History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

SUPER-SUB RASIAK IS WATFORD'S FA CUP HERO

Gregorz Rasiak came off the bench to score the only goal of Watford’s FA Cup Third Round win over Scunthorpe United – and save manager Brendan Rodgers’s blushes as the Championship club failed to muster a noteworthy effort until the Polish forward’s second-half entrance.

League One club Scunthorpe, relegated from the Championship last season, had the better of the earlier exchanges and after 14 minutes Martyn Woolford cut in off his left wing and fired a shot that forced goalkeeper Scott Loach to make a good save low to his left.

Rodgers, the former Chelsea reserve team manager who took charge at Vicarage Road in late November, handed starting debuts to teenage loan players Gavin Hoyte, a right-back, and Jack Cork, a holding midfielder, but Watford found it tough to create any opportunities in the final third.

Rodgers waited until the 60th minute before switching to a more attacking formation – from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 – and introducing Polish striker Rasiak. And it took only seven minutes for the manager to get his reward for going more gung-ho.

Jobi McAnuff’s corner was swung in from the left and flicked on by centre-back Adrian Mariappa. It dropped at the back post and the 29-year-old, on loan from Southampton, showed his natural goalscoring instincts by poking home with his left foot. Rodgers’s team held on for the victory while Scunthorpe trooped home feeling hard done by.

“That is the contribution that Grzegorz can make – it was fantastic,” said Rodgers of the winner. “He has got game-changing goals all though his career.

“I like to play a 4-3-3 but I felt it was not working and that we needed more support higher up the field. I pushed Grzegorz up in to a 4-4-2 and I was very pleased.”

Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins said: “We’re very disappointed. Defensively we looked very comfortable and offensively we had opportunities in the first half.

“It is very frustrating because we thought we should have come away with something. But that is the FA Cup – it just wasn’t to be.”

Watford (4-3-3):
Loach 6; Hoyte 6 (Bridcutt 6), DeMerit (c) 5, Mariappa 6, Harley 6; O'Toole 6 (Rasiak 8), Cork 6, Jenkins 7; Smith 7, Priskin 6 (Bromby 5), McAnuff 8.
Subs: Lee (gk), Bromby, Bridcutt, Rasiak, Doyley, Hoskins, Young.

Booked: O’Toole

Scunthorpe United (4-4-2):
Murphy 6; Wright 6, Byrne (c) 7, Pearce 6, Williams 6; Thompson 7 (Sparrow 6), McCann 6, Togwell 6 (Forte 5), Woolford 7 (Hurst 5); Hayes 6, Hooper 7.
Subs: Lillis (gk), Picton, Sparrow, Mirfin, Hurst, Forte, Crosby.

Booked: Byrne

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)

Hero: Grzeorz Rasiak
The on-loan striker’s second-half introduction prove the winning catalyst for Watford.

Villain: John-Joe O’Toole
The young midfielder worked hard but was booked and substituted manager Rodgers switched to a more attacking formation.

Magic moment: Rasiak’s winner, from Jobi McAnuff’s corner. The Polish international was lurking at the back post and was able to steer the ball home.

Labels: Brendan Rodgers, FA Cup, Grzegorz Rasiak, Scunthorpe, Watford

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:06 pm | Permalink | Comments

WATFORD CAN BE TOP THREE - AINSWORTH

Lionel Ainsworth, Watford's man-of-the-match in the shock Carling Cup win over Gianfranco Zola's West Ham, believes that a Premier League scalp was all they needed to kick-start their Championship campaign.

The 20-year-old winger thinks that if Aidy Boothroyd's team, currently 17th in the table, continue to perform as they did in Tuesday's 1-0 victory at Vicarage Road, then a top three finish is a certainty.

England Under-19 star Ainsworth is confident that despite the fact that there are a number of injuries, he and his young team-mates can emulate what Arsenal?s kids did, and hit Sheffield United for six at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

He said: "West Ham are big team - they have been in the Premier League for a number of years - and I like playing the bigger teams. We more than gave them a run for their money - we played them off the park. We have to take that into the League now.

