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Watford hold on for a point against Blackpool

5:22pm Saturday 17th December 2011 in Watford FC - Match Reports Photograph of the Author By Frank Smith

Watford survived a number of nail-biting moments to secure a battling away point at Blackpool.

Pool’s Matt Phillips and Lomana LuaLua both hit the same post in the first half and Scott Loach needed to make several saves in the second period.

Former Watford striker Kevin Phillips missed a sitter after coming off the bench but the Hornets battled well and Prince Buaben should have scored himself when he fired over from inside the six-yard box.

Watford made one change to their starting XI as Lloyd Doyley came in for Carl Dickinson, who was ill. Joe Garner was on the bench because Chris Iwelumo was also suffering with sickness. Former Newcastle United forward LuaLua, replacing Chris Basham, was the only alteration for Blackpool.

The game started at a frantic pace and Blackpool were looking extremely dangerous through their pacey front three of Callum McManaman, Matt Phillips and LuaLua.

Watford had a dangerous attack break down early on but Blackpool countered quickly and Phillips, who scored six goals in seven games on loan at Sheffield United recently, smashed a 20-yard strike against the post.

There was then a spell of real pressure from the home side and the Hornets’ full backs endured a torrid spell as they were beaten on several occasions.

LuaLua had a goal-bound effort deflected over by a team-mate and some excellent wing play from McManaman almost resulted in his low cross picking out LuaLua sliding in at the far post.

Watford responded with a mini flurry of their own and had a couple of ‘nearly’ moments.

Nyron Nosworthy picked out the run of the lively Troy Deeney and the striker’s touch was impressive, but his shot was blocked by the recovery tackle from former Hornets loanee Craig Cathcart.

His strike partner Marvin Sordell was then slipped down the left channel by Michael Kightly, he ignored Deeney to go it alone and his effort was blocked.

Blackpool went agonisingly close to opening the scoring once more when LuaLua picked up the ball 25 yards out and struck a low drive which also rebounded off the post.

Watford had to endure some very worrying moments but they finished the half well and were looking lively. The front two linked up well and almost put Deeney in. But the visitors also wasted a couple of decent opportunities to cross.

The second 45 minutes began with Mariappa heading Mark Yeates’ corner a few yards wide.

But then Loach had a moment to forget as he palmed a Blackpool cross straight to Matt Phillips but the goalkeeper recovered well to save his shot.

Loach then needed to save again moments later when Gary Taylor-Fletcher got the wrong side of Nosworthy and the Hornets’ goalkeeper rushed out to save. The ball was gathered by McManaman though and his low cross should have resulted in a simple finish for Taylor-Fletcher, only for the midfielder to flick wide from close range.

Watford were more than a match for the recently-relegated side in terms of work rate and endeavour and also played some nice football at times. Yeates sent a low shot wide and Matt Gilks held on to Sordell’s effort, which was heading for the far corner.

The Hornets then had a glorious opportunity to score when Kightly picked out the run of Buaben and he side-footed over from inside the six-yard box.

But the visitors rode their luck on several occasions during the afternoon and with just over 20 minutes remaining, Adrian Mariappa uncharacteristically gave the ball away in his own box and Nosworthy needed to leap through the air to make a crucial block as Taylor-Fletcher struck.

Blackpool had another spell of real pressure, as Deeney made a good defensive header from a dangerous cross, but once again, Watford went on the attack.

Substitute John Eustace had a shot blocked and then the captain was picked out at a corner but he was unable to get his shot away.

Kevin Phillips was sent on in search of the winner and he should have grabbed the deciding goal when he headed over from inside the six-yard box with the goal gaping.

Billy Clarke had a shot saved and Loach made a decent stop from Ian Evatt - parrying his header in the air the defender's follow up.

Watford finished the game strongly though and Kightly thought he was set to score when Gilks jumped over the midfielder and dropped a through ball, only for the referee to blow for a foul.

The Hornets had a chance to send in a corner with the four minutes of injury time up but they took it short and the final whistle blew.

Blackpool: Gilks; Eardley, Evatt, Cathcart, Crainey; Ferguson, Sylvestre (Clark 78), Taylor-Fletcher; McManaman (Basham 88), Lualua (Phillips 67), M Phillips.

Subs not used: Angel, Ince.

Watford: Loach; Hodson, Nosworthy, Mariappa, Doyley; Yeates (Eustace 67), Hogg, Buaben, Kightly; Sordell, Deeney.

Subs: Bond, Mirfin, Beattie, Garner.

Referee: Mark Haywood.

Attendance: 11,652.

Comments(72)

hollywood101 says...
5:35pm Sat 17 Dec 11

Very happy with a point away to Blackpool any time of year, even better we managed it on a cold winters day.

Roll on Boxing Day. Going into the cardiff game on the back of a 1 loss in 9 run is no bad thing.