Saturday, January 3, 2004

Premiership big-spenders Chelsea were the visitors to Vicarage Road in the third round of the FA Cup.

Ray Lewington's side put up a ferociously defiant performance, and took the lead when lone striker Heidar Helguson leapt to meet Neal Ardley's fifth minute cross. His header beat Neil Sullivan and deflected off the underside of the bar onto the line; the linesman, incorrectly, judged in Watford's favour.

The home side could have been two up before Eidur Gudjohnsen's penalty levelled matters, but Gavin Mahon's header quickly restored the lead.

Frank Lampard grabbed a second equaliser shortly before half-time to earn Chelsea a replay that they were to win 4-0; Watford's draughty coffers were grateful for the revenue from the game at Stamford Bridge.

Reproduced by kind permission of Matt Rowson from his book, Watford FC On This Day