Town failed to create a single chance of note as Watford left Portman Road with a 1-0 win. Ashley Young scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes after the break.

Shane Supple took over in goal from Lewis Price who dropped to the bench due to his cold having taken part in the warm-up. Jim Magilton returned to the midfield and Jimmy Juan made only his second Town start with injured duo Owen Garvan and Kevin Horlock dropping out.

There was also a change to the expected official with, to the dismay of Town fans, Andy D'Urso taking over from Chris Foy.

Young keeper Shane Supple inadvertently carried the ball out of the area in the fourth minute giving the Hornets a freekick in a dangerous position, Jay DeMerit heading Ashley Young's ball into the box over the bar.

Adam Proudlock sent a Jay McEveley cross from the left wide, prior to Supple saving Clarke Carlisle's header from a Young freekick from deep on the Watford left.

Darius Henderson ended a lengthy session of head tennis inside the Town box by nodding the ball over the bar with the Blues seemingly incapable of getting the ball clear.

On 22 Town had what was to prove their best chance of the game. Nicky Forster sent in a low ball from the left which went behind Adam Proudlock. Darren Currie picked up the loose ball, shimmied past a defender and shot across the face of goal.

Matt Richards mis-hit a Jim Magilton cross five minutes later as the Blues enjoyed their only extended spell of possession during the match, with Jimmy Juan particularly influential. The Frenchman was on the end of a bad tackle from behind from Matthew Spring in the 29th minute, the former Luton player receiving a yellow card.

Clarke Carlisle became the second player to get his name in Andy D'Urso's book in the 41st minute for a tackle which appeared to be both high and from behind on Jim Magilton.

Two minutes later, Sito pumped a cleared corner back to Magilton on the right. The veteran Northern Irishman sent the ball in to Nicky Forster who knocked the ball to Adam Proudlock but the recent loan signing couldn't get to the ball before it went out for a goalkick.

Referee D'Urso's often perceived anti-Town tendencies appeared to be well in evidence just before the break when Richard Naylor was yellow-carded for what seemed to very obviously be a fair challenge.

There was further anger from the home crowd moments later when Nicky Forster was cynically chopped down by Matthew Spring as the Blues broke quickly into the Watford half. Spring looked certain to receive his second yellow card of the afternoon but D'Urso failed to see the foul and waved play on.

Shane Supple made a fine double save in first half injury time, first preventing a shot from Darius Henderson and then the rebound at close range from Paul Devlin, although the linesman's flag had already been raised ahead of the second effort.

Jay McEveley and Richard Naylor made points to Andy D'Urso as the official was booed from the pitch at the break. Neither side had really impressed during the first half, although the Blues had played some attractive football in spells, in largely ineffectually, with Watford somewhat more direct in their approach.

Matt Richards hit the first strike of the second half over the bar from 25 yards in the 53rd minute, then Adam Proudlock almost got on the end of a long Supple kick, Hornets' keeper Ben Foster claiming the ball ahead of him after central defender Clarke Carlisle had hesitated.

On 55 the visitors went ahead. Supple pushed King's header from Devlin's cross onto the bar and Young followed up from close range. Three minutes later Town made two substitutions, Sam Parkin and Dean Bowditch replacing Jim Magilton and Adam Proudlock.

Supple made a fine save from a Henderson header in the 62nd minute, before Spring escaped with a talking-to from D'Urso after another poor challenge on Jimmy Juan which might well have warranted a card. Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd withdrew the midfielder shortly afterwards.

Jason De Vos shot wide from the edges of the box, prior to Henderson's shot being blocked.

Jay DeMerit thought he'd scored a second Watford goal in the 74th minute but the referee adjudged that he had fouled Jason De Vos.

A Currie freekick flew across the Watford box but the Blues were making little serious headway towards equalising, rarely putting a decent passing move together. The Hornets seemed happy with their single-goal lead, their freekicks, goalkicks and throw-ins taking a great deal of time.

As the inevitable defeat became closer, significant numbers of fans in the North Stand began to call for David Sheepshanks's head - "We want Sheepshanks out..." - the disenchantment with the chairman growing with every match. A handful of fans had stayed behind to protest after Tuesday's game with Coventry and a larger number remained in their seats continuing to chant after the match.

Another uninspiring performance from a confidence lacking Town, particularly in the second half when the Blues once again fell to pieces after conceding. Prior to the goal, neither side had looked like scoring in a poor advert for Championship football.

Jimmy Juan and Matt Richards had looked promising in the first half but after the break were anonymous as the Blues deteriorated into hitting balls down the flanks for Forster, Proudlock and latterly Bowditch to chase.

Town: Supple, Sito, McEveley, Naylor, De Vos, Magilton (Parkin 58), Juan, Richards, Currie, Proudlock (Bowditch 58), Forster. Unused: Price, Wilnis, McDonald. Att: 24,069.

Photo: Action Images

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