CARDIFF CITY may still not have won at Watford's Vicarage Road for 35 years but tonight saw a point gained that felt like a victory as the boys fought back from a 2-0 half-time deficit and second half penalty miss to earn a 2-2 draw thanks to a Jay Bothroyd double in the final 20 minutes. This was a dramatic riposte to Watford, courtesy of hari kari defending, grabbing their goals in the opening 20 minutes but a turning point came as Watford's Priskin got a straight red card for throwing a hand in Darren Purse's face at a free-kick. City seem to be dealing in the world of strange football. All This immediately followed Coventry’s goal that never was, Blackpool’s last kick equaliser and Charlton’s 9 men
City were (surprise surprised) unchanged. There was paper talk of Joe Ledley possibly being involved but he has been saved and wasn't even on the bench. That gave us Heaton, McNaughton-Purse-Johnson-Kennedy; Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Parry; Bothroyd-McCormack. Subs were Enckleman-Blake-Comminges-Gypes-Eddie Johnson.
The Hornets are having a troubled season. Former Chairman/Owner recently criticised the Board who have put the club up for sale after £8M profit last season and sold players for £12M over summer without major investment in the team. On the field, their problems had been on the road as they had taken a solitary point from 5 aways but won 3-0 at Southampton at the weekend. At home, their record was 3 wins, a draw and a loss to Plymouth.
City, backed by 800 fans making all the noise (literally, all the noise listening to it on the radio), pressed and won a corner inside 20 seconds but were behind after 90 seconds from a Watford corner. City had chances to clear, failed to do so, Purse and Johnson apparently both left it and JONJO O’NEILL forced the ball home.
The worst start seemed to inspire City to take the game to Watford but they threatened and got sloppy in equal measures, failing to test the home keeper and then it was double-disaster as it became 2-0 on 18 minutes thanks to comedy defending. A simple route one ball wide saw McNaughton miss its flight, the lively Hoskins tamely helped it on but Darren Purse stick a boot out and diverted the ball past Heaton. It should be an own goals by rights but it has been credited to HOSKINS.
Watford won 3-0 at Southampton with all the goals in the first half last weekend and must have been wondering if they were on for more of the same as they won a dangerous edge of area free-kick but Priskin foolishly elbowed Purse and players lined up, the linesman saw it and after consultation with the ref, he received a straight red card. It became one way traffic but City going round in circles, that all too familiar story of a lack of telling moments in front of goal.
City ended the first half almost reducing the deficit as Roger Johnson brought the best out of Hornets keeper Lee but doesn’t it just sum up City that a half of possession and pressure produced just one meaningful effort on goal. At the start of the 2nd half, City came close again as a dipping McPhail volley had Lee beaten but flashed narrowly wide, the home side restarting minus their captain who was subbed, presumably due to injury.
On the hour, hope arrived and then a choker as City won a penalty, a potential major turning point, when Whittingham was brought down by a defender. McCormack spotted the ball aiming to score his 10th of the season but agonised as Richard Lee, who saved 2 penalties last weekend, made a superb stop which was compounded by Whittingham putting the rebound wide. Lee then produced an astonishing save for the second time from Roger Johnson on the third of four successive corner kicks won and Whittingham then put a free header over from a Parry cross.
As that chance was missed, Dave Jones made his first change as Eddie Johnson, of all people, was introduced for Whitts (injury or tactical?) as City went 4-3-3 with McCormack pushed wide.
On 71 minutes, Cardiff finally grabbed the lifeline and the way Lee was playing, it was no surprise that it was a fluke. McPhail found BOTHROYD, he advanced and drove from outside the box but it needed the help of Eustace whose stretched leg deflected the ball up and over his helpless keeper and joy became double joy as a Parry corner was helped on by Johnson
With 7 minutes remaining, City had their closest moment yet to going ahead as McCormack skinned a defender and found Bothroyd who hit a post for what would have been a hat-trick as City won another barrage of corners taking their 2nd half corner count to 11. McCormack going close with one of them but that was their final assault and it was the home side who had the final say, Heaton saving from Harley.
The result saw City drop a place to 5th at the top end of 10 clubs separated by just 2 points. Watford, in 16th, are 4 points adrift. Next up is a visit to bottom of the Championship Nottingham Forest on Saturday. I'm sure that won't be easy but they have to go looking for 3 points.
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