"After the weekend, with the phantom goal, it was good to get some luck to go our way. Even if we didn't get the own goal [conceded by Hayden Mullins], I thought we could get a goal anyway because the movement of the midfield and the attack was very good. In defence we looked solid too - you can't ask for much more.

"Sheffield United are a big side too, but hopefully we can go there and do a job and hit them like Arsenal hit them.

"We have had players out and the youngsters have stepped in and showed what we can do. We can start building momentum now and if we play like we did against West Ham we will be in the top three, no doubt."

Labels: Carling Cup, Lionel Ainsworth, Watford, West Ham United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:35 pm | Permalink | Comments

WATFORD POP ZOLA'S WEST HAM BUBBLE

Championship club Watford gave new West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola his first dose of defeat as they overcame their Premier League opponents by a solitary goal at Vicarage Road in the Carling Cup Third Round. Aidy Boothroyd's side, victims of a "phantom goal" against Reading in the League on Saturday, were the benefactors of fortune themselves thanks to Hayden Mullins's second-half own goal.

Italian Zola, who earlier in the day had learned that his new employers would have to pay a significant amount in compensation to Sheffield United - the figure £30m had been reported - had selected a young team, but it was experienced substitute Scott Parker who made the game's telling mistake.

With 20 minutes remaining the former England midfielder handled on the left of his own box gifting the home side a free-kick from a dangerous position. Lee Williamson swung a cross over and it deflected in off Mullins's knee into the net to hand Watford their first victory at home against the Hammers in 23 years.

Watford started the brighter in an open first half, and it took only three minutes for Aidy Boothroyd's side to create their first meaningful chance. From the left Tommy Smith picked out Ross Jenkins on the edge of the box with a drilled cross, but the forward could only fizz his header wide right of Jan Lastuvka's goal.

In the absence of rested forward Carlton Cole, Fred Sears, the 18-year-old of which so much is expected at Upton Park, had been handed the chance by Zola to stake his claim to a regular first team spot and let loose a shot only two minutes after Jenkins's wayward header.

The diminutive striker, given his first start of the season, foraging alone in attack, wriggled clear in the left side of Watford's area, but he, like Jenkins, could only fire wide. On nine minutes Sears's team-mate Matthew Etherington cut in from his left wing and cracked a shot goalwards, though Scott Loach, deputising for the injured Mart Poom, clung on well.

In wasn't until 20 minutes before the interval that the best chance of the half arose, when Sears released West Ham's central midfielder Mark Noble with a clever ball behind the static Watford defence. The England Under-19 international played in the charging Noble with a pass between two defenders, but Loach was positioned well and stayed big for Noble's close range strike. He parried the shot, snuffing out the danger, and the Premier League side rarely threatened for the remainder of the half.

Four minutes before the break the home side mustered one last significant effort, when striker Will Hopkins pulled the ball back on the left-hand-side of the West Ham box. Smith raced on to rocket a low shot on target but Lastuvka was up to the task.

The contest continued to be a ding-dong affair in the second half, with Etherington again causing problems for Watford on their right and West Ham's inexperienced team allowing the Championship side time and space that manager Zola will not have been pleased with.

On 58 minutes home central midfielder Williamson clipped in an enticing delivery from the left byline, but Smith, unmarked, could only direct his powerful header towards Lastuvka, who parried the ball to safety.

The next thing the visiting team's goalkeeper had to do, however, was collect the ball from his net, as, from another dangerous Williamson delivery, Mullins deflected into his own net.

