Watford 2 Coventry 2 - Could've been … Should've been
Last updated : 15 August 2010 By Scott Balaam
In the first half Watford pressed Coventry from the first minute, they spread the ball across the park but failed to capitalize on the pressure. Coventry struggled to handle the youthful Watford squad and their cause wasn't helped in he 16th minute when Danny Graham went for 50/50 ball with Coventry's keeper Iain Turner but left Turner very shook - He had to be substituted. The replacement keeper was 18 year old Michael Quirke who was making his league debut, the youngster started well and made a very good save from Marvin Sordell. Unfortunately for Quirke he misjudged Lee Hodson's 45th minute cross and could only watch as Will Buckley put the ball into the net.
In the second half Watford continued to press, skipper John Eustace made the most of the pressure and scored an acrobatic second in the 58th minute when the ball flew over Quirke into the top right hand corner. Not long after the second there was a change in referee when Trevor Kettle got injured, he was replaced by Mr M Stewart. The Hornets looked like they were coasting to three points only for David Bell to score a 25 yard shot in the 88th minute - The ball curled in with the outside of his right foot past Scott Loach, Loach could've done better but it was a good finish.
Just as the stand-in official announced that there would be seven minutes of injury time Coventry took a corner, the ball came into the box and as Watford cleared the ball Mr Stewart blew his whistle for a push by Lloyd Doyley - The replays showed that it was a wrong decision, Doyley had stood his ground and done nothing wrong. Jutkiewicz slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner in the 91st minute. After the game Malky Mackay said to Sky "I asked Trevor Kettle what level he'd [Stewart] refereed at and it's Conference level, so to come into a game today and have to referee at Championship level and give a decision like that, that obviously means I'm a bit upset."
Walking away from the game it felt like Watford had lost, one thing is for sure they lost two points whereas Coventry fans must've felt like they'd won. Aidy Boothroyd received an excellent reception both before and after the game which was deserved.
The players must now focus on the positives and hope to cut out defensive slips and ensure they kill off games in the future when they have the opportunity.
Next up is Hull City away next week which will be a hard but winnable game.
Be lucky … Keep smiling
Scottie B
In the first half Watford pressed Coventry from the first minute, they spread the ball across the park but failed to capitalize on the pressure. Coventry struggled to handle the youthful Watford squad and their cause wasn't helped in he 16th minute when Danny Graham went for 50/50 ball with Coventry's keeper Iain Turner but left Turner very shook - He had to be substituted. The replacement keeper was 18 year old Michael Quirke who was making his league debut, the youngster started well and made a very good save from Marvin Sordell. Unfortunately for Quirke he misjudged Lee Hodson's 45th minute cross and could only watch as Will Buckley put the ball into the net.
In the second half Watford continued to press, skipper John Eustace made the most of the pressure and scored an acrobatic second in the 58th minute when the ball flew over Quirke into the top right hand corner. Not long after the second there was a change in referee when Trevor Kettle got injured, he was replaced by Mr M Stewart. The Hornets looked like they were coasting to three points only for David Bell to score a 25 yard shot in the 88th minute - The ball curled in with the outside of his right foot past Scott Loach, Loach could've done better but it was a good finish.
Just as the stand-in official announced that there would be seven minutes of injury time Coventry took a corner, the ball came into the box and as Watford cleared the ball Mr Stewart blew his whistle for a push by Lloyd Doyley - The replays showed that it was a wrong decision, Doyley had stood his ground and done nothing wrong. Jutkiewicz slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner in the 91st minute. After the game Malky Mackay said to Sky "I asked Trevor Kettle what level he'd [Stewart] refereed at and it's Conference level, so to come into a game today and have to referee at Championship level and give a decision like that, that obviously means I'm a bit upset."
Walking away from the game it felt like Watford had lost, one thing is for sure they lost two points whereas Coventry fans must've felt like they'd won. Aidy Boothroyd received an excellent reception both before and after the game which was deserved.
The players must now focus on the positives and hope to cut out defensive slips and ensure they kill off games in the future when they have the opportunity.
Next up is Hull City away next week which will be a hard but winnable game.
Be lucky … Keep smiling
Scottie B
