BFTG - Watford (H)

[melonhead]

I wasn't attacking him!

I want his babies

[RoyalBlue]

Can't understand the criticism of Feds distribution. I think I must have been at a different game! I can't recall him missing his intended recipient more than about once in the game.

As for the criticism of the saves he made - armchair critics I suspect. I wonder whether they have ever played in goal in a proper game and I doubt they have ever had any decent coaching in the position. Even if they were camera saves (disagree)- the important thing is that he did save them.

[Bob1871]

Any other day we would have won the game!

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say we couldn't have performed all that better, the back four halted what is one of the best teams in the league to little chances, feds made one save in the first half and the goal in the second. Overall I'm sure defensively they came off the pitch happy compared to recent weeks.

Centre of Midfield wasn't fantastic but was nowhere near as bad as some have made out and McCleary had is best game of the season, looked a constant threat and put a great ball over for Blackman to somehow miss.

It is was up front that we really lost the game. 16 shots, 6 on target and our best 3 chances all didn't hit the target. After a minute Murray volleyed over, he's got to hit the target! Again Murray did so well to beat his man early in the second half and shot wide and then Blackmans pathetic attempt.

If two of those had gone in, everybody would have walked away saying how well we played. Was the most positive performance I've seen this year!

[Westwood52]

Can't understand the criticism of Feds distribution. I think I must have been at a different game! I can't recall him missing his intended recipient more than about once in the game.

As for the criticism of the saves he made - armchair critics I suspect. I wonder whether they have ever played in goal in a proper game and I doubt they have ever had any decent coaching in the position. Even if they were camera saves (disagree)- the important thing is that he did save them.

Yes his distribution is good-but he was so slow restarting on Saturday.

[marlowuk]

A decent report on the game in The Observer on Sunday! Very fair and summed up the game well I thought. Apologies if this has already been posted but I couldn't find it anywhere!

Abdi sinks Reading as 10 men give Clarke frustrating start

Clarke was given a crash course in Reading’s failings as Watford executed a smash-and-grab that cast their lack of decisiveness at either end of the field firmly into light.

Having taken the reins on Tuesday in place of Nigel Adkins, Clarke had overseen two training sessions and watched his new charges contrive the kind of defeat characteristic of a team that has taken a setback too many.

Reading looked appropriately energised by the change and took the game to sixth-placed Watford, who were reduced to 10 men when Gabriele Angella received a second yellow card just before half-time. The visitors were on the ropes thereafter but Almen Abdi’s superbly taken winner, soon after Nick Blackman had conjured the kind of miss that he will see in his sleep for weeks, took the wind out of Reading’s sails and emphasised the line between success and failure in this division.

“A disappointing result, but I’m pleased with the effort and application of the players,” said Clarke. “They understood the Watford shape and I thought in the first half – 11 v 11 – we were good in the game.”

Clarke had named an attack-minded first selection, as if intending to blow away the gloom cast by last Saturday’s 6-1 defeat at Birmingham through sheer force. It almost paid dividends when the left-back, Jordan Obita, crossed for Glenn Murray to volley over after 46 seconds, and Reading’s wide players caused their visitors problems throughout.

“We had a great chance to take the lead in the first minute, didn’t take it and had another couple of chances that could have been goals,” Clarke said. “By and large we restricted Watford to longer-distance shots and I was happy with our control.

“In a strange sort of way the sending-off actually helped Watford because it cemented their game plan and the first goal was always going to be crucial in the second-half. After that it became a bit of a scrap and when you’re in a negative moment, as the team is just now, it becomes a little more difficult.”

Clarke was correct about Reading’s uncertain response to Abdi’s goal, a crisp half-volley from Ikechi Anya’s cutback. But Watford had not exactly shut up shop after seeing their numbers reduced and afforded enough space for Murray and Blackman, who somehow put Garath McCleary’s cross wide, to miss more clear opportunities.

Slavisa Jokanovic, the Watford manager, was pragmatic about Angella’s red card, which was given when he appeared to divert the ball away from McCleary with his hand after losing out in a one-on-one. Gavin Ward’s decision seemed correct but it provoked a furious reaction from the visiting players. “I haven’t seen it again but it was a very soft challenge,” he said. “Angella slides in a little bit, I don’t know if he touches the ball and I don’t know if it was intentional. But if the referee sends him off, that’s it.

“We made many unnecessary mistakes in the first-half but it was important we gave a reaction and we did it very well. My team had confidence it could win with one player less, kept control and won the game. Now everything is possible.”

Clarke, who had preached the importance of looking upwards before the game, was equally positive about Watford’s prospects, but encouraged by the way his side stood up to a side he believes should win promotion. “It’s a league where, if you can get a bit of momentum, turn things round and get on a roll, you can quickly get up the table,” he said.

“We’re in the wrong half but if you look at ourselves and Watford, who I’m sure will be in the top six – and if they get it right will probably be in the top two –we showed we could match them. All we didn’t do was stick the ball into the net.”