Zola's side almost levelled immediately, but Etherington's header arrowed agonisingly wide. Boothroyd's side, currently 17th in the Championship, held on for an impressive win, while Zola will hope for a fast improvement in the weekend's Premier League visit to Fulham, who also stumbled in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Labels: Carling Cup, Watford, West Ham United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:32 pm | Permalink | Comments

OUR KIDS CAN BE AS GOOD AS ARSENAL'S

Whatever Arsenal's youngsters can do, Watford's can do better - that's the view
of Jay DeMerit, the Championship side's captain.

While Arsene Wenger's kids hit Sheffield United for six on Wednesday night in
the Carling Cup, Aidy Boothroyd's nippers defeated West Ham United 1-0.

And this Saturday they too play Sheffield United, this time in the
Championship, glowing with confidence.

Boothroyd has been forced to utilise his youngsters with over 10 injuries to
first-team players.

But they are rising to the challenge, 28-year-old skipper DeMerit believes.
"Youngsters coming through and performing is really what we need, and what's
happening," said the American.

"We have a small squad anyway, but with so many injuries there is only one
thing that can help us, and that is young guys stepping up and doing the job.
We have more than enough confidence that these guys can do that.


"Adrian Mariappa (21) has done a really good job coming in at right back and
Jordan Parkes (19) impressed. Scott Loach (20) in goals made some good saves
and Ross Jenkins (17) and Lionel Ainsworth (20) played very well against West
Ham too.

"Will Hoskins (22) , who was filling in for Tamas Priskin and Grzegorz Rasiak,
did a magnificent job. We needs to keep that going, because competition is
never a bad thing, especially in a small squad like this."

On Saturday's game at Bramall Lane DeMerit added: "Cup runs can always spur on
League runs, so that's what we'll be looking to do on against Sheffield United.

"I'm sure they won't read too much into the 6-0 result against Arsenal. It's
back to the Championship now.

"A defeat like that can go one of two ways - either it will kill their
confidence or they will make sure that they don't let it happen again. But that
is down to them, not us. Our job is to go out and play like we did against West
Ham."

Labels: Aidy Boothroyd, Carling Cup, Jay Demerit, Watford

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:29 pm | Permalink | Comments

SEARS: I CAN SAVE WEST HAM

West Ham youngster Freddie Sears believes he can be the man to help new manager Gianfranco Zola in these uncertain times for the club.

The 18-year-old led the line against Watford in the Carling Cup Third Round on Wednesday, having learned only hours before that the club could be forced to pay Sheffield United £30m in compensation over the Carlos Tevez debacle.

And with forwards Craig Bellamy, Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole sidelined with injury, England Under-19 striker Sears thinks he has proved his worth to his Italian manager and has set his sights on a starting berth when West Ham travel to Fulham on Saturday.

He said: "Hopefully I have done enough to prove I can start for West Ham against Fulham. I played alright against Watford, I felt. But the more fit strikers we have at the club, the better.

"I'm not sure what the status of Carlton is - hopefully he will be back for the team. But if he is not, then I can fill in again for him, and help the team.

"We were disappointed to lose against Watford but we had a good result last Saturday against Newcastle and we will look to bounce back this Saturday against Fulham.

"It was good to start in the team. It was hard but I thought I did well. At half time he said: 'Keep going and try and stay as high up as you can.'"

On the compensation issue, which could mean that Zola is forced to sell his top players at a cut-price, Sears added: "We haven't really spoken as players about the compensation - there was nothing mentioned in the dressing room."

Zola said of Sears' performance at Vicarage Road: "I think Freddie did very well and he had a couple of chances.

"I can't be too demanding with him but I was pleased with the way he played against Watford. He is only going to get better and he will have a good future at this club."

Labels: Gianfranco Zola, Premier League, Watford, West Ham United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:22 pm | Permalink | Comments

BOOTHROYD HOPING TO CREATE HISTORY

Aidy Boothroyd, the Watford manager, is "strangely excited" despite the fact that his team are two goals down going into their Championship play-off second leg against Hull. The 37-year-old could become the first man in play-off history to pull back more than a single goal deficit tomorrow at the KC Stadium. He has been given a boost, however, by the news that captain John Eustace will be available.

