Watford v Scunthorpe United

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Football League Championship

Watford :
Loach, Mariappa, Doyley, Cathcart, Hodson, Lansbury, Cowie, Cleverley (Harley 73), Eustace, Graham (Bryan 85), Helguson (Ellington 73). Subs Lee, Bennett, Severin, Henderson.
Subs not used:

Scunthorpe United :
Lillis, Byrne, Jones (Ngala 46), Mirfin, Friend, Togwell, Sparrow, Woolford (O'Connor 46), Woolford, J.Wright, Hayes, Hooper.
Subs not used:
Slocombe, Williams, McCann, Thompson, Forte.

SULSESC REPORT

by John Parrott at Vicarage Road

NOT needing to venture beyond the Watford gap was always going to guarantee the London & South East Supporters' Club a good turn-out for the late Autumnal fixture.

Watford's Moon Under the Water JD Wetherspoon pub in the precinct was the pre-and post match rendezvous point for merriments where some good friendly banter was exchanged with the respectable home fans.

A typical November drizzle of fine rain and a light southerly breeze greeted fans at Vicarage Road, meaning the first 10 rows of the away supporters' North Stand were left vacant to avoid a soaking.

Loanee Henri Lansbury lined up for the home team with a head full of insider knowledge on the team that previously nurtured his budding talent. It wasn't really needed. The Iron had speculative chances in the first-half, but the Hornets were dominant from the start. Watford looked good, but Scunthorpe's back four made them look better than they were.

Midway through the first-half, Heidar Helguson scored two goals within three minutes which effectively killed the game. It didn't kill the fans, though, who remained in fine song, albeit with a tinge of irony and sarcasm creeping in.

Half-time couldn't come soon enough and salt was rubbed into the wounds by the £1.10 price tag attached to a much needed warming cup of Bovril.

In the second-half, the home team took their foot off the pedal as it was evident that an Iron fightback was not in the making. Shortly after the break, Danny Graham quashed any hopes of a Scunthorpe fightback with a third goal.

The visitors hit a few long balls over the top towards Gary Hooper but the Hornets defence were more than equal to them.

In the 64th minute, though, Super Duper let fly from outside the box with his team's best chance of the day, drawing a fine save from Scott Loach to maintain a clean sheet for the home team.

In the last 15 minutes, choruses of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" echoed around the away end. The final whistle couldn't come soon enough.

This was a far worse performance than last year's FA Cup exit to the same team. Intervention in the January transfer window may be the only way to address Scunthorpe's worrying away form. To add insult in injury, the rain set in as the fans left Vicarage Road.

Bring on 2010, the spring, daffodils and a rejuvenated Iron.