared by Eustace

22:00: Watford give away another corner but once again Lansbury clears at the front post and wins a free kick

21:00: The crowd continue to get on the back of Andy D'Urso after a couple of suspect decisions

18:00: Helguson has a 20 yard shot go narrowly wide of the far post

14:00: Yellow card Helguson is booked for a late challenge on Gunter. This is followed by a melee involving players from both sides

13:00: A long Mariappa throw is punched back to the defender 30 yards out and his first time half volley cross is headed off the line by Gunter

12:00: Loach survives two indecisive moments. First he only parries a tame Anderson shot back into play and then a minute later punches a cross onto the floor. Eventually Watford win a free kick when Lansbury is fouled at a corner

10:00: Watford survived a slightly worrying passage of play. Andy D'Urso awards a free kick despite Doyley clearly winning the ball. It is taken quickly and a corner is won. But the ball is cleared

4:00: The technical problem has been resolved and everything is running smoothly. There has not really been anything of note as of yet. Both sides have spent short spells in the opposing half without really creating much

0:00: Watford boss Malky Mackay makes just one change for the Boxing Day high noon showdown with Nottingham Forest as the Hornets bid to end the last unbeaten away record in all four English divisions. Don Cowie, who missed the 2-1 defeat at Peterborough United through illness, returns at the expense of Jon Harley. Forest boss Billy Davies, meanwhile, makes three changes despite seeing his side making it four wins in five with a 3-0 triumph over Preston North End last time out. Luke Chambers replaces Wes Morgan in defence, Lewis McGugan comes in for Radoslaw Majewski in midfield, while David McGoldrick gets the nod over Robert Earnshaw to partner Dele Adebola up front. However, if Forest do find themselves in need of a goal they have an array of attacking options at their disposal on the bench. As well as Earnshaw, Davies can also turn to Nathan Tyson and Dexter Blackstock if necessary. Watford: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, DeMerit, Doyley; Cowie, Lansbury, Eustace, Cleverley; Graham, Helguson. Substitutes: Severin, Harley, Lee, Bennett, Hoskins, Henderson, Sadler. Nottingham Forest: Camp; Shorey, Chambers, Wilson, Gunter; Anderson, Cohen, McKenna, McGugan; Adebola, McGoldrick. Substitutes: Perch, Earnshaw, Tyson, Smith, Blackstock, Majewski, Lynch.

0:00: Good afternoon. A technical problem has affected us uploading match action. We will endeavour to resolve the issue