Hornets held in promotion clash

9:55pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

Watford earned a vital point at Championship leaders Bristol City after a 0-0 draw but will be ruing a missed penalty in the first half which could have handed them a massive win.

The cagey top-of-the-table clash was dominated by both defences but the Hornets spurned the best opportunity of the match when Darius Henderson's spot-kick was saved by Adriano Basso.

The game had few chances with both teams' fear of a defeat leading to a stalemate as Watford drew their fifth successive match.

Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd handed Collins John his long awaited first start in place of Nathan Ellington. Jordan Stewart was also recalled with Mat Sadler missing out.

The visitors started very much on the front foot, pinning Bristol in their own half thanks largely to the long throws of Leigh Bromby who reached the City penalty box three times in the first four minutes.

It took, however, 15 minutes for either side to register a shot on target, Jobi McAnuff seeing a shot saved at the near post.

Bristol appeared to be sizing Watford up in the opening stages but they gradually began to impose themselves on the visitors, playing their neat brand of football. An intricate move down the left resulted in Marvin Elliott forcing Richard Lee to tip a long-range effort round the post on 20 minutes, while an uncharacteristic mis-placed pass from John Eustace led to the former Millwall midfielder bringing out an even better save from the Watford number one seven minutes later.

Bristol were now in full stride, threatening down both flanks with Brian Wilson and Michael McIndoe providing Adrian Mariappa and Stewart with a searching examination.

Mariappa became the first player to be cautioned on 37 minutes and he tested the patience of the referee soon after with another foul on McIndoe.

Watford were very much on the back foot but they were given a golden chance to open the scoring on 40 minutes. A reverse pass from Henderson sent Tommy Smith racing into the box. The winger was just about to cut the ball back from the by-line when he was tripped by McIndoe. The referee pointed straight to the spot, waving away the futile protests of the City players.

Henderson grabbed the ball straight away in confident fashion but he saw his hopes of a 13th goal of the season dashed when Basso dived to his left to palm away his spot-kick in front of the 1,700 visiting fans.

A clearly frustrated Henderson then took his anger out on Lee Johnson with a high challenge that sparked a heated row between both benches, with Malky Mackay and Steve Kabba in the thick of things.

Henderson escaped with a yellow card, as did Johnson minutes later for a similarly wild challenge on the pumped-up Shittu.

The incident lit the touch paper and there was another exchange of words between both sides as they headed down the tunnel at half-time.

Johnson was taken off at half-time for Nick Carle and was spotted limping down the touchline on crunches with an ankle injury.

Lee Williamson replaced the quiet John after 52 minutes in a defensive move which suggested Boothroyd would be satisfied with a point. But the Hornets went close after 55 minutes when Eustace crossed from the left hand side and Bromby headed narrowly wide of the post.

Jay DeMerit was brought on midway through the second half for Mariappa. Jamie McAllister created a rare opening for Dele Adebola but the former Birmingham striker headed well over the crossbar.

City boss Gary Johnson showed some attacking intent by bringing on the enigmatic Lee Trundle for midfielder David Noble with little more than 15 minutes remaining.

But Watford came closest again in the 87th minute when McAnuff's low cross was cheekily back heeled by O'Toole inches wide of the goal.

The match ended in a deserved draw with both sides still in the thick of the action at the top of the division.

Teams: Bristol City: Basso, Orr, Carey, Vasko, McAllister, Wilson (Sproule 87), Johnson (Carle 45), Elliot, McIndoe, Noble (Trundle 74), Adebola.

Watford: Lee, Mariappa (DeMerit 64), Shittu, Bromby, Stewart, Smith, Eustace, O'Toole, McAnuff, Henderson, John (Williamson 52).

Bookings: Mariappa 37, Henderson, 41, Johnson, 43.

Attendance: 19,026 (1,708).

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