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Your Watford v Brentford Match Reports

Mullet added 20:23 - Aug 31 Town lined up with an unusual 442 Mick having rung the changes. Gerken with Berra ahead of him partnering regular face Smith was protected by fill-in captain and right back Chambo and Cresswell out wide. Tabb ceded his place of awkward LM to loanee Tunnicliffe whilst Anderson was wide right and Nouble was the runner for McG up top. A large queue at the cash only turnstile swelled the numbers of vocal Town once again, as they did under Mick's first game. There were even less home fans though, a largely empty St Andrews showed the lack of sympathy some fans show for a poor start to the season. The game was not the expansive total football a fool would expect, but there was a marked rhythm largely set by the away side. Brum looked to trouble early on with a delightful cross from dangerman Burke and his opposite Shinnie shimmied past Chambers to fluff his chance. It took 20 minutes of Town interplay to carve out the first chance of note. As with last weeks opening dominance a free ball from Anderson was shipped to Cresswell who dinked a lovely cross onto McG's rising head. It looped over. Just. Brum's unappealing version cantering counter attacks were generally uninspiring or threatening as Town's passing squeezed and ground out yards of territory to little effect. While Skuse cut out passes like they were coupons and he a 1950s housewife; it was McG who danced and unpicked defenders with class. The striker dropped shoulder and markers as if it was a training match at times and for once Town's pressure to and from the byline told. Nouble's pace onto flick-ons was a real boon as like the Midlands' very own talking Toby jug Adrian Chiles he made either channel his own from the off, but failed in his delivery too often. Unconvincing at times he needed to look up before being double marked, it did win set pieces however and opportunities for Cresswell to cross. In goal Brum's MOTM had been forced to tip and collect often as Town looked to press home advantage. Anderson and Cresswell in particular had mixed results from the flanks but found both front-men often enough to cause mild panic for the blues. It was one of many clumsy challenges from the home side which brought the lead for Town. A lovely free-kick lofted into the six yard box found Berra all on his own. He finished powerfully and wheeled away all before most Town fans knew quite what was happening. At the back the two CBs looked strong aerially and the pressure from Town left them susceptible to counters whilst Chambers and Cresswell were supported well from midfield to chase and harry Birmingham out wide time after time. Berra in particular did a Mogga-like job of stalking 3-4 yards at a time before making a well placed header. As the half came it was McG again who had wended chance and opportunity throughout who elicited a massive response from Town's travelling witty, choir. Cutting in behind Nouble, he pounded yards toward goal and unleashed a wicked bending shot. It bounced off fingers then the far post beyond a stranded Randolph who was clearly relieved he doesn't bite his nails. It wasn't much later when McG would chase a loose through ball having headed over again minutes before. Neither time could he find the finish he/we/Mick deserved. Brum troubled Town merely once or twice through some equally determined but rarely glimpsed wingplay. Burke provided Lovenkrands with a chance he spurned and Shinnie once again at the back post throughout the half. Gerken's main duties were to collect crosses unchallenged or kick goal kicks by and large. With the scent of a kill in their nostrils Town fans surveyed the vista of St Andrews before heading below to the watering holes with not a Zulu stirring. Presumably remaining camouflaged as empty seats was a safer option in the face of an away side who could have been 4 or 5 up at the break. One presumes an irate Lee Clark was coherent enough at the break as Brum came out with a bit of grit and directness from the off. Town weathered the rumbles but it was foretelling. A shot from the angle of the near post from McG troubled goal once again but was likewise thwarted. Immediately after Novak glanced a header from a rasping cross which forced Gerken to tip it over from under the bar. The left hand side had yielded much for Town with the delivery of Cresswell being largely dangerous while the footballing terrier of Tunnicliffe humped the life out of Brum's full back again and again. His work soon gave Hyam a chance to test goal which was blocked for an audacious Cressy drive to then go way off course. A jaded looking Anderson made way for Edwards who was followed a few minutes later by Murphy who replaced Nouble. The youngster can hold his head high after a spirited if guile-free performance. Had he done so whilst on the pitch sooner he could have ripped City apart like classic Japanese horror-film monster Godzilla. McG once again twisted his way through defenders but failed to find a shot or pass that was measured perfectly. Murphy was particularly unlucky to again miss a lovely through-ball by centimetres sending him clean through but without the ball. Birmingham meanwhile lit themselves up for a brief but bright spot under the limelight. Exerted pressure from them and dogged defending from us eventually saw Burke clear at the back post. With looming markers he picked a shot that was heartbreakingly beautiful. Looking up he arched the ball over Gerken nestling at the far post. Worthy of praise but not the point. Town upped the ante with the impressive Tunnicliffe the last sacrifice for Tabb whose energy help renew a Town but failed to produce a clear lead. Combining with Murphy, Cresswell and Hyam apiece down the flank one particular move looked to sweep in and open up Brum, but ultimately lacked the surgical precision required. McG drilled a shot again at the hands of Randolph but even being so close to Bourneville he lacked the chocolate wrists we hoped for. The biggest talking point of another frantic and frustrating end must be MOTM McG being felled clearly inside the box. The ref blew. The away end stood in a united roar. The ref pointed for a free kick much to Town's disgust. Players pointed at turf accusingly like losing gamblers. It was even with some humour McG eventually got to place the kick inside the box. The ref rolled it back over the line and McG drilled it at the wall. Cresswell again lined up a magisterial chip crowned with a soft foul by Smith on the keeper. At the final whistle jaws and hearts sank at the realisation of two points dropped. Town wrestled Brum into submission for large parts of the game but failed to pin them down with clinical finishing. Sport is a cruel mistress and it's hard not to feel cheated once again.

