Comment: Only half-time for Watford

It’s only half-time in the play-off semi-final, there’s no need for the long faces

SO we were just eight minutes away from a highly-creditable draw from the first leg of the play-off semi-finals when David Nugent inevitably struck.

In nine appearances against Watford, Nugent has scored six times, so it was hardly a surprise that when the goal did eventually come – against the run of play – it was the Desperate Dan lookalike who got it.

The goal was against the run of play and at a time when Watford were in complete control of the game but lacking the cutting edge to make their supremacy pay.

Leicester by that point, won the back foot and had for some time, having been reduced to launching forward long balls and physics-defying clearances from Kasper Schmeichel.

Matej Vydra put in a shift up front and ironically, his drop off in form seems to have coincided with an improvement in his all-round game.

When earlier in the season he was scoring for fun, he offered little else.

It seemed churlish to complain too loudly at the time, but now the goals would be most welcome once more.

Alex Geijo – thrust in thanks to Troy Deeney’s suspension – was one of our more dangerous players in my book, though I’m fully aware that isn’t a viewpoint held by all.

The Spaniard is no suited to British ‘up-and-at-’em’ football, but you can see there is a very good footballer there, used to a slower and less physical style of play.

Perhaps if Deeney had not been so exquisite this term Geijo would have had more of a look-in and adapted to the rough-and-tumble of the Championship sooner?

Either way, it is unlikely either Geijo or Vydra will start the home leg on Sunday as Deeney will be back from suspension and Fernando Forestieri is the regular home pick.

This tie is far from over. For all the celebrations of the Foxes’ supporters yesterday, they are 1-0 up at half time and nothing is written in stone yet.

On another note, it was good to see Fitz Hall back as a late substitute for Lloyd Doyley.

Hall has been imperious when fit this season, but the problem of getting the centre-half fit has limited his playing time.

The former Queens Park Rangers man has proven a classy addition with all the tools: a physical presence, good on the ball, a good reader of the calm and good in the air, Hall can do it all.

We always look at our best with One Size in the side, so I hope to see him lining up against Leicester this Sunday.

The questions remains, who do you drop to accommodate Hall?

Marco Cassetti is in undroppable form and whilst Joel Ekstrand is probably the next best centre-half at the club, the Swede has proven to be slightly more error-prone than Lloyd Doyley.

The composition of the team is far from certain, but the situation is: 90 minutes to make it to Wembley. It’s in our hands.

Keep the faith.