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Post by Golden_Boy™ on Feb 21, 2007 20:41:55 GMT -1
FT: 1-1
meh
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Post by ovechkin8 on Feb 21, 2007 20:55:16 GMT -1
Gutless spineless. Why do we sit back when 1 up against 10 men ? Why is Priskin one of the few players who has any technical ability at our club left on the bench. Aidy is a limited manager at present. Why didn't he revert to a three with Mariapps Mackay Demerit & push Stewart up in midfield Not hindsight I was aksing in game. Its a long term plan so I'm not too concerned but still..... At least we can concentrate on the Cup .
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Post by Golden_Boy™ on Feb 21, 2007 21:00:15 GMT -1
Match Report from O/S:
IT Was two points dropped for the Hornets as they wasted the opportunity to move off the bottom of the Premier League.
Things looked to be going so well when Darius Henderson gave them the lead after 23 minutes against a Wigan side already down to ten men after Fitz Hall had been sent off for a foul on Johan Cavalli.
However, Wigan fought back to equalise through Caleb Folan before the break and took home the point that their display deserved.
Aidy made three changes to the team which beat Ipswich on Saturday with Ben Foster, Malky Mackay and Jordan Stewart all returning at the expense of Richard Lee, Dan Shittu and Chris Powell.
Watford looked dangerous right from the off with Mariappa's long throw from the right dropping to Smith whose cross caused panic in the Wigan defence, only for Jackson to hack clear within the first minute.
After the bright start, there was also a decent shot on target from Francis and another moment of panic caused by a Mariappa long throw as the home side very much enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges.
That's not to say that Wigan didn't present danger of their own with Heskey a constant threat, keeping Mackay busy at the back.
19 minutes in, the game was totally changed when referee Styles produced an immediate red card for Wigan defender Fitz Hall for showing his studs in a 50-50 challenge with Johan Cavalli.
For the second time in four days the Hornets were faced with ten men in opposition with more than half of the match still to play.
It only took four minutes for Watford to press home their advantage when Darius Henderson put them in front.
Kabba screwed his shot badly but it came to Stewart hooked the ball from beyond the far post back for Henderson to tap in from almost on the line.
The visitors found that they weren't to be counted out, however, and Jackson was only foiled by a great save from Foster on 27 minutes.
The former Luton man got his head to McCulloch's corner and the ball was looping in until the England goalkeeper backpeddled and tipped it over the bar.
There was another lucky escape for Watford a minute later when a fantastic double save from Foster kept Wigan at bay.
DeMerit dithered and was beaten to the ball by Folan who strode clear, only for Foster to charge off his line and block the shot. The rebound fell to Landzaat who looked likely to guide it into the empty net, only for Foster to leap up and block again.
In doing so, the Watford number one took a knock and needed lengthy treatment before he was able to continue.
If anything, Wigan started to look like the more likely side to score and came desperately close again on 37 minutes.
Heskey found room on the left and found McCulloch with a deft back heel. The Scot had plenty of room to cross and Folan almost connected at the far post when any touch would have been enough to score.
Five minutes before the break, Wigan got the equaliser that their play deserved.
A big ball over the top from Jackson caught Watford square and Folan brushed aside DeMerit's challenge before slipping the ball past Foster.
Strangely, conceding seemed to spur the Hornets on as they again started to look more confident in possession.
Half Time: Watford 1 Wigan Athletic 1
In an effort to perk things up, Aidy brought on Hameur Bouazza at half time in place of countryman Cavalli on the left.
Within a minute of the restart, Henderson came close with a powerful header from Mariappa's right-wing cross.
Nine minutes into the second period, Paul Jewell made his first change, taking off goalscorer Folan and bringing on Kevin Kilbane.
The Vicarage Road faithful, who had been urged to play their part by Marlon King before kick off, certainly fulfilled their side of the bargain by keeping up an impressive wall of sound as the Hornets tried to find a way past an obdurate Wigan side.
Just after the hour mark, Aidy made his second change, taking of Kabba in place of Will Hoskins.
It was clear that Wigan weren't going to be hurrying over any goal kick or set piece, and who could blame them, playing with ten men?
Kilbane tested Foster with a sharp 20-yarder with 20 minutes left but the Watford keeper held on comfortably.
Watford really looked lacklustre and almost conceded a second on 73 minutes.Wigan cleared a Mariappa throw and managed to break with Landzaat in possession, bearing down on Foster.
The Dutchman opted to shoot rather than square for Heskey, allowing Foster to make the save but it was a lucky escape for the home side.
Watford picked up their first yellow card on 76 minutes when Bouazza was booked for bringing down Kilbane.
Henderson blasted a scorching effort just over the bar with 11 minutes left to play after latching on to a nice ball from Francis but Watford looking increasingly desperate for a winner.
It almost came in unlikely fashion a minute later when Bouazza miss-hit a cross that had Filan desperately scrambling backwards to tip over when it looked for a moment like it was going to drop in.
From the resulting corner, Stewart's flag kick dropped in the six yard box, inviting a Watford connection but Heskey was able to hack clear.
McCulloch then went into the book for a foul on fellow Scot Mackay.
The home fans were surprised to see just three minutes of stoppage time added but their team seldom looked likely to snatch the late winner that they had managed on Saturday.
Full Time: Watford 1 Wigan Athletic 1
Line Ups
Watford: Foster; Mariappa, DeMerit, Mackay, Stewart; Smith, Francis, Mahon, Cavalli (Bouazza 45); Kabba (Hoskins 61), Henderson. Subs not used: Doyley, Bangura, Priskin
Wigan: Filan; Hall, Boyce, Jackson, Baines; Taylor, Landzaat, Skoko, McCulloch; Heskey, Folan (Kilbane 54). Subs not used: Nash (GK), Valencia, Camara, Unsworth
Referee: Mr. R. Styles
Cards: Watford - Bouazza (Yellow, 76 minutes), Wigan - Hall (Red, 19 minutes), McCulloch (Yellow, 84 mins)
Attendance: 18,338
Really should've won this. Mind puzzling tactics from Aidy tonight, agreed Ovechkin8.
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