A game at last

That all changed on the first weekend in April 2003 as Burnley players spoke of revenge for the club defeat just a few weeks before. And how, for only the second time ever we scored four goals against the Hornets but incredibly on one of the most incredible of throw one in days we conceded seven times, just as we were trying to sell season tickets.

It was only the second time we had ever conceded seven goals at home in a league game but three weeks later we did it again.

Watford were back in April last year and beat us again, this time 3-2, what looked an almost respectable scoreline.

Our last meeting was back in August of last year, the second Saturday of the season and what proved to be our first league win under manager Steve Cotterill. Ian Moore, labelled a fifteen goal a season striker by Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell, scored a rare goal heading in from close range after the Watford keeper had superbly parried a Robbie Blake shot.

They made a good start to the season and Danny Webber could hardly stop scoring but he went out of the side with injury and certainly there has been some decline since the beginning of November that leaves them currently one place but four points behind the Clarets although we have a game in hand.

There’s been little change to the Watford squad since our last meeting other than loan players and manager Ray Lewington had introduced Johnnie Jackson from Spurs in December and then Manchester United’s Chris Eagles a month later. Jackson has been a regular although Eagles has been in and out of the side.

Lewington has had it difficult since taking over from free spending Gianluca Vialli in the summer of 2002 but has taken them to two domestic semi-finals. Their recent form hasn’t been good and after just four wins in the last twenty-four league games Lewington was shown the door.

They promised a young manager with new ideas and although we know nothing about his ideas they have appointed the youngest manager in the Football League in 34 year-old Adrian Boothroyd who was first team coach at Leeds. He’s brought with him for experience the former Spurs manager Keith Burkinshaw who is now aged 70.

In between Lewington leaving and Boothroyd arriving they brought in another player in loan in defender Danny Cullip who has arrived from Sheffield United with Danny Webber going the other way to add to Neil Warnock’s collection of strikers. Former Fulham and Brighton defender Cullip will make his debut for Watford tomorrow.

Also on his way out with Webber was Neal Ardley who opted to go and play for the club who cannot afford to pay the wages – Cardiff City. He needn’t worry, the PFA are sorting it out.

Watford’s last game, like Burnley’s was two weeks ago and the 2-0 home defeat against Preston proved to be Lewington’s last game in charge.

Click HERE to see all Watford’s results this season.

It is difficult to know just how Boothroyd’s team will play (he’s been learning from Blackwell and Ellis) but he said today, “I’ll be in charge and the tactics and the style of play will be my decision. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time.

He will be without the injured Paul Devlin and Sean Dyche and has said he will have the same players to choose from as Lewington and it is expected he will select from the following:

Richard Lee, Lloyd Doyley, Neil Cox, Jack Smith, James Chambers, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Gavin Mahon, Johnnie Jackson, Heidar Helguson, Danny Cullip, Chris Eagles, Anthony McNamee, Bruce Dyer, Hameur Bouazza, Alex Chamberlain, Jermain Darlington, Ashley Young, Domonic Blizzard.

Click HERE to see Watford’s full squad.

It will be a different looking squad that Steve Cotterill as to choose from compared to the one that was beaten at Bramall Lane a fortnight ago. Ian Moore, used as a substitute in that match, is no longer with us but Steve Cotterill can welcome back John McGreal and Tony Grant from suspension and injury respectively whilst he can also add James O’Connor to the squad after the West Brom midfielder joined us on a permanent basis just over a week ago.

I expect all three of them to start and it would be no surprise to see Michael Duff, Lee Roche and Graham Branch as the unlucky three who will have to settle for a place on the bench. The only injury doubt is Frank Sinclair who has had a problem with his achilles but he is expected to be passed fit.

The likely line up is: Brian Jensen, Frank Sinclair, Gary Cahill, John McGreal, Mo Camara, John Oster, Micah Hyde, Tony Grant, James O’Connor, Dean Bowditch, Ade Akinbiyi. Subs: Danny Coyne, Lee Roche, Michael Duff, Graham Branch, Jean-Louis Valois.

Our last Turf Moor meeting was just over a year ago and it was another dreadful performance from a Burnley team who didn’t look as though they wanted to avoid relegation. We went into the game on the back of a 1-0 win at Walsall and were expected to beat fellow strugglers Watford.

Think again. We turned out with only nine players fit to play and with twenty minutes gone both Paul Weller and Neil Wood had to come off. The second substitution was farcical as Dele Adebola refused to come on and we had the sight of Ronnie Jepson running up and down the directors’ box steps to ask the banned from the touchline Stan Ternent what to do.

Gavin Mahon and Micah Hyde dominated the midfield for Watford but we actually took the lead through Mark McGregor on the half hour but it lasted less than ten minutes when referee Carl Boyeson fell for it and awarded a very poor decision against Graham Branch.

An early goal in the second half looked as though it could have clinched it for Watford and a third six minutes from the end. That just left time for Adebola (who eventually agreed to come on during the second half) to score his only Burnley goal.

McGregor and Tony Grant were the only Burnley players to come out of the game with any credit.

The teams were,

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Lee Roche, Mark McGregor, Graham Branch, Mo Camara, Glen Little, Tony Grant, Neil Wood (Luke Chadwick 20, Dele Adebola 54), Paul Weller (Lenny Johnrose 16), Robbie Blake, Ian Moore. Subs not used: Nathan Abbey, Alan Moore.

Watford: Alec Chamberlain, Chris Baird, Marcus Gayle, Sean Dyche, Paul Mayo, Paul Devlin, Gavin Mahon, Micah Hyde, Lee Cook (Paolo Vernazza 88), Heidar Helguson, Hameur Bouazza. Subs not used: Lenny Pidgeley, Neal Ardley, Bruce Dyer, Lloyd Doyley.