Watford smash Scunny

A perfect day at the office for Watford who picked up three goals, three points, a clean sheet, and saw Danny Graham bag his first goal since September.

The Hornet’s started with the same eleven that beat Preston at the Vic’ last time out and it took just nineteen minutes for Heidar Helguson to repeat his feat of a fortnight before. A cross from loanee Tom Cleverley from the left was pefectly placed on the Icelander’s head to give Watford a deserved lead.

The Hornet’s domination continued and just three minutes later he added Watford’s second. Another cross was thumped home by the Icelandic cap, this time his striker partner Graham providing the cross.

Helguson’s fifth goal back in a Watford shirt in just his second start and only his fourth appearance in total since he returned on loan from Queens Park Rangers.

Aidy Mariappa then came close in an almighty goalmouth scramble which saw Scunny ‘keeper Josh Lillis stranded on the floor amidst any number of bodies.

Half Time: 2-0

Scunthorpe did settle a bit more towards the end of the first half so it was always going to be important to not let the Iron back into the game as the second half began. As it turned out, Watford did exactly the opposite grabbing their third of the afternoon.

Henri Lansbury robbed the full back down the right and powered forward to pick out the run of Danny Graham who took his time, steadied himself and slotted into the bottom right-hand corner of Lillis’ net.

Late on, substitute Nathan Ellington nearly added a fourth as he raced past the Iron defence before rounding another and slashing well wide on his left foot. It was a chance that simply required the striker to calm down and slide the ball past a virtually already grounded ‘keeper. Still, that’s the sort of quality we paid £3.5m for!

Full Time: 3-0

Scunthorpe United
Lillis; Bryne (c), Jones (Ngala), Mirfin, Friend; Togwell, Sparrow (O’Connor), J.Wright, Woolford; Hayes and Hooper.

Player Ratings

Scott Loach – 6
Unconvincing in the first half, improved in the second.

Lee Hodson – 7
Got forward really well to support Tom Cleverley and put over a couple of good cross’. Defensively solid.

Aidy Mariappa – 6
Didn’t have a lot to do and did that well anyway.

Craig Cathcart – 5
Still fails to convince. Can’t see us bothering to renew his loan spell.

Lloyd Doyley – 6
Solid. Got forward well and had one shot go just wide at the near post.

Tom Cleverley – 6
A quiet game by his recent standards but still used the ball well and grabbed an assist for H’s opener.

Henri Lansbury – 7
Drove the Hornet’s forward and never wasted the ball. Great steel, determination and awareness for his assist.

John Eustace – 7
Worked as hard as ever, slowed the play down when required and made simple pass’.

Don Cowie – 6
Gave the ball away a bit too often with hospital pass’.

Heidar Helguson – 7
Two classic H headers.

Danny Graham – 7
Really good goal, using all his intelligence. Looked alert throughout.