I was just thinking how we hadn't had a game this easy or uneventful in ages. Ahead in the first couple of minutes through JJOT and then 2 up courtesy of a dodgy deflection and everything was happy and serene at Vicarage Road. The referee appeared to be giving the majority of decisions our way and neither linesman had done anything stupid. The only notable thing about the Cardiff side was there right back looked like he was about 103 with his Philip Schofield style grey hair.
I was just starting to look around the ground to see if the promised New Orleans Saints cheerleaders were warming up for their halftime routine. Then Priskin raised his arm to a Cardiff defender in their penalty area whilst awaiting a free kick and suddenly the game reverted to that which we have become familar with this season at the Vic (and is precisely the reason why this season is soooo much more enjoyable than the last). The sending off seemed justified in that no-one complained too much and Priskin didn't receive the usual standing ovation of other recent red carded 'orns.
After that it became interesting. Not that being 2-0 up wasn't great but we kind of looked like we would have cruised to the 3 points fairly easily until then. Afterwards it was as if someone had clicked on one of the scenairos you can find on certain PS2 games, where the aim isn't really to win but to come through the situation you're placed in.
The trouble was we reacted as if we'd had two players sent off. The game became reminiscant of the infamous Styles Blackburn game seven years ago. We defended very very deep and reverted to a kind of 4-4-1 formation.
We reached half time okay (during which Jobi McAnuff and the majority of the males in the stands very much enjoyed the cheerleaders) but the second half was all about Cardiff. Richard Lee was, yet again, superb. The penalty save not even being the best of the night. Having said that our goal did seem to live a very charmed life. Even after watching the replays on the big screen it was difficult to explain how a couple of their attempts hadn't gone in.
Alas, the charm lasted until 70 minutes rather than the 90. Having thought our luck was in by scoring earlier from Hoskins very deflected shot, the luck evened out by Jay Bothroyd scoring in the same way. He then blasted another past Richard Lee and we looked like we'd be lucky to hang on.
We did however and whilst coming away this felt very much like 2 points lost, in the cold light of day a draw against a team in the playoffs when we were down to 10 men for 60 minutes wasn't bad at all.
