Watford put spanner in the works

When the fixtures for Reading’s first season in the Premiership were issued the experts among the footballing media community pin pointed Reading’s final home match with fellow promoted side Watford as an end of season relegation six pointer. The prediction bears no relevance to the quite superb season that Reading has enjoyed. Sadly from Watford’s perspective the word relegation has proved chillingly relevant. Watford who were relegated a fortnight ago following a home draw with Manchester City, had one thing to play for in their visit to the Madejski Stadium; that most dangerous of emotions pride. With Reading pursuing the icing on the cake for this season, a UEFA Cup place, Steve Coppell’s men would have to be very conscious of the pride of Vicarage Road.

Watford’s pride was indeed on show as Reading searched for a victory. Leroy Lita whose play and scoring has been one of the most pleasing aspects to Reading’s debut Premiership season, was trying to make an impact on the game but came up against Ben Foster, the Watford goalkeeper. Foster had a tremendous game, diving at the feet of both Lita and Dave Kitson to deny the Reading strikers clear strikes at goal. Watford may have been playing in a relaxed manner, but they were still determined to make things difficult for Reading’s European quest. Lita must have wondered long and hard as to why he didn’t get a penalty in the 20th minute when Cedric Avinel felled Lita. The Reading protests were waved away and Watford’s luck held. Indeed the first half saw few opportunities for either side with the most notable coming from a Dave Kitson header that crashed against the cross bar.

The second half would be a different story, particularly for freshly relegated Watford. Foster was once again on hand to deny Lita. The Reading front man shot from the edge of the box, but Foster was able to turn the shot round the post. The last three matches between these two have ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Until the hour mark, 0-0 looked to be a likely score again. However, Danny Shittu beat the offside trap and put Watford in the lead converting Lee Williamson’s cross. Marcus Hahnemann disputed the goal claiming offside, but television replays show that the linesman made the correct decision.

Reading could have struck back quickly when Seol Ki Hyeon broke through the Watford defence, only to be denied at close range by another marvellous save from Ben Foster. While Foster was in good form in the Watford goal, his opposite number Marcus Hahnemann made a crucial mistake to let Watford in to seal the game. Tommy Smith’s cross, appeared to be finding Hahnemann’s hands, but the ball squirmed through and was easily headed in by Marlon King.

The second goal gave Watford the victory, but the 2-0 victory also put the Hornets into a unique position. Watford is the only side that Reading has failed to score against in the Premiership this season. The contrast between the two clubs is stark, but once again the media have been proved wrong in their assessment of Reading this season. Who’d have thought Reading would draw a blank against Watford but not against Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers…….

By Stuart Croucher