Match Report: Watford 2-1 Wednesday
By Nicholas Rigg
November 20 2005
Wednesday could count themselves unlucky to lose against high-flying Watford despite another poor first half performance. Marlon King performed a 'hand of god' to put the hosts in front, whilst Nicky Weaver dropped a clanger to put the Hornets in the driving seat. Glenn Whelen scored for Wednesday.
Watford 2-1 Wednesday
Date: Saturday 19th November
Venue: Vicarage Road, Watford
Wednesday lost their second game on the bounce as high-flying Watford ran out 2-1 winners at Vicarage Road.
The Owls could count themselves unlucky though, as a Marlon King 'hand of god' and a Nicky Weaver clanger gave the Hornets all three-points, despite a second half fightback from Wednesday. Glenn Whelen scored the Owls consolation in injury-time.
Paul Sturrock promised to make changes after the Cardiff game and he did so with Drissa Diallo returning from injury to replace Graeme Lee at centre back. Lee Bullen also returned to replace the suspended Frankie Simek. Burton O'Brien got a rare start in midfield alongside Glenn Whelen in a new-look Owls formation. Sturrock granted Chris Eagles wish of playing upfront, so David Graham was used on the right side of midfield.
Hornets boss Aidy Boothroyd unsurprisingly kept with the team that has won the last four games, and had no fresh injury or suspension worries.
Paul Sturrock on the other hand, had problems within the first eight minutes. Lee Bullen passed a late fitness test to be fit for the game but pulled up with what looked like a recurrance of the hamstring injury that has been bothering him over the last few weeks. Graeme Lee came off the bench to replace Bullen, who recieved a standing ovation from the 3,000 or so travelling Owls. Diallo switched to right back and Lee went straight to centre-back.
Sturrock had showed his frustration at the team only showing their heads in the second half of games, and wanted Wednesday to go out all guns blazing from the word go, and that's exactly what they did.
Neat interplay in the Watford half saw Burton O'Brien burst through on goal, only for his cross to be well defended by Clarke Carlisle and go out for a corner.
From the resulting corner David Graham found himself in acres of space in the Watford six-yard box, but somehow directed his header well wide of Ben Foster's goal.
From then on it seemed all one-way traffic, although the hosts weren't creating many good opportunities. The new-look back four were finding it hard to deal with the pace of Devlin and Young.
The break-through came on the 17th minute when top-scorer Ashley Young whipped in a free-kick for Carlisle to put the hosts 1-0 up. The Wednesday defence all had claims for a handball from the ex-Leeds man, and at a second glance, Wednesday can feel very hard done by.
Wednesday were showing signs of their first half performance against Cardiff with passes going astray, and the team generally looking far from comfortable in their new formation.
Owls fans feared the worst when Watford doubled their lead in the 24th minute. McNamee crossed in from wide and should have resulted in a texbook catch from the on-loan Weaver. But the ball slipped through his hands and fell at the feet of Marlon King, who seemed slightly embarrassed to slot the ball home.
Watford could have made it three and put the game beyond Wednesday's reach later, when Ashley Young found his way in on goal, only for Weaver tos pread himself and this time make up for his earlier error.
Wednesday did have opportunites as the first half drew to a close. Chris Eagles was unmarked in the Watford box but his shot was sliced wide. Wednesday's best move of the match resulted in David Graham shooting just over the bar from 25-yards just before the whistle.
Wednesday couldn't get any worse in the second half, so Paul Sturrock kept with the same eleven.
A scramble in the Wednesday box early on resulted in Marlon King shooting wide, but from then on Wednesday fought hard to get back in to the game, and took it by the scruff of the neck.
The 3,000 or so Wednesday fans that travelled down the M1 were certainly making their voices heard, and it seemed to lift Wednesday.
A neat flick from Brunt would have seen him through on goal but his run was blocked by a Watford defender. The resulting free-kick nearly saw Chris Brunt fire home for the visitors, but Ben Foster saved well at his near post.
Another neat move from Peacock and Eagles saw Glenn Whelen through on goal moments later, but the Watford defence blocked his shot.
The best chance for Wednesday so far came when Chris Eagles passed two players on the break on the right, and put PEacock through on goal. Eagles and Graham seemed like the best chance to score inside the box, but Peacock opted to have a weak shot on goal which was easily saved by Foster.
Wednesday were on top, and the home crowd were becoming restless, despite their sides 2-0 lead.
Sturrock make some changes with David Graham being replaced by Gaby Agbonlahor. Graham had played well, but was always being outpaced by the Hornets defence.
Agbonlahor nearly got his chance moments later when Drissa Diallo drifted a cross in from the right to find the on-loan Villa man unmarked, but he didn't connect properly to the volley.
Despite Wednesday's pressure, Watford nearly made the game safe on the break, when substitute Darius Henderson put Young through on goal but the Hornets top scorer was denied by Nicky Weaver.
Wednesday got their just rewards in injury time when a Glenn Whelen shot from 25-yards slipped through the hands of Foster in the Watford goal. It certainly wasn't a good day for the goalkeepers.
Wednesday could, and probably should, have equalised in the dying moments when Agbonlahor broke free of his marker and provided a cross for Peacock, who's header just went wide of the goal.
Wednesday can't continue to only show up for the second half of the game. As we've seen in their last two games, the game can be done and dusted by half time.
Wednesday fans can take heart from the fact that they should have taken a point from a team third in the Championship, and didn't look out of sorts. For much of the second half they dominated.
Two key home games now come up in the form of relegation battlers Plymouth Argyle, and Stoke City before the big clash with our near Rivals. Paul Sturrock will be wanting four-points from these two games at the very least.
Wednesday Wonderland Man Of The Match: Chris Brunt
Watford:
Foster, Doyley, Carlisle, DeMerit (Mackay 79), Chambers, Devlin, Mahon, Spring, McNamee, King (Henderson 65), Young (Stewart 86).
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Bangura.
Wednesday:
Weaver, Bullen (Lee 9), Wood, Diallo, Heckingbottom, Eagles, Brunt, Whelan, O'Brien, Peacock, Graham (Agbonlahor 63).
Subs Not Used: Partridge, Adamson, Rocastle.
Paul Sturrock told the official SWFC site:
''You can't legislate for a goalie's mistake and slow marking at a set piece. The problem came from Bullen having to come off after two minutes. We had to re-shuffle the back four and one of them doesn't change who he's meant to be picking up.''
''We changed formation and looked a better team for it. But it would be too easy for me to point the finger at myself today. In the first half there was a work ethic that Watford had and we didn't. Formations are secondary in this game to that attitude and will to win. That was the key to everything.''
Paul Sturrock told BBC Sport:
"We just can't afford to lose the type of goals we are losing, and we have to start games differently.
"When the players don't do as they are told, and they do not show commitment to the cause, I will not pick them.
"A striker was my priority - but I think we need players further back. We definitely need to get one or two in."
Attendance: 16,988
Referee: B Curson (8/10)