A Bit of Luck- Watford 3 Reading 0

It didn't bode well when one of our mascots tripped and fell just as they were all running off the pitch and departed in tears.  In the opening exchanges we looked a little too desperate and kept making mistakes and giving away the ball.  There was much huffing and puffing in the Upper Rous and it didn't take long for a few 'sort it outs' to be yelled.  A long afternoon appeared to beckon. 

Then came the penalty decision.  It looked a cast iron one, far more so than on Tuesday night.  Taylor unfortunately always looks like the guilty party in any challenge being twice the size of everyone else, but this time it was obvious that he'd hauled over the Reading player.  The ref was in a good position to see it, following the play just outside the area.  We all waited for his arm to go up and indicate the inevitable, which had it gone in, given our absymal record at coming back into games, probably would've been it and meant a nervous trip to Coventry awaited.

But, hold on.  What had just occurred?  That thing that deserted us many many moons ago whose name we've almost forgotten.  It was a bit of luck.  The ref impausably indicated no penalty, play continued and we went down their end and Graham headed in.  Given our excellent record at winning games where we've gone ahead suddenly all was wonderful, sunlit and golden. 

We easily held Reading off until half time and then, just to ensure they didn't react to any half time pep talk Helguson scored within a minute of the restart.  For the first time in absoultely ages it became clear we were going to be able to sit back and really enjoy a game of football featuring Watford without any worries. Reading looked like a team who weren't really that bothered anyway but to be fair to us we looked like a team who weren't going to give anything away even if they were.

Graham then scored a sublime goal to make it three and was very unfortunate not to get two more.  Sordell replaced Helguson who got a standing ovation for possibly his last appearance at the Vic in a Watford shirt and Bennett replaced Hodson.  If I was Malky I would've taken Lansbury off just before the end so we could've shown him our appreciation too.  Rather overshadowed by his mate from Man U, Angela has still been one of the reasons we've escaped the drop and deserves to take some of the applause himself. 

As is the custom now, the players and their kids walked round the pitch at the end thanking us as much as we were thanking them.  It's in those moments I know just how much I love this football club.  Yes, it been a long rocky road this season and its not all been fun, but I was bloody proud of them following that display. We may have no money, the future isn't that bright but when its matters the playing staff of our club are bothered and we can't really ask anymore than that.

Watford v Reading

Bugger the usual stats.  Its not about them.  Neither is it about Wednesday or Palace.  Or any connections we might have with the Royals. 

Tomorrow its all about us.  Its in our hands.  We control our own destiny.  A win, three points is all we need.  Lets all do our bit to ensure we get them. 

COME ON!!!!!

New Hornblogger Poster Unveiled

Thanks to my mate Laurence for creating this on Andy Barefoot's excellent site.  I wonder how much it would cost to put it up on the poster site opposite the Vic?  To make one yourself click here

London- Queens Park Rangers 1 Watford 0

Is it a requirement of every London team to play 'London Calling' before the game? Is it meant to intimidate the opposition, or is it just meant to prove how Cockney the home side is?  We had it at Chelsea and QPR went one better by following it up with "I've been thinking about you" by Londonbeat at half time.  Clever that, two references to London when you play in the capital.  Maybe we should only play songs with the word 'heart' in them. 

Also, were the pictures of Lee Cook in the programme meant to wind us up?  The editor had adopted the porn mag practise of featuring Cook not only on the front cover but also in the centre pages as well, clothed fortunately.  He told us how much he loved Rangers and that he likes playing against us.  Yes okay mate, we know.  Its getting boring now.  In fact I think it would be fun next time he faces us if we all just completely ignored him.  No boo's, no chants.  Now I bet that would wind him up. 

All this is a good way of not mentioning anything about the game because it was as predictable as all our recent away matches have been  We didn't get going properly until the second half by which time we were already playing catch up, Marriappa having conceded a penalty towards the end of the first.  I haven't seen it again so can't really say if it was as unfair as we all made out, but either way it's not the first time Adrian M has given one away and he must learn to be more careful with his challenges in the box. 

Our first half performance was especially frustrating because when you only need three points to be safe you'd expect us to come flying out of the blocks and QPR didn't really look bothered. Maybe they'd read Warnock's programme notes in which he revealed that most of them are unlikely to be there come August. It was certainly the least 'Colin' like performance from one of his teams I can ever remember. The man himself even remained calm and serene when John Eustace's winding up came to fruition yet again towards the end of the game and potential fisticuffs seemed likely.

