4:56pm Saturday 26th January 2008
By Anthony Matthews
THERE will be no repeat of last season's run to The FA Cup Semi-Finals for Watford after Aidy Boothroyd's decision to field a weakened team backfired as Wolves progressed into round five with an easy 4-1 victory at Vicarage Road this afternoon (Saturday).
Inspired by livewire left-winger Matthew Jarvis, the visitors got off to a flying start thanks to Andy Keogh's fifth-minute lob. Second-half goals from Stephen Elliott and Jay Bothroyd - both the result of some shocking defending from the home side - then put the visitors on easy street before John-Joe O'Toole netted a consolation.
However, any hopes of what looked to be an unlikely comeback anyway were killed off in the last minute when Keogh netted his second to make it just one win, and six losses, for the Hornets in their last ten outings at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets boss gave a clear indication of where his priorities lie by making six changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Charlton Athletic last time out.
New signing Mat Sadler, as expected, made his debut, while Malky Mackay came in for his first start of the season after Calum Davenport's loan was prematurely curtailed by injury. Steve Kabba, Al Bangura and O'Toole formed a new-look midfield and Tamas Priskin came in to partner Nathan Ellington up front. Of those that were left out, Tommy Smith and Jordan Stewart were on the bench, but Lee Williamson, Damien Francis and Darius Henderson were all rested.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was always going to have to make two changes following the 2-0 win at Scunthorpe United last time out because David Edwards and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake were cup tied, but he also decided to drop Michael Gray to the bench. In came Rob Edwards, Darren Potter and Bothroyd.
The game started fairly evenly with both sides having early attacks but it was the visitors who made the breakthrough with the first attempt of note after five minutes. Mackay, under pressure from Bothroyd, stumbled as he sought to head clear and the ball bounced through to Keogh, who, from 20 yards out, produced a delightful right-footed lob that gave Richard Lee little chance to make it 1-0.
Watford's first opening came three minutes later when the ball broke to Jobi McAnuff and he drove inside off the left flank but flashed a right-footed attempt from the edge of the area well wide.
But the Hornets could have found themselves two down in the 15th minute when Neil Collins found Jarvis in far too much space down the left, and the former Gillingham wide-man surged into the area before cutting the ball back to Bothroyd, but he placed his shot too close to Lee.
Within two minutes though, Watford were so nearly back on terms. Priskin won a free-kick on the edge of the Wolves box and Ellington curled the ball over the wall and beyond the reach of Wayne Hennessey, only to see it rebound out off the keeper's left-hand post and out to Bangura, who was unable to control the follow-up.
Boosted by that, Watford pushed forward again and Kabba was unlucky to see a goalbound effort deflected behind soon after.
However, Wolves continued to look dangerous and it was their turn to hit the woodwork in the 33rd minute. Following a corner from the right, Hornets old boy Darren Ward peeled off Mackay and headed down and against Lee's right-hand upright from the edge of the six-yard box.
Little then happened until a minute before the break when Watford were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out, but this time Ellington's set-piece hit the wall and ran harmlessly through to Hennessey.
A less than impressive first-half performance from the Hornets was then greeted by the predictable boos as Wolves took a one-goal advantage into the break.
And the visitors almost doubled that lead within a minute of the restart. Darren Potter threaded a pass through to Keogh on the left side of the area and he turn found the unmarked Bothroyd, but Lee did well to block his close-range effort.
But Watford should then have had a chance of their own soon after when Priskin broke at two Wolves defenders, but instead of sliding the ball to Kabba, who had made a run into space to his right, the Hungarian dallied and the opportunity was lost.
On 53 minutes though, the home side did manage to get in an attempt. After a free-kick had been partially cleared, Lloyd Doyley's fine pass found Sadler in space and on-side on the left side of the area, but the new Hornets left-back could only fire into the side-netting.
However, the home side's hopes of another good cup run looked to be ended in the 59th minute when they were ripped apart by a fine and incisive passing move. Jarvis started it with a good pass to the left to Keogh, who, with only Sadler covering in the middle, bided his time before sliding the ball sideways to Elliott, who calmly beat Lee to make it 2-0.
Boothroyd responded by bringing on Smith for Priskin, and then Karl Henry picked up the game's first yellow card, before Watford were carved apart again on 68 minutes. This time Potter found Jarvis breaking into the six-yard box and he put the third on a plate for Bothroyd.
However, Watford gave themselves a glimmer of hope three minutes later. Following a Kabba cross from the right, Ellington battled to open up a shooting chance but the ball broke for O'Toole, who calmly took a step sideways before rolling the ball past the static and helpless Hennessey to make it 3-1.
The Hornets then almost set up a dramatic climax when Smith stood up a fantastic cross from the right and Ellington got up well on the edge of the six-yard box, only to send his header the wrong side of Hennessey's left-hand post.
Adrian Mariappa then came on for Mackay, before Ellington sent a more difficult heading opportunity over the top following Kabba's deep ball in from the right.
But Wolves could have had a fourth after 81 minutes when Potter put Keogh in behind the Hornets defence, but, with Jarvis unmarked in the middle, the striker got caught in two minds and sent a cross-cum-shot across the six-yard box.
However, Keogh did grab a second in the last minute of normal time when Bothroyd played the ball across to Keogh, who shifted the ball onto his right foot before firing through the legs of Doyley and past the helpless Lee.
Watford: Lee; Doyley, DeMerit, Mackay (Mariappa, 76), Sadler; Kabba, O'Toole, Bangura, McAnuff; Priskin (Smith, 62), Ellington. Not used: Stewart, Rinaldi and Poom.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hennessey, Foley, Edwards, Ward, Collins; Elliott, Potter, Henry (Kightly, 90), Jarvis (Gray, 84); Keogh, Bothroyd (Gibson, 90). Not used: Breen and Stack.
Bookings: Henry for dissent after 64 mins; Bothroyd for time-wasting after 86 mins.
Attendance: 12,719.
Referee: Keith Stroud.
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