Webber on Fire as Hornets Sting City

City 0-3 Hornets
By Chris O'Brien
September 19 2004

Cardiff City remain 23rd in the Football League Championship after a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of a plucky Watford side. Danny Webber was the star of the show with a brace as the noose tightened around Lennie Lawrence's neck.

'Woeful, pathetic, punch-less, disgraceful' - pick any word from the semantic field to describe Cardiff City's inept performance as the Bluebirds crashed to a 3-0 defeat to Watford at Ninian Park to remain 23rd in the Football League Championship table. The 10,606 were delivered a harsh reminder of the dark days as an average Hornets side outclassed Lennie Lawrence's side.

Danny Webber looked awesome as he bagged a brace on the way to a comfortable victory for the visitors. A Neal Ardley minutes before half-time was sandwiched between the former Manchester United striker's two goals.

Andy Campbell continued up front alongside Alan Lee, with the returning Peter Thorne kept on the bench. Campbell was atrocious with minimal effort put in and he is letting his chance of becoming a first-team regular slip-away. The former Middlesbrough forward was replaced at half-time and looks highly unlikely to start against Derby on the weekend - he lacked confidence and at times looked totally disinterested.

After his blunder for Wales, James Collins was not included in the match-day squad with Robert Page and Daniel Gabbidon forming the centre-half partnership. Tony Vidmar and Rhys Weston were at full-backs, with Chris Barker on the bench following his return to Ninian Park after his loan spell with rivals Stoke was cut short. Tony Warner was deemed fit to start between the sticks, with Margetson his reserve.

Lawrence continued with Willie Boland and skipper Kavanagh in the middle of midfield, with Lee Bullock on the bench. Paul Parry once again had to settle for a place amongst the substitutes with John Robinson preferred on the left-hand side so City lacked any real width. Richard Langley was not in the squad. Jobi McAnuff, one of the better players on a poor night, caused a couple of problems down the right and looks a good acquisition.

Watford started brightly and manager Ray Lewington had clearly instructed his bubbly players to exploit City's lack of confidence from the off. Warner was called into action early, making a double save from Ardley as the Hornets looked to sting Cardiff early. The defence looked weak from the start, and questions have to be raised about Page who was again poor.

Poor defending was punished as Webber gave Watford the lead after only 11 minutes. Heidar Helguson found the impressive striker with a free-kick that the City defence couldn't clear, and the Football League Championship's leading scorer rifled home with a tremendous drive leaving Warner with no chance/

The atmosphere around the home terraces was dead as the 10,000 home supporters were out-sung by a small band of travelling fans from Vicarage Road. Songs heard from City fans included numerous calls for Lawrence's head, and even a plea for Leo Fortune-West to return! Could Terry Burton be getting an instant promotion?

More to follow...

Full Time - Cardiff City 0-3 Watford
Attendance - 10,606

Cardiff City: Warner, Weston, Page (Barker 63), Gabbidon, Vidmar, Robinson, Kavanagh, Boland (Parry 68), McAnuff, Lee, Campbell (Thorne 45).
Subs Not Used: Margetson, Bullock.

Watford: Lee, Doyley, Cox, Dyche, Mayo, Devlin (Young 35), Mahon, Gunnarsson, Ardley, Webber, Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Dyer, Darlington, Bouazza.