The central midfielder had been shown a straight red card by referee Kevin Friend in the first leg against for an alleged butt, though the Football Association rescinded his automatic suspension in London today.

Earlier in the tie referee Friend had disallowed a seemingly good Danny Shittu goal, scored after only four minutes. Hull's Nicky Barmby netted four minutes later and Dean Windass fired the visitors two goals ahead on 23 minutes.

Boothroyd was disappointed by Friend's performance, and said: "We were the victim of two very poor refereeing decisions which you don't expect in a game of that magnitude. But I am quite enjoying this in a strange sort of way.

"We are now the hunted rather than the hunter and I enjoy it because you want these tests. You go on all the courses and do all the theory but there is nothing quite like being on the touchline and having to make a battle plan.

"Without doubt this is the biggest game for the club, but all the pressure is on Hull to perform."

An optimistic Boothroyd, whose team have won only once in the last 15 games, will hope central defender Shittu comes though a late fitness test on his hamstring, continued: "I think 3-0 would have been almost impossible, a massive task. But at 2-0 we always have a chance. If we get the first goal, then you never know. It is different when people don't expect you to do it."

"I won't need to pep the players up - it is a do-or-die game. We are going to have to have all of our big-game players."

Hull manager Phil Brown would be vexed if his team do not advance from their position to Wembley's final - dubbed the "£60m game", such are the riches of the Premier League. The fact that Hull is the largest city in Europe never to have had a football club in the top flight is an extra burden that the former Bolton assistant manager also feels.

Brown, who first joined the club as assistant to manager Phil Parkinson only to succeed him in December 2006, said: "When I first arrived at the KC Stadium, under Phil and under [then chairman] Adam Pearson, I could tell that the club has been built for bigger things - for success.

"That relative success came from two successive promotions: from second division to first; first division to Championship. And now, after two survival campaigns in the Championship, we have a full stadium every game, and we are on the verge of the Premier League.

"It would irk me if we didn't make it. We have given ourselves a great chance by going two goals up but we need to get the job done - it is not over by any stretch of the imagination."

Labels: Aidy Boothroyd, Championship, Football Association, Hull City, Premier League, Watford

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:01 pm | Permalink | Comments

ODEJAYI HOPES TO SAVE BARNSLEY

Barnsley striker Kayode Odejayi has had a bittersweet week in football. He missed a glorious opportunity to equalise at Wembley in last Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Cardiff and then scored a brace against promotion-chasing Watford to help lift his side out of the relegation zone.

Now the Nigerian-born forward believes that the only way is up for the Tykes and after his double strike on Wednesday he can sleep a lot easier. The 3-0 victory at Watford pushed Barnsley to 18th in the Championship and on Saturday they travel to Preston in search of only their third away win of the season.

The 26-year-old, who signed from Cheltenham last summer, admits he needed picking up by his family, friends and a mind coach after his Wembley howler.

He said: “It is hard not to think about the chance – it has been going over in my head. But the more days that pass, the better I feel. And after Wednesday's goals I think I am well on the way to getting my confidence back. There was a lot of relief when I scored.”

The powerful attacker praised his manager, Simon Davey, for continuing to select him. “A lot of managers might have pushed you to one side and forgot about you,” he continued. “But the gaffer has been good and stuck by me.

“He told me: ‘Get your head up, don't beat yourself up about it too much, it's not just down to you, it's a team performance’. You have the ups and downs and you have to deal with all of them so everyone's been brilliant."

On relegation survival – Barnsley are only two points above the drop zone – Odejayi said: “We have all got to try and keep us up. Against Watford every single one of those Barnsley players on the pitch was a hero and we will be going to Preston to try and do the same thing.

“We've got six massive cup finals to go now because we're trying to stay in the Championship. They're all massive games now, we have to take them one at a time and hopefully get the points we need.”

