Watford win makes light of Young departure
Watford fans will cling to survival hopes after win
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Who's Next? As a certain legendary band once asked. |
Tuesday, 23, Jan 2007 10:09
Premiership basement side Watford picked up only their second league win of the season with a valiant performance producing a 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets needed a slice of luck to set them on their way when the visitors' Australian defender Brett Emerton headed into his own net after just twelve minutes.
Shabani Nonda and David Bentley had both threatened to give Mark Hughes' side the opener, before Emerton planted the ball past team-mate Brad Friedel in a desperate attempt to prevent a deflected cross finding Damien Francis at the far post.
The goal did little to halt the waves of Rovers' pressure and the hosts' lead stayed intact thanks to the disappointing finishing of Bentley and Benni McCarthy rather than any tactical masterplan from Aidy Boothroyd.
But just before the break Watford's luck broke as McCarthy rose highest to meet a cross from Bentley with a thumping header that levelled the game.
Both sides seemed less adventurous after the restart and chances were scarce as the game seemed set to coast towards a draw.
But Jay DeMerit's close-range finish on 70 minutes reignited the contest with Rovers' attacking responses growing more threatening as time wore on.
Matt Derbyshire came the closest from another Bentley cross at the death, but again Watford escaped to carry off three sorely-needed points.