But this was a thoroughly enjoyable heart warming game, kind of like a feast Harry Potter would enjoy before returning to the Dursleys for the summer. You don't really feel like celebrating the end but you can't help but get carried along with it. Credit especially should go to the Derby fans who appeared to be treating the day how we treated the last away game at Middlesborough in our first Premiership season. It didn't matter what the result was, they were just here to have some fun and even brought various inflatables along with them to give the Vicarage Road end a very 90's appearance.
The retro feel continued with Luther Blissett receiving a deserved award from the 'Kick Racism Out' campaign. It felt good to resurrect the old 'Loooofer' chant again. He was in very good spirits and looked exactly the same as always. Not for him the fast food eating John Barnes type of lifestyle.
The opening quarter of an hour was very even. Robbie Savage tried to impose himself in the middle of the park and got booed with every touch. He succeeded for a while with John Eustace battling along side him, not a pairing to meet late at night down a dark alley I would imagine. But as we've done so effectively all season, despite Derby having the better of the opening exchanges, we suddenly broke very quickly as Raziak found McAnuff in the area and we were one up. In one of the best celebrations of the season Jobi poleaxed the corner flag and rather like Ricky Hatton it needed quite a lot of attention to get back up again. Surprisingly Jobes wasn't booked but then the ref was totally unpredictable all afternoon. He allowed some nasty challenges to go unpunished but booked an innocent Doyley for failing to get out of the way of a quickly taken free kick. Bizarre.
It wasn't long before we made it two with a bit of Harlem Globetrotter football. Jobi's free kick was superbly headed by Priskin but hit the bar and came back out. Mariappa tried a splendid over head kick to put it in but alas it hit a Derby defender so Raziak struck it home.
From then on the result never really looked in doubt. I think Nigel Clough had a point when he said the opening goal was going to be important, but I don't think we would've given up quite as easily as Derby seemed to. Every time we attacked we looked dangerous and it was no surprise when Raziak got his second following excellent work by Tommy Smith.
Predictably we didn't add our lead in the second half. It would've been so nice to win by four or five. It wasn't for want of trying though and we hit the post, Priskin and Smith went close and Raziak had a good couple of chances for his hat-trick. At the other end Scott Loach did superbly to keep Derby frustrated until John Eustace headed in Derby's consolation. He grinned embarrassedly and returned the polite applause of the Watford faithful. In some ways I guess you could say we scored four.
One player who, alas, didn't get on the scoresheet was Lloydinho. But he kept up his recent record of going very close. It was shame he didn't take the free kick we got just on the edge of the box during the second half, or abandoned his usual defensive post to go up for a corner. Its going to happen one day and the place will go mad when it does.
Rodgers, tellingly I think, chose to substitute all three of our current loanees to give us the chance to show our appreciation. Gavin Hoyte was first off, only playing because of an injury to Mike Williamson which required Mariappa to move into the centre of defence. He has never quite shown the greatness you expect from someone on the books of one of the big four but his efforts are appreciated none the less. Hoyte was replaced by Lee Hodson from our academy who despite looking so young (although I find this more and more with footballers as I get older) did really well and was confident enough to get forward and help out Tommy Smith on several occasions.
Danny Rose was next off. I described him as a fatter Anthony McNamee in our game at Doncaster but actually I think he's nearer Nordin Wooter. He looks like he's going to be good but actually he is just frustrating as he constantly makes the wrong decision. 'Sacha' Cauna who replaced him probably did enough in the 10 minutes he was on the pitch to make it possible that we might see him in a yellow shirt again.
Finally Jack Cork came off to a standing ovation just before the end. He has been fantastic. He puts in all the hard work, with no fuss and often is the catalyst for making things happen that result in goals, whilst unfairly getting none of the credit because no remembers it was him who released the ball in the first place. Thanks fella. If there was an award for Loanee of the Season you'd have won by a landslide.
Before the traditional end of season meander round the pitch there was a touching reception for several very elderly looking matchday employees who were carrying out their duties for the last time today. The Russo's were on hand to thank them which was a nice indication of how things have changed upstairs. Would it have happened with Simpson or Cashton? The pitch walk seems to get bigger every season. Children of all ages accompanied the players this year rather than just babes in arms. It won't be long before aunties and uncles are soaking up the applause too. I felt sorry for Mart Poom, going round in his suit. He'd done so well early in the season before injuring himself in the infamous Reading game. Had it not happened I think he probably would've been going round in his kit this afternoon and maybe looking forward to a third season with the 'Orns. As it is, I wish him all the best and am just sorry we never got to see him more often.
I walked away with the very apt "Hoist Up the Watford flag" going round in my head. I wondered how many of those who'd just done the lap of honour would be back next season to hear it. With us needing the money, sadly I think those who we most want to keep are the ones most likely to be on their way. Whatever happens though I'll be there to sing it and am already counting down the days 'til the fixtures come out.
