If the game survives the snow that is meant to be on the way tomorrow night this will be the 43rd meeting hosted by the Horns against Bristol City. Our record at home against them reads won 18, drawn 12, lost 12, scoring 66 and conceding 52.
Last season we went down 4-2 at the Vic in a very depressing Boxing Day encounter that saw us concede in the first minute. Our last meeting was on 28 December 2009 when we drew 2-2 with Cleverley and Eustace getting our goals, the second of which came deep in injury time.
For the second game in a row we are pitied against opponents one place above ourselves in the league table. Bristol City are currently 11th with 37 points from 28 games. Their away record this season is won 2, drawn 6, lost 5.
Since our Christmas meeting they've had almost a more miserable time of it than we have. They've played Cardiff three times, twice in the cup where they lost 1-0 in a replay and a week later in the league when they lost 6-0 to them at home. Their only success in January was a 4-2 win over Preston. On Saturday they drew 1-1 at home to Coventry, the week before they shared a goalless draw with Middlesbrough.
Bristol City's ex-Horns remain solely on the managerial side with Gary Johnson in charge and Keith Millen as his assistant.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Saturday, February 06, 2010
No Bull- Barnsley 1 Watford 0
We must have done okay if Malky reckons we deserved to get something out of the game. In a Ray Lewington type way I like the fact that he is completely honest about our performances. Its good to see we've maintained our position despite losing. That win on Tuesday really was an important three points. We now need another one against Bristol City this coming Tuesday.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Barnsley v Watford- Previously...
Tomorrow will be the 24th meeting between Watford and Barnsley at Oakwell. The first meeting up there was in the old Division 3 in March 1961 when we won 1-0. Our record is won 6, drawn 6, and lost 11. We've scored 21 goals and conceded 32.
Last season we lost 2-1 at Oakwell in one of Malky's caretaking games, Tommy Smith got our goal. It was Mark Robins first game in charge of The Tykes when we met in September at the Vic. Danny Graham got the goal as we won 1-0.
Barnsley are currently 11th, one in front of us. We've both played 27 and they have 36 points, one more than us. At home their record this season is won 5, drawn 4 lost 5. On Tuesday night they had an even more impressive win than our own, beating Preston 4-1 away. Last Saturday they lost 1-0 at Reading and before that beat Leicester and lost to Sheffield Wednesday both at Oakwell.
Martin Devaney remains the only tenious link between us and them.
Last season we lost 2-1 at Oakwell in one of Malky's caretaking games, Tommy Smith got our goal. It was Mark Robins first game in charge of The Tykes when we met in September at the Vic. Danny Graham got the goal as we won 1-0.
Barnsley are currently 11th, one in front of us. We've both played 27 and they have 36 points, one more than us. At home their record this season is won 5, drawn 4 lost 5. On Tuesday night they had an even more impressive win than our own, beating Preston 4-1 away. Last Saturday they lost 1-0 at Reading and before that beat Leicester and lost to Sheffield Wednesday both at Oakwell.
Martin Devaney remains the only tenious link between us and them.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Tuesday Night Fortress- Watford 3 Sheffield United 0
What did the first half of this game and our new centre back Martin Taylor have in common? Well, they're both about as far from pretty as it is possible to get. No offence, Martin. In fact judging by the comments around me you've already got a place in our hearts. You are big, menacing, effective, and have the added bonus of being able to get forward too. A white Danny Shittu if you like.
The first 45 was true traditional Division Two fare. An even battle with not much skill but a lot of heart. Henderson, in particular, looking threatening. It would've been no surprise had we conceded, especially in the opening 25 minutes when they were probably the better side, but with our back four looking the most settled its been all season and Scott showing £3million form we kept them out. Gradually we fought our way back into it with Eustace having a couple of chances and Cleverley's wonderful free kick hitting the post.
But then we took the kind of chance that was bound to come along eventually. You know, the sort of one other teams always seem to take against us. A moment of hesitation in the United defence and Cleverley popped up and was extremely brave to head the ball past the Blades keeper before crashing into him. A few minutes later and following another mix up Helguson was unlucky not to make it 2-0.
The five minutes of first half injury time can all be put down to United, even though a couple of our players had needed treatment. They are still as dirty as they were in the Warnock days but oddly delicate whenever they were on the receiving end of anything as physical as a tackle, going and staying down all too easily.
One expected Kevin Blackwell to give his troops a right rollicking at half time and for them to come out and take the game to us.
