Rot Continues as Hornets Sting City
Hornets 2-1 City
By Chris O'Brien
December 28 2003
The slump continues as a gutless City throw away the lead and go down 2-1 to a spirited Watford side at Vicarage Road. Lennie Lawrence dropped Robert Earnshaw in a game that was the Bluebirds' fourth consecutive defeat. Peter Thorne was on target for the visitors.
| Rot Continues as Hornets Sting City |
| A glance at the Christmas
fixtures, Millwall, Walsall and Watford, would have brought a smile to many
supporters face only a few weeks ago. The way City were playing at the time,
a good number of points could be taken from these games, and yet with the
festive matches now done and dusted, City took nothing from the trio of
Christmas fixtures, or the visit to Carrow Road that came before them. Over 2,000 fans made the journey to Vicarage Road today, many of them enjoying the final day of their holidays, but they were witness to another lacklustre performance from the City, as Watford eased their relegation woes with a 2-1 victory over their the Bluebirds. After a goalless opening period, Peter Thorne gave the visitors the lead and City looked good to end the rot. However, the Hornets picked up the pace of the game with goals from Scott Fitzgerald and Lee Cook securing an impressive comeback from the hosts and a deserved three points. The usually predictable Lennie Lawrence raised a few eyebrows with his team selection, leaving out Zambian-born striker Robert Earnshaw following some woeful form recently, with Andy Campbell starting up front in his place. The City boss kept faith with Spencer Prior at the back, who was very impressive against Walsall on Boxing Day, with Tony Vidmar reverting to the left back position. The opening 45 minutes of the early kick-off produced no goals, but plenty of action as both sides had chances to clinch the first blood. Watford started the brighter of the two sides, with Cardiff's lack of confidence clear, as Marcus Gayle and Heidar Helguson both going close with off target efforts. The problems deepened for City on 20 minutes as Daniel Gabbidon was forced off through injury. The Welsh international seemed to suffer from concussion and is likely to miss the Cup tie with Sheffield United in 6 days time. Chris Barker was introduced to the game, with Vidmar moving back into the centre of defence to partner Prior. Cook, the match winner for Watford, forced an excellent save from Martyn Margetson shortly after and only a minute later Neil Cox had a chance scrambled off the line by Spencer Prior. City's 'keeper put in an impressive display and deserves his run in the team ahead of his Scottish counterpart to continue. His shot stopping was very good today, however his poor distribution was a worry although the poor condition of the pitch could be blamed for this. Cardiff's best chance of the half was a free-kick from Graham Kavanagh that was well saved by Hornets 'keeper Chamberlain, and Chris Barker also had a chance. However, Watford ended the half the stronger with Helguson forcing another save from Margetson, but the two sides went in at the break with honours even. The half-time entertainment included a long-winded penalty competition between two sets of kids, and a fat referee in charge of the event, who lit up the away end by producing a pie and taking two large bites at it following chants of "you fat bastard!". Watford really piled on the pressure in the opening exchanges of the second-half, with Margetson forced into a number of saves. Helguson and Gavin Mahon both had chances of note, but it was City who opened the scoring through on-form Peter Thorne. The goal, which to be honest was a bit ill-deserved, came from a free-kick which was awarded against Cook for a foul on midfielder Willie Boland. Kavanagh swung his trademark set piece into the box, which was headed across goal by Andy Campbell, and pushed into the top of the net from close range by record signing Peter Thorne. Richard Langley then nearly doubled the lead when his one-on-one volley produced a fantastic save from Chamberlain. The former Queens Park Rangers man should have scored, and the three points would surely not have gone to Watford if he had. The lead didn't last long though. Scott Fitzgerald was left unmarked on the edge of the City six-yard area and he pounced on a loose ball to fire past Margetson in the City goal. The goal really brought the game to life, and no betting man would have been confident on winning with any result. Lawrence replaced Andy Campbell, who had a mixed performance, for Robert Earnshaw but the three points were to go to the Hornets. Lee Cook's header with only two minutes to go gave the game to Watford, which has seen them gain some much needed air space above the bottom three. The full-time whistle, following a spell of City pressure which failed to produce a goal, and the players trudged off the pitch to a mixture of jeers and quiet claps, with only a handful of the layers bothering to acknowledge the travelling fans. The result sees City fall down to 12th, and was our fourth consecutive defeat. Many of the players need to be told they are not as good as they think they are, and that they are not un-droppable. Lawrence impressed me with his guts in dropping Earnshaw, but perhaps different changes are needed for the visit of Sheffield United on Saturday. Can the City end the woe with a Cup victory? Bluebird to the Bone Man of the Match - Peter
Thorne Full Time - Watford 2-1 Cardiff City Watford: Chamberlain, Ardley, Cox, Gayle,
Smith, Devlin, Hyde, Mahon, Cook, Helguson, Fitzgerald. Cardiff: Margetson, Prior, Gabbidon, Vidmar,
Weston, Kavanagh, Boland, Langley, Whalley, Campbell, Thorne. |