Dale Bennett was fantastic again, and I've no idea why he should have made way at half time, although it was good to see Lloyd back who I would've played up front given his goalscoring prowess against QPR.

Marvin Sordell, who came on for McGinn, was up front and looked good.  He's certainly got pace which is more than you can say for Liam Henderson.  Not so good was the introduction of Michael Bryan for the last ten minutes.  Again he's fast and twice raced to the byline only to allow the ball to go out for a goal kick, which I don't think would've been the case if Hoskins had come on. 

We were much better in the second half and did create chances but, yet again, the luck wasn't with us.  It was a depressing evening all in all.  I can't really see us going down with the games Palace and Wednesday have got this weekend.  But it's very frustrating to see us failing to grasp the chances to save ourselves.

On the tube back R's fans were excitedly talking about next season and who Warnock would bring in over the summer.  It was hard not to be envious.  Whichever division we're in very little is likely to change given our current financial situation and its hard to see us doing a Norwich or Leicester even if we do end up in League 1 next season.

Queens Park Rangers v Watford- Previously... (again)

As long as the volcanic ash or any other natural phenomenon doesn't descend on Loftus Road this will be the 59th time we've visited Queens Park Rangers.  We've won 12, drawn 21 and lost 25, scoring 71 goals and conceded 96.

Things have changed at Loftus Road since that rainy night in February when the elements caused the postponement, the most significant of which is that Neil Warnock is now in charge.  Since he took over the R's have won 3, drawn 4 and lost 3.  On Saturday they lost 1-0 at home to Cardiff.

Of their former Horns, Tamas Priskin has started the last two games for Rangers, whilst Lee Cook has warmed the bench.  Still no sign of Gavin Mahon who is either injured or isn't in Colin's plans.

H won't be able to play for us as he's ineligible to meet his parent club.  Be interesting to see if Colin likes the look of him once his loan spell is up.

A Tough Run In- Leicester City 4 Watford 1

It was very frustrating to hear how bad the ref was and that two of their four were conceded when we had a man advantage.   But I didn't really expect much out of this one and, looking ahead, I don't really like the look of our run in at all.

QPR might be having yet another bad spell but Tuesday night will be as tough as Warnock games always are.  He has already managed a 3-0 win over us with his other London team back in November.

Reading are rejuvenated since ditching Rodgers and could still squeak into the playoffs with a minor miracle.  Hopefully they will come to the Vic with nothing to play for and McAnuff won't inspired when we start singing rude songs about him.  As we're at home I reckon we've got a chance but again it'll be a tough game.

We always seem to do well at the Ricoh and guaranteed survival there last season.  Our future is probably going to be decided there again which maybe bodes well as we've beaten Coventry twice in three meetings at their new ground.  But they beat us earlier in the season at the Vic and, again, I can't help feeling the phrase 'tough' can be applied to this one as well.

So I think a lot of the remainder of the season is going to be about hoping other teams lose rather than relying on those in yellow to get three points.  Here are how the remaining games pan out for those most likely to still be battling to avoid 22nd until the bitter end.

Scunthorpe  (50 points, three games remaining)
Tuesday  v Reading (home)
Sat 24 April  v Doncaster (away)
Sun 2 May  v Forest (home)

Watford  (48 points, three games remaining)
Tuesday  v QPR (away)
Sat 24 April  v Reading (home)
Sun 2 May  v Coventry (away)

Palace  (47 points, two games remaining)
Mon 26 April  v West Brom (home)
Sun 2 May  v Sheffield Wednesday (away)

Sheffield Wednesday (45 points, three games remaming)
Sunday  v Sheffield United (home)
Sat 24 April  v Cardiff  (away)
Sun 2 May  v Crystal Palace  (home)

I think we could end up at the Ricoh with our ears pressed against radios listening more keenly to what's going on at Hillsborough than the game going on in front of us.  Let's hope not.

Leicester City v Watford- Previously...

This will be the 25th away meeting for Watford against Leicester City, or the Fosse as they were when we went there for the first time back in 1909 and lost 3-1 in the FA Cup.  We've won just three times, drawn 9 and lost 12, scoring 29 and conceding 53.  The wins came in 1987, 1992 and 2004. 

Our last meeting in Leicestershire was a rather bizarre affair.  Aidy's post Premiership season had started very well and we went to the Walkers unbeaten only to go down 4-1 to Martin Allen's side.  He was sacked as a result (Allen, not Aidy!!)