However it just didn't happen. In the second half it was so one sided that I can't remember Loach doing anything other than kicking the ball out when it was passed back to him. We took total control and deservedly scored twice more through another mix up that Helguson punished and a Cowie free kick that went through everyone and in. We could've had as many as four or five. Lloyd made his now expected charge for goal and was unlucky not to score. Substitutes Graham and Hoskins also both went close.
It was a fine team performance. Despite the newcomer it was a team that looked far more comfortable with itself, like it knew what it was meant to be doing. Its true to say that all of the goals were probably as a result of opposition errors but its to our credit that we punished three out of the four that Sheffield United made.
With Palace winning in the cup meaning yet another Saturday will go by the wayside this was a good first effort at turning the Vic into a Tuesday night fortress.
The first 45 was true traditional Division Two fare. An even battle with not much skill but a lot of heart. Henderson, in particular, looking threatening. It would've been no surprise had we conceded, especially in the opening 25 minutes when they were probably the better side, but with our back four looking the most settled its been all season and Scott showing £3million form we kept them out. Gradually we fought our way back into it with Eustace having a couple of chances and Cleverley's wonderful free kick hitting the post.
But then we took the kind of chance that was bound to come along eventually. You know, the sort of one other teams always seem to take against us. A moment of hesitation in the United defence and Cleverley popped up and was extremely brave to head the ball past the Blades keeper before crashing into him. A few minutes later and following another mix up Helguson was unlucky not to make it 2-0.
The five minutes of first half injury time can all be put down to United, even though a couple of our players had needed treatment. They are still as dirty as they were in the Warnock days but oddly delicate whenever they were on the receiving end of anything as physical as a tackle, going and staying down all too easily.
One expected Kevin Blackwell to give his troops a right rollicking at half time and for them to come out and take the game to us.
However it just didn't happen. In the second half it was so one sided that I can't remember Loach doing anything other than kicking the ball out when it was passed back to him. We took total control and deservedly scored twice more through another mix up that Helguson punished and a Cowie free kick that went through everyone and in. We could've had as many as four or five. Lloyd made his now expected charge for goal and was unlucky not to score. Substitutes Graham and Hoskins also both went close.
It was a fine team performance. Despite the newcomer it was a team that looked far more comfortable with itself, like it knew what it was meant to be doing. Its true to say that all of the goals were probably as a result of opposition errors but its to our credit that we punished three out of the four that Sheffield United made.
With Palace winning in the cup meaning yet another Saturday will go by the wayside this was a good first effort at turning the Vic into a Tuesday night fortress.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Watford v Sheffield United- Previously...
As long as the undersoil heating works this will be the 21st time The Blades have travelled down to play us. My Dad commented to me today that we never seem to do well against Sheffield United and I was surprised to see just how true that is even at the Vic. We've only beaten them 5 times at home, drawing 5 and losing 10, scoring 21 and conceding 24.
The last time we beat them was in the first home league game after we'd both been relegated from the Premiership when a Lee Williamson goal gave us a 1-0 win. A 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane followed, but since then we've had no joy. They did the double over us last season including that awful 2-0 home loss in which both Henderson and Webber scored. Earlier this season we lost by the same score in Yorkshire.
Sheffield United are currently 6th with 41 points from 27 games. Away from home they've won 4, drawn 3 and lost 6. They went down 3-1 to West Brom at The Hawthorns on Saturday. Their last away win was a 3-2 victory over QPR in an FA Cup 3rd Round Replay. They lost 2-0 to Bolton in the 4th Round.
Darius Henderson is currently the Blades top scorer with 10 goals. Jordan Stewart has appeared 14 times since joining from Derby and played in the defeat to West Brom. Other ex-Horn Lee Williamson has only appeared 7 times for Sheff United since he left us and seems to spend most of his time warming the bench.
The last time we beat them was in the first home league game after we'd both been relegated from the Premiership when a Lee Williamson goal gave us a 1-0 win. A 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane followed, but since then we've had no joy. They did the double over us last season including that awful 2-0 home loss in which both Henderson and Webber scored. Earlier this season we lost by the same score in Yorkshire.
Sheffield United are currently 6th with 41 points from 27 games. Away from home they've won 4, drawn 3 and lost 6. They went down 3-1 to West Brom at The Hawthorns on Saturday. Their last away win was a 3-2 victory over QPR in an FA Cup 3rd Round Replay. They lost 2-0 to Bolton in the 4th Round.