And Odejayi is hoping that his strikes will go a long way to helping Barnsley retain their Championship status. He is convinced that, as he is sleeping better now, he will be banging the goals in.

He added: “Rather than having that missed chance going through my head when I try and sleep, I can have Wednesday's performance and goals. So I’ll probably get a better night's sleep from now on.”

Labels: Barnsley, Championship, football, Kayode Odejayi, Preston North End, Simon Davey, Watford

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:06 pm | Permalink | Comments

FRUSTRATED WATFORD FAIL TO GO TOP

Goalkeeper Richard Lee is just as infuriated as the home supporters who barracked the Watford players after they slumped to a 3-0 defeat to lowly Barnsley. Aidy Boothroyd’s men would have gone top of the Championship had they beaten the FA Cup semi finalists, who began the game in the relegation zone.

But Kayode Odejayi scored a goal either side of the interval while Stephen Foster netted a free header to complete a rare away victory, which moved the Yorkshire club up to eighteenth.

Watford have recorded only one win in their past ten league matches and Lee can't put his finger on why their promotion push is losing thrust. He said: “I’m not sure what the problem is – before the game the lads were buzzing and we had a good attitude. After winning at the weekend we came into this game with high expectations.”

On hearing the boos of the Vicarage Road faithful the 25-year-old added: “The jeering is not nice, but understandable. When we don’t perform then the fans will get on our backs. We can understand their frustrations because we are just as frustrated as they are.

“But this is a funny league. I can’t remember a Championship that was so tight from top to bottom. There is so little difference between the teams.”

Manager Boothroyd was livid with his troops and demanded reasons for the feckless performance. “There was a chance to go top with four games to go and we haven't taken it which is very irritating,” he fumed. “I'm very disappointed and I would like a few answers from my players.”

Labels: Aidy Boothroyd, Championship, Kayode Odejayi, Richard Lee, Watford

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:38 am | Permalink | Comments

ODEJAYI STARS AS BARNSLEY MOVE OUT OF DROP ZONE

Kayone Odejayi was instantly transformed from FA Cup villain to Championship hero, as his brace helped lift Barnsley from the relegation zone in the back yard of promotion hopefuls Watford.

The Nigerian-born striker had squandered a gilt-edged chance at Wembley on Sunday, when the northerners were booted out of the FA Cup semi-final by fellow Championship club Cardiff.

But Barnsley manager Simon Davey showed confidence in the former Cheltenham man and it paid off on Wednesday as his side romped to a 3-0 victory at Vicarage Road and moved up to 18th in the table.

Aidy Boothroyd’s men could have gone top of the Championship with a victory, but looked sluggish and lacked confidence from kick-off.

Showing no FA Cup hangover, the visitors started brightly and on 16 minutes Odejayi had a great opportunity to open the scoring after an inviting ball by strike-partner Jon Macken sent him galloping though with only Watford ‘keeper Richard Lee to beat.

In a carbon copy of Sunday’s shocker, the striker fluffed his shot, though he soon made amends. Ten minutes shy of the interval he shuffled the ball in from a yard out after Macken’s low cross caught the home defence out.

Barnsley doubled their lead three minutes after the break, with unmarked captain Stephen Foster making the most of a dozing Watford back line, lead by skipper Danny Shittu, from a Diego Leon corner.

Foster’s headed goal was soon followed by Odejayi’s second of the night – a cool, confident loft over Lee from just inside the area.

On this evidence there can be little surprise that Watford have won only once in their last ten league matches. If they had shown half the determination that their opponents displayed they would be walking to automatic promotion.

As it is they travel to table-toppers West Bromich Albion on Saturday and have only four more games to secure a play-off place or even more. Meanwhile Davey will ask for more of the same from his Barnsley troops in order to survive the drop.

Labels: Aidy Boothroyd, Barnsley, Championship, Dutch football, Kayode Odejayi, Watford

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:15 am | Permalink | Comments