WATFORD 4-0 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Yet again,a big City away following departed a ground disappointed after the Sky Blues were beaten 4-0 at Watford.
With tickets priced at only a fiver for both home and away supporters and a quid for concessions,(a gesture by Watford that deserves the maximum amount of credit), all 2,318 tickets were snapped up by the City support with Watford fans doing the same for the Hornets biggest gate in three years of 19,842.
With Stern John suspended and James Scowcroft out, Micky Adams had to make changes. Back came Dennis Wise and Richard Shaw as the Sky Blues played what was basically a 5-3-2 formation.
The City support started in fine voice and were belting out that song for Dennis Wise which seems to have offended CET journalist Andy Turner as the midfielder slammed City's first corner into the arms of Hornets keeper Ben Foster in the 14th minute.
Wise was involved two minutes later as his shot from outside the area was blocked. It fell for Gary McSheffrey,some twelve yards out but Foster,who was born in Leamington but has no time for the Sky Blues, raced out to block the ball.
Watford stepped up a gear,making the most of some poor passing from City.
Darius Henderson and Don Hutchison were both cautioned by referee Mr Kettle who should have booked Gavin Mahon in the 28th minute when he clumsily tripped Marton Fulop who caught a corner. Players dived in but there were more peace makers than agitators and no names were taken.
Yet again,a big City away following departed a ground disappointed after the Sky Blues were beaten 4-0 at Watford.
With tickets priced at only a fiver for both home and away supporters and a quid for concessions,(a gesture by Watford that deserves the maximum amount of credit), all 2,318 tickets were snapped up by the City support with Watford fans doing the same for the Hornets biggest gate in three years of 19,842.
With Stern John suspended and James Scowcroft out, Micky Adams had to make changes. Back came Dennis Wise and Richard Shaw as the Sky Blues played what was basically a 5-3-2 formation.
The City support started in fine voice and were belting out that song for Dennis Wise which seems to have offended CET journalist Andy Turner as the midfielder slammed City's first corner into the arms of Hornets keeper Ben Foster in the 14th minute.
Wise was involved two minutes later as his shot from outside the area was blocked. It fell for Gary McSheffrey,some twelve yards out but Foster,who was born in Leamington but has no time for the Sky Blues, raced out to block the ball.
Watford stepped up a gear,making the most of some poor passing from City.
Darius Henderson and Don Hutchison were both cautioned by referee Mr Kettle who should have booked Gavin Mahon in the 28th minute when he clumsily tripped Marton Fulop who caught a corner. Players dived in but there were more peace makers than agitators and no names were taken.
Watford had the better of the play and went ahead in the 31st minute. Matthew Spring was given the space to get down the left flank and centre for the unmarked Ashley Young to stab home at the far post.
As with the game at Middlesbrough, City were devoid of ideas as how to get back in the game and Fulop was called upon to make another good save in the 43rd minute when he got down to a low shot from King after some neat approach play by Antony McNamee.
Adrian Boothroyd made one change at the break and two minutes after the restart,Andy Whing who had a decent game got down the right flank and delivered a peach of a cross which Jay Demerit just managed to miss the near post and put the ball behind for a corner.
Whing had his name taken for a trip on Mahon. Mr Kettle raced over to Mahon,accidentally shoving him over and forcing an appearance from the Watford physio.
Don Hutchison had been clearly not on top of his game and it was no surprise when the Scot was replaced by Andy Morrell in the 57th minute.
The former Wrexham striker had only been on the pitch for a minute when City went further behind. Young again delivered the cross and this time Marlon King rose to plant a powerful header past Fulop on his near post.
Micky Adams had no choice but to change things round and sent on Kevin Thornton and Claus Jorgensen for Wise and Richard Shaw.
Robert Page,playing against his former club joined the list of bookings with twenty minutes left and he'll now miss the trip to Plymouth.
Those City fans who weren't already stood up,were on their feet in the 72nd minute when Andy Morrell and Gary McSheffrey combined to play in Kevin Thornton. The starlet, turned one man but as he attempted to shoot the shot was blocked. The ball went out to the left, Morrell went down and a free kick was awarded.
Watford regained possession with incredible ease, broke up the right wing and a cross found the totally unmarked Darius Henderson who headed past Fulop and into the net.
A good number of the City support opted to head for home and with nine minutes left, they were followed by a fair few more as Marton Fulop got a hand to a Bouazza shot and Jay Demerit was on hand to head into the net.
One time City target Malky McKay was booked late on and in the dying seconds, Adie Williams had to clear off the line to prevent this unacceptable score-line becoming any worse.
HT WFC 1-0 CCFC
FT WFC 4-0 CCFC
ATT 19,842
Goals Young (31),King (58),Henderson (73),Demerit (81)
Booked Henderson,Hutchison,Whing,Page,McKay
Team
Fulop,Whing,Hall,Page,Williams,Shaw (64),Doyle, McSheffrey,Wise (Thornton 64),Hutchison (Morrell 57),Adebola. SNU Ince,Heath
Watford
FT WFC 4-0 CCFC
ATT 19,842
Goals Young (31),King (58),Henderson (73),Demerit (81)
Booked Henderson,Hutchison,Whing,Page,McKay
Team
Fulop,Whing,Hall,Page,Williams,Shaw (64),Doyle, McSheffrey,Wise (Thornton 64),Hutchison (Morrell 57),Adebola. SNU Ince,Heath
Watford
Foster,Stewart,Mackay,DeMerit,Mahon (Chambers 60),Doyley,Young,McNamee (Bouazza 46),Spring,Henderson (Eagles 80) SNU:Chamberlain,Carlisle