Darius Henderson is currently the Blades top scorer with 10 goals. Jordan Stewart has appeared 14 times since joining from Derby and played in the defeat to West Brom. Other ex-Horn Lee Williamson has only appeared 7 times for Sheff United since he left us and seems to spend most of his time warming the bench.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Watford FC- On This Day by Matt Rowson
Without a game report to write I thought it was about time I got round to reviewing the club's most recent publication.
I hope you won't get the wrong idea when I say this is the perfect toilet book. Its been sitting in my loo since Christmas and is guaranteed to keep me in there longer than I necessarily need to be.
Top Bsad and Bhappy contributor Matt Rowson has come up with a perfect mix of stuff you expect to find, stuff that adds more colour to our history and stuff that you had no idea about.
I love the anecdote about the Birmingham playoff tickets and also the revelation that a top flight manager once missed a game against us because he was on a family holiday.
If you are even a half hearted Watford fan there is content here that you'll enjoy. I'm already looking forward to Matt's next book, a Watford FC Miscellany which is cleverly plugged on the cover sleeve. However, despite it saying 'out in 2010' apparently it won't actually be out until next year.
To buy Watford FC- On This Day click here to go to the club's online shop.
I hope you won't get the wrong idea when I say this is the perfect toilet book. Its been sitting in my loo since Christmas and is guaranteed to keep me in there longer than I necessarily need to be.
Top Bsad and Bhappy contributor Matt Rowson has come up with a perfect mix of stuff you expect to find, stuff that adds more colour to our history and stuff that you had no idea about.
I love the anecdote about the Birmingham playoff tickets and also the revelation that a top flight manager once missed a game against us because he was on a family holiday.
If you are even a half hearted Watford fan there is content here that you'll enjoy. I'm already looking forward to Matt's next book, a Watford FC Miscellany which is cleverly plugged on the cover sleeve. However, despite it saying 'out in 2010' apparently it won't actually be out until next year.
To buy Watford FC- On This Day click here to go to the club's online shop.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
WO now saying postponed
Its great how the Official Site seems to be the last one wanting to break the news.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Watford v Swansea City- Previously...
Our first home meeting with Swansea Town was in the inaugural season of DIvision 3 football. We beat them 3-0 at Cassio Road on 8 September 1920, having gone down 2-1 the week before at the Vetch FIeld.
At home we've played Swansea 18 times, winning 10, drawing 4 and losing 4, scoring 29 and conceding 18. Our last home meeting with them was arguably Judas' finest hour. They were taking all the plaudits for their beautiful football and had just drawn 1-1 with Fulham in the FA Cup. We simply outplayed them and the 2-0 scoreline didn't do justice to our through superiority.
Back in August we drew 1-1 at the Liberty Stadium following Mike 'Geordie' Williamson's declaration that he wasn't fit to travel. Danny Graham put us ahead before Alan Tate equalised in the 90th minute.
Swansea are currently 5th with 42 points. On Tuesday they drew 0-0 at home with Coventry. Their away record this season is won 4, drawn 6, lost 3. They last won on their travels on 19 Dec when they beat Sheff Wed 2-0. Last Saturday they drew 1-1 at Middlesbrough.
Swansea might give a first ever start to our old Palace friend Shefki Kuqi. We can play Martin Taylor but are unlikely to include Will Buckley who is still recovering from an ankle injury.
At home we've played Swansea 18 times, winning 10, drawing 4 and losing 4, scoring 29 and conceding 18. Our last home meeting with them was arguably Judas' finest hour. They were taking all the plaudits for their beautiful football and had just drawn 1-1 with Fulham in the FA Cup. We simply outplayed them and the 2-0 scoreline didn't do justice to our through superiority.
Back in August we drew 1-1 at the Liberty Stadium following Mike 'Geordie' Williamson's declaration that he wasn't fit to travel. Danny Graham put us ahead before Alan Tate equalised in the 90th minute.
Swansea are currently 5th with 42 points. On Tuesday they drew 0-0 at home with Coventry. Their away record this season is won 4, drawn 6, lost 3. They last won on their travels on 19 Dec when they beat Sheff Wed 2-0. Last Saturday they drew 1-1 at Middlesbrough.
Swansea might give a first ever start to our old Palace friend Shefki Kuqi. We can play Martin Taylor but are unlikely to include Will Buckley who is still recovering from an ankle injury.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Will Buckley
A mate texted me to say we'd signed Bill Buckley, which made me think Malky had gone for the former That's Life presenter.
The Williams Buckley. We've signed the one on the right.
The Williams Buckley. We've signed the one on the right.
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