Hornets frustrated in stalemate

5:04pm Saturday 23rd February 2008

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WATFORD have slipped to third in the Championship after their attempts to go back to the top were thwarted by a resolute Preston North End, who held out for a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road this afternoon (Saturday).

The Hornets dominated the attacking exchanges, but although Darius Henderson hit the side-netting instead of a near open goal from a tight angle and Dan Shittu headed against a post they were unable to force a winner.

Aidy Boothroyd, as expected, made just the one change following the comeback 2-2 draw at Charlton Athletic last time out, with John-Joe O'Toole replacing Al Bangura, who failed to make the bench. Jay DeMerit was fit to return following his four-match absence but had to settle for a place among the replacements. They also featured Jordan Stewart and Steve Kabba, both of whom missed the trip to The Valley with knocks.

Preston boss Alan Irvine also made just the one adjustment to the side that performed so well against Portsmouth in the FA Cup last weekend, with Richard Chaplow replacing the suspended Darren Carter.

The Hornets were straight on the front foot from the kick-off, with Leigh Bromby having a few early opportunities to use his long throw. But it was the visitors who had the first attempt in the seventh minute when Simon Whaley saw a shot blocked after Chaplow had surged infield.

But Watford really should have gone in front less than 60 seconds later when Jobi McAnuff played a superb give-and-go down the left with Nathan Ellington before driving forward and infield and then sliding in Henderson to his left. The big striker drew Andy Lonergan and appeared to have done the hard work after rounding the keeper, only to blast into the side-netting from a relatively tight angle on the left-side of the six-yard box.

However, it was the home side's turn to survive a scare five minutes later when, following a free-kick, the ball was rolled inside to Paul McKenna, who let fly from fully 25 yards and Richard Lee was beaten as he watched the ball rebound out off the angle of post and bar. Watford immediately countered though, with McAnuff leading the charge before playing in Ellington, who fired over the top with a left-footed effort from 12 yards.

The Hornets were on the attack again soon after with Tommy Smith doing well to beat two men down the right side of the area before standing up a cross that was, in truth, a touch too deep. But the on-song McAnuff kept the ball alive on the right side of the area before firing in a low shot which Lonergan did well to turn behind at his near post.

Next, Henderson headed down and into the Preston keeper's arms following an Adrian Mariappa cross, and then Lonergan was forced to tip over a Smith cross that was threatening to drop beneath his bar.

The home side had another promising opening in the 31st minute when Henderson was tugged down by Liam Chilvers near the edge of the area, but Ellington could only find the wall with his disappointing set-piece. Then, following the Hornets' fifth corner of the opening half, John Eustace saw an effort blocked at close range.

Ellington spurned another free-kick from a good position after 37 minutes as the Watford bombardment continued, and three minutes before the break a smartly-taken set-piece was rolled down the side of the wall to Smith, who sought to pick out Henderson with the cut-back, but Lonergan was able to intercept.

Callum Davidson received the game's first yellow card a minute later for a scything challenge on Mariappa, but despite dominating Watford had to settle for a 0-0 scoreline at the break.

The second period got off to a rather flat start from the Hornets' perspective, although that threatened to change five minutes in when Smith did well to drive between two challenges before finding Ellington, whose effort from the edge of the area was deflected over.

Boothroyd's troops continued to remain well in charge without particularly threatening, before Whaley mustered the visitors' first on-target effort of the afternoon on the hour, although Lee was