‘Orns Left Pointless Again

Watford were once again left to ponder what might have been as they were beaten on the road once again in spite of a massively improved first-half following a dour first half showing from both sides.

Queens Park Rangers loanee Heidar Helguson was unable to play against his parent club meaning that young Marvin Sordell was afforded a place on the bench along with Liam Henderson and Will Hoskins, covering for Ryan Noble who returned to the North East earlier in the day. The injured duo of Don Cowie and Jay DeMerit were replaced with Stephen McGinn and Martin Taylor respectively.

The home side were able to switch their front pairing, replacing former Hornet Tamas Priskin, and top-scorer Jay Simpson with Antonio German and ex-Luton man Rowan Vine. Amongst the subs were a number of youngsters as threatened prior to the game by R`s gaffer Neil Warnock.

Hungarian midfielder Akos Buszaky, who`s confrontation with former manager Jim Magilton back on December 5th, as Watford cruised to a 3-1 victory over Ranger spelled the end for the former Ipswich Town midfielder, got the only goal of the game in the 38th minute from the penalty spot.

The penalty awarded was very similar to that given against the Hornet`s on Saturday up at Leicester, a nothing ball clipped into the area to the striker who fell spectacularly following minimal contact from Aidy Mariappa was enough to persuade Pat Miller to give the home side the spot kick. ‘The White Pele`, as Buszaky is known in the Shepherds Bush area drilled into the bottom right-hand corner to give Q.P.R the lead.

Half-time: 1-0

It was a lead that Rangers would have to defend fiercely if they were to maintain it as the second half was virtually all Watford.

The half-time introduction of Marvin Sordell, back from a two-month loan spell with Tranmere Rovers threatened to change the game on a couple of occasions as his low cross was flicked just wide by a flying Danny Graham before another cross, this time from the right was blocked heroically on the line after Jon Harley made contact in the six yard box.

Graham did have the ball in the net, slipped through perfectly but adjudged to have been beyond the last defender having already deposited the ball past Radek Cerny in convincing fashion on his left-foot. It was a beautiful passing move from the Hornet`s with Lloyd Doyley playing smart one-two before Sordell slipped in the former Carlisle United frontman.

Substitute Jay Simpson, on-loan from Arsenal, came close toward the end as he shot across goal from the right-hand side of the penalty area, Scott Loach able to get enough of a touch to prevent a second.

Full-time: 1-0

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Tosic, Gorkss, Leigertwood, Buzsaky (Oastler, 71 ) , Ephraim, Taarabt (Cook, 41 ) , Faurlin, Vine, German (Simpson, 72 )

ubs not used: Priskin,Brown,Putnins,Parker,

Watford: Loach, Martin Taylor, Mariappa, Harley, Bennett ( Doyley, 46 ) , Hodson, Eustace, McGinn ( Sordell, 46 ) , Lansbury, Jenkins (McGinn, 82) , Graham

ubs not used: Lee, Hoskins, Henderson, Oshodi,

Bookings: Buzsaky , Cook , Ephraim (QPR) Eustace , Mariappa (Watford)