Earlier this season Leicester's visit coincided with the second coming of H when he came on as a second half substitute to turn around a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead before going off injured.  We then conceded in the last minute to share the points. 

Leicester looked like cruising into the playoffs with no problems before having a wobble at the end of March which looked like letting in Ian Holloway's Blackpool.  However they've recovered in their last two matches beating QPR 4-0 at home and Peterborough 2-1 away. 

They'll have added incentive to try and win tomorrow as Blackpool have a tough game against Forest whilst Middlesbrough who could still mathematically make the top six go to West Brom.  If both lose and Leicester win they'll be confirmed a place at the end of season party. 

At our end of the table Palace go to Derby, Scunny are home to Bristol City and Wednesday host United for the Steel City bragging rights on Sunday. 

Mike Keen Charity Cup- Wycombe Legends 4 All Star XI 5

I thoroughly enjoyed an evening at Adams Park especially watching Moons score a hat-trick (which I don't think I've ever seen before).  He still very much has 'it' and could easily be doing a job for someone.  I'd much rather see him come on for us with 20 minutes to go than Liam Henderson, for example.  In much the same way if Gianfranco Zola wants to solve West Ham's problem he should just look in the mirror.  He was breathtakingly fantastic even taking into account the slow nature of the defence he was up against.  He played like a Harlem Globetrotter showing off remarkable skill at keeping the ball and hit some sublime efforts at goal, two of which went in.

Malky was one of the few who played the full 90 minutes and was the same as ever.  Solid, dependale and hilariously taking it all so seriously that he gave the linesman what for on more than one occassion.  It was good to see Alec back between the sticks.  He made a few decent saves and wasn't really to blame for any of the Wycombe goals, all of which were just as fine as those scored by the All Stars. 

The game was a fitting tribute to Mike Keen, with all money raised going to Cancer Research UK.

During the game I wondered how come the pitch at Adams Park is so fine and so green that it could be entered in a Gardener's World competition.  It must get just as much use as ours so why does ours looks like a herd of cows regularly lives on it?  However they might have the pitch but never the weather.  Even on a clear spring evening Adams Park still manages to be the coldest ground in the south.  In the second half some of the crowd were huddled under blankets to keep themselves warm. 

One problem we both have is that of the erratic scoreboard.  The final score was recorded in algerba as their scoreboard read y-5 after 90 minutes.  Ours seems to struggle to cope with a game that has one goal in it, so it would still probably be trying now to correctly reflect a 5-4 scoreline.  Don't these things come with receipts or guarantees?

Malky, Alec and Tommy Mooney Playing Tomorrow

I'm really surprised there hasn't been anything about this on the OS.

Tomorrow night at Adams Park there's a charity match in memory of former Watford and Wycombe manager Mike Keen.  A Wycombe Wanderers legends XI will face an All Star XI.  Lining up for the Chairboys will be Sir Tommy Mooney.  Amongst the lesser stars for the All Stars will be Malky and Alec Chamberlain.  They'll be playing alongside Gianfranco Zola, Teddy Sheringham, Gus Poyet, Clive Allen and Alan Pardew.

More info is available on the Wycombe website.

A Poor Standard- Watford 1 Plymouth Argyle 0

I walked into the Vic to the sound of 'Teenage Kicks' and feared this was some comment on the team we were putting out.  I was even more concerned to see some tiny kids milling around by the tunnel in their Watford kits and assumed this was the bench.  But actually the team we put out was pretty standard apart from the lack of expensive Premiership loanees. 

However it was a poor standard that looked much more League 1 than Championship.  It shows how much we've come to rely on the young stars of the division above.  If you strip them away and throw in a couple of injuries then we're very very average.  Plymouth were worse.  They didn't go into the game looking like they believed they had any chance of avoiding the drop, although maybe that's fair enough considering they've still got Newcastle and Forest to come. 

But its concerning that we just beat them and nothing more.  This wasn't a performance to warm the heart.  It wasn't anything like West Brom.  We had a couple of good chances which we failed to score from, Graham hiting the post and H shooting over from a couple of yards out, but had to rely on a rather ridiculous goal which was handed to H when a Plymouth defender failed to clear.  

Scott Loach had very little to do all afternoon, partly because the excellent Dale Bennett was so good at ensuring the Plymouth attack never got a proper sight on goal.  He looks like he's going to steal the young player of the year crown from Lee Hodson when he's played far fewer games.  Hodson was okay, but not as self assured as he'd been earlier in the season.  DeMerit and Mariappa did fine but then you'd expect that against a side so bad. 

The midfield was far more obvious than usual in its attempts to feed the ball up to H and Danny Graham.  For some of the afternoon you might have thought Hoofers was back in charge.  Eustace continued to excel in his role as winder up in chief, Jenkins display won't keep Lansbury out of the side once his suspension is over. McGinn looks like he's got potential.  I used to think that about Cowie but anything he brings to the team seems to evaporate the moment he is either challenged, or has to make a challenge.

Danny Graham had his best game for a while.  He might not be our 20 goal a game striker but his work rate is exceptional.  He didn't stop running all afternoon and rightly kept pressuring the dodgy looking Plymouth keeper.  H, however, just looks tired.  It was great he scored but there were times when he lost the ball and didn't bother to try and win it back again.  He doesn't look himself and the end of the season probably can't come quick enough for him.  I don't think it will be long before he's joining the likes of Mooney in the 3CR commentary box. 

Malky could be critisized for not making substitutions again, but possibly this was because of the injury/suspension situation.  H came off after about 80 minutes to be replaced by Liam Henderson.  Despite his recent hat-trick in the reserves he still doesn't look ready to be challenging for a regular first team place, which makes me wonder how bad Ryan Noble must be. 

It would be very dangerous for us to go away from this game thinking everything will be okay now, even though all the results went for us.  We'll need to improve massively if we're to get anything from Leicester, QPR, Reading and Coventry.  Luckily Lansbury will be back but we need more West Brom type displays from the rest if they don't want to risk playing Plymouth again next season. 

Watford v Plymouth Argyle- Previously...

Plymouth.  A side I would've expected us to have a fairly good record against, especially at home.  But no, in 32 home meetings we've managed 11 wins, 6 draws and 15 losses, scoring 37 and conceding 43.  Our last home victory was in August 2004 when Ray Lewington's side won 3-1 with goals from Neal Ardley and two from Danny Webber.

Of course we do seem to beat them when it matters.  Wednesday will be the 26th anniversary of our only victory in an F.A Cup Semi-Final when we won 1-0 against the Pilgrims at Villa Park courtesy of George Reilly's 7th minute header.  It was a goal that would eventually cost him part of his ear (or so he claims). 

Last time at the Vic we lost 2-1 back in September 2008, although having just re-read my comments it seems decades ago.  JJOT scored our goal late on.  In September 2009 we went to Home Park and won 1-0 with Tom Cleverley scoring after 4 minutes.  The result put us up to 6th.  That seems years ago too. 

Plymouth are currently 23rd in the table with 41 points from 42 games.  Their away record reads won 6, drawn 2, lost 13 and they've won their last two on the road, 2-0 at Ipswich and 2-1 at Doncaster last Saturday.  On Easter Monday they lost 2-0 at home to Middlesbrough who are having a big impact on proceedings at the bottom as they next host Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow. 

A win for us and Plymouth are virtually gone as they still have to face Newcastle and Forest.  Lose and we bury ourselves much deeper in the mire.  I cannot fathom what sort of team Malky is going to be able to put out.  I just hope they've still got the same Easter Monday vibe going on.

Tom Cleverley

Very sad, but not surprised, to hear that his season is over.

All the best, Tom.  Thanks for everything you did for us.  You're guaranteed to get a warm reception whenever you return to Vicarage Road.

A Team Performance- Watford 1 West Bromwich Albion 1

Having said on Tuesday night that it was important to maintain perspective when all I really wanted to do was say 'what the bloody hell was that', similarly I think the same is true now when all I can think of are superlatives for the overall team effort.

I can't remember the last time I'd less looked forward to a Watford game, or the last time I walked away from the Vic feeling so proud.  Whatever Malky said to them this time it really worked.  They did sweat for the shirt for the entire 96 minutes, and 'they' weren't anything like our best 14 from our very small squad.  It was very much a team performance but I can't resist picking some of them for special mentions.

Dale Bennett, as with earlier in the season, showed that he is just as good as any other central defender at the club.  There were a couple of times when he was the player to put in the decisive tackle when Mariappa and DeMerit had tried and failed.  If I was Martin Taylor or Jay I'd be seriously worried about keeping my place in the side.  

Adrian Mariappa.  Is he trying to emulate Lloyd?  He had that great chance in the first half that Carson tipped over the bar and then a superman style shot in the second that he struck so hard Carson visibly shook his hands in pain after saving it.  A most welcome and unexpected new attacking option.

John Eustace, lots of fun to watch at the moment especially his cheeky wrestling match in the first half.  He must have known he wasn't going to get anywhere with it and was going in the book.  But it was worthwhile as it eventually resulted in three West Brom players joining him for their protests.  He seems to know just how far he can go in winding up the opposition before getting into serious trouble.  

Danny Graham.  I think very unfairly picked out by a small section of supporters as being one to blame for something or other over the last couple of months, yet this was his 10th goal of the campaign.  He's kept plugging away, making himself awkward and struck what would be goal of the season if the voting hadn't already closed.  

And, of course, Tom Cleverley.  If that's it then its a horrible way to end his Watford career.  I hope we get another chance to say thank you, because he has been a constant shining light through a fair amount of gloom this season and without him we'd be in a far worse position than 21st.  

All in all very heartening, especially coming away feeling bitter at having only taken a point when beforehand we would've taken it without thinking.

Watford v West Bromwich Albion- Previously...

This will be the 18th time West Brom have visited Vicarage Road.  We've won 7 games, drawn 3 and lost 7, scoring 25 and conceding 21.  Our first meeting at the Vic was on a wonderful afternoon in early September 1982 when we won 3-0 to go top of the old Division One.

Last time at home was not so wonderful when we lost by the same score to the Baggies in Nov 2007.  Even worse, in our last meeting at the Hawthorns we went down 5-0 in a Halloween horror show.

West Brom are on the brink of the Premiership again.  They are currently 2nd with 82 points from 41 games.  If they pick up three points tomorrow and Nottingham Forest lose to Cardiff they'll be promoted.  Luckily the Forest game is a 5.15pm kick off so at least we won't be witnesses to the confirmation.  Away from home West Brom have won 9, drawn 8 and lost 3, less than they've lost at home.  Their last defeat was 3-0 at QPR at the beginning of March.  To stack the odds against us even more they'll have fresher legs than us as they last played on Good Friday when they won 3-0 at home to Leicester.

Still No Luck- Preston North End 1 Watford 1

It was said on Tuesday night by a bloke in front of me how nothing is going for us currently and that it will probably cost us our place in the Championship.  I'm not sure luck alone can be blamed but its true that we haven't had any at all recently.

Todays reports again tell that we should've had a penalty and of a goal disallowed.  Nevertheless, its still an unexpected and welcome result.  Its disappointing, of course, that Palace and Wednesday matched it and that Plymouth won.  Our game with them next Saturday now becomes far more significant than we would've wished.

Still no sign of Ryan Noble today.  As Cowie wasn't on the doubtful starters list beforehand I guess he's seen as being partly to blame for Tuesday's second half debacle.   Moons was saying on 3CR how tired Helguson looked.  Good that Will Buckley got what will hopefully be the first of many goals this season.

With DeMerit missing today, Taylor now injured and Lansbury serving a two match ban, Monday's game has become slightly more interesting just to see what sort of team we put out.  Victory will almost put West Brom up so they'll arrive in party mode.  It would be so lovely to be the poopers but I can't really see it.  In the other games Palace are home to Preston, Plymouth welcome Middlesbrough and Wednesday host Bristol City.

Preston North End v Watford- Previously...

If you don't want to be anymore depressed than you already are then don't watch West Brom v Leicester like I am at the moment.  Currently, Easter Monday's fixture appeals as much as an emergency visit to the dentist. I'd also advise against reading the second paragraph of this preview as it doesn't make encouraging reading at all.

We've visited Deepdale 19 times and have won just twice.  Once in an FA Cup 3rd round replay back in 1950 when we won 1-0 and then again in 1979 in the old Division 2 when we came away with a 2-1 victory.  We've drawn 5 times and lost 12, scoring 18 goals and conceding 35.

Last season we lost 2-0 in Lancashire when Aidy was still in charge.  The last time we got anything at all out of a visit to Preston was in 2005/6 when we drew 1-1.  Earlier this season we won 2-0 at the Vic with goals from Heidar and Cleverley.

Preston are currently 15th with 49 points from 40 games.  At home they've won won 8, drawn 9 and lost just 3, against Reading, Newcastle and Barnsley.  Their last win was at home to Forest on 13th March when they won 3-2.  Since then they've drawn 2-2 at home to both QPR and Sheffield Wednesday and lost away at West Brom and Middlesbrough.