Archive Report: Watford
By Mike
October 30 2005
Town fans went home disappointed again, after seeing their team put in another poor performance and loosing 1-0 to 7th placed Watford.
24,000 fans turned up at Portman Road in eager anticipation of the turn around in performance promised by the team in response to yet another dismal performance against
The nearest they came was a solid appeal for a penalty when Bowditch was sandwiched in the box and prevented from attacking the goal. The usually incompetent referee Mr D'urso rejected the appeal presumably because one of the offenders would have had to go off and that would have been meant making a decision. Way beyond his capability.
The linesman at the North stand end, was of no help to him either but he looked like he was on work experience any way so it was too much to expect him to make a meaningful decision.
In any event a draw would have flattered Town who got exactly what they deserved. They did have a promising start and actually coped well in the first half with De Voss giving a strong performance in defence. The week link was still down the left side and on 55 minutes
Two minutes later a double substitution was made with the hard working but struggling Magilton being replaced by Bowditch and the pace of Proudlock being substituted by Parkin whose lacklustre performances continued. The rest of the match was just dire. In all honesty
The sarcastic cheers when Parkin managed to head a ball where in evidence again and the final whistle brought the usual booing and now obligatory calls for the Chairman to go.
Performance wise, Supple, Sito, Naylor, De Vos, Juan, Proudlock and Forster all did well on the day but unfortunately that didn't go far enough to make a good team performance.
By way of a personal comment, the treatment of Parkin by the North Stand in particular is not constructive at all and will prevent him ever gaining any confidence at all. Just now he can't find any form and he is lacking in pace but he cannot do anything if he isn't getting the service from the mid field. It was a bad decision by the manager to send him on and take Proudlock off. What few attacks town were putting together before then just disappeared.
I have said before that Parkin looks out of his depth in this league but then so did Kuqi when he first came. Perhaps Joe should bring him on in the reserves for a while and not throw him to the lions as he did on Saturday..
Until we get more pace in midfield to make more use of Currie's undoubted ball skills the teams going no where but to be fair the fans should not have expected a repeat of last season. This team needs developing and mid table at this stage with the difficulties the management have faced is a good result. The shame is that this team is actually capable of better performances now.
Town: Supple, Sito, De Vos, Naylor, McEveley, Magilton (Parkin 57), Juan, Richards, Currie, Forster, Proudlock (Bowditch 57).
Subs not used: Price, Wilnis, McDonald. Booked: Naylor
| Town 0 | Watford 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Goals |
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| Yellow Cards |
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Carlisle (41) Chambers (77) Doyley (79) |
| Red Cards |
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| Subs |
Parkin on for Proudlock (57) |
Mackay on for Henderson (91) |
| Possession |
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| Shots |
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| Corners |
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| Fouls |
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| Attendance: 24,069 |
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