Boothroyd spoils night of delight by provoking unseemly brawl
ONE step from the promised land? No sane person would have promised this to Watford. Predicted to be relegation candidates, they could end the season with promotion to the Barclays Premiership, but this aggregate victory was soured by an extraordinary set-to prompted by apparent gamesmanship from Adrian Boothroyd, the Watford manager.
With half an hour left, Boothroyd flicked the ball away from Fitz Hall, the Crystal Palace defender, when it went out for a throw-in. They scuffled and almost all the players and coaching staff from both sides piled in to create ugly scenes, with punches thrown. Hall was booked and Boothroyd was sent to the stands by Steve Tanner, the referee, and could be serving a touchline ban when Watford play Leeds United in the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs final in Cardiff on May 21. The Times
Boothroyd spat takes gloss of Watford Success
A year ago Aidy Boothroyd saved Watford from relegation in the final week of the season; last night he led the club to within 90 minutes of a return to the Premiership, with a play-off final meeting with Leeds a week on Sunday, their only obstacle.
But Boothroyd watched the final 26 minutes from the stand after an ugly confrontation with Palace defender Fitz Hall which sparked a massive confrontation and ended with the manager sent to the stands and leaving him with the threat of being banned from the touchline in Cardiff. Daily Telegraph
Boothroyd faces ban after sparking brawl
Adrian Boothroyd faces the threat of being banned from the touchline for the play-off final against Leeds United, comfortably the biggest game of his brief managerial career, after being sent to the stands last night following a mass brawl in front of his dugout. The Watford manager sparked mayhem midway through the second half when he flicked the ball away from Fitz Hall with a hand as the Crystal Palace defender sought to take a quick throw-in.
Hall reacted by pushing Boothroyd, culminating in a melee involving almost every outfield player as well as substitutes and backroom staff from both clubs. Palace's manager Iain Dowie was among at least 30 people embroiled in the scrap. Both clubs seem certain to be charged by the FA with failing to control their players and Boothroyd may not be the only individual charged once video evidence has been reviewed. The Guardian
Boothroyd sending-off mars landmark night for Watford
If the play-offs really are a lottery then at least Watford have one of the two tickets left. The Hertfordshire club, thanks to this comfortable draw, eased through to the final in Cardiff on 21 May, where they will play Leeds United for the ultimate prize: promotion to the Premiership.
However, they may be without their manager, Adrian Boothroyd, on the touchline, after his antics here sparked a mass brawl and he was dispatched to the stand with the possibility of a ban for the club's biggest game in seven years, when the Hornets were last promoted to the Premier League. The Independent