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cbower added 20:59 - Aug 31 It's been pretty rare in recent years to leave an away ground disappointed with a draw but today we really should have taken all three points. After dominating the game and looking in complete control, another deflected goal conceded and several good chances squandered and some fine saves from their keeper, a point seems like meagre reward for a solid team performance. Even the £5 admission for my boy has lost the shine it had for the first 3/4's of the afternoon! Five changes in all from MM was probably more than expected. I still think both Loach, Tabb and Hewitt can count themselves a little unlucky but I was happy to see Edwards and Murphy relegated to the bench. Breaking up the Smith / Chambers partnership was risky and I was a little concerned that both Berra and Smith are distinctly left-sided central defenders whilst Chambers would not offer much attacking threat from the right back berth. The opening 15 minutes was rather uneventful with neither side creating much worth a mention. Thereafter, Town started to gain the upper hand in terms of possession and goal threat. McGoldrick looked lively and had a few opportunities and Creswell looked threatening with several quality deliveries from the left. It was from a Cressy cross that Berra managed to head Town into the lead on the half hour and in the next fifteen minutes, the boys had the opportunites to put the game to bed. An excellent attempt from the impressive McGoldrick thundered against the post and shortly before the break the same player had another goalbound effort blocked by the inspired Randolph in the home goal. Other headed chances went begging for Town. Brum, on the other hand, offered little and it was only in the last five minutes of the half that Gerken's goal was threatened at all. Town started the second period a little sleepily but still had the better of the play and the chances too. McGoldrick had an early effort saved before Gerken was forced to claw away a goalbound effort from the home side from under his crossbar. Efforts from Hyam and Tunnicliffe were well saved by Randolph. Only the lively Burke on the right looked any threat to Town's dominance. The hardworking but ineffectual Nouble was replaced by Murphy and Edwards came on to take over from the more effective Anderson. However, dominance, more possession, corners and shots had only produced a one goal lead and Town were punished for their profligacy. A deep cross from the right eventually found Burke. Jinking this way and that, the former Cardiff man created himself a little space and his shot took a deflection off a Town defender, looping rather gently over the helpless Gerken and it was game on. For five minutes or so, the boys rocked and were forced to repel a more threatening home side. After the initial flurry and impetus that the home goal had give the hosts, Town again looked more threatening. Murphy delayed when he really should have shot, Creswell forced Randolph into another full length save and McGoldrick was felled on the edge of the box with Town players insisting the infringement was inside but to no avail. McGoldrick thundered the free kick into the wall, Cressy floated the rebound to an unmarked Smith who completely failed to make proper contact with his header when he really ought to have done much better. As McCarthy has said after the game, this really feels like a defeat. One point is scant reward for the quality of that performance. Some comments on the players: Gerken - very little to do really. No chance with a deflection. One good save in the second half. Chambers - played well despite right back not being his natural position Creswell - quality deliveries all game. Unlucky not to score. Improving defensively. A really impressive game today Smith - competent and rarely troubled all game Berra - attacks the ball from set pieces as with his goal. Dominant in the air. A good debut Anderson - had a reasonable game and did his job. I would like to see a little more willingness to get into more dangerous positions wide and attack full backs. Got in the box several times looking to get on the end of things Skuse - efficient, combative and unhurried Hyam - unlucky with one effort form the edge of the box. High work rate as you would expect Tunnicliffe - has good presence, one good strike on goal. Looks more suited to a central role rather than out wide. McGoldrick - quality is clear. lovely feet, good hold up play and gets shots away on goal. Deserved to score today. The only reason he is not a Premier League player is that he doesn't have enough pace. If he did, he would not be at Town! Nouble - no denying that Frank is a willing runner but right now I don't really see much else. For his size, he is not especially strong in the air and seems to all too often be knocked off the ball. His touch and positional sense, including his ability to make the right runs, are very questionable. Raw talent is really an understatement at the moment. Murphy - not the solution but better than Nouble Edwards - did nothing wrong when he came on but we all know that his days as a first team starter are probably numbered Tabb - did what Tabb does. Buzzed around, got a few decent crosses in and almost got on the end of a ball into the box late on We may be down in the bottom few but there is much to be positive about from today. Plenty of attacking intent and chances created. Just need that bit of luck to get the ball rolling and we will see more points accumulated and a move up the table. Three deflected goals in five games have cost us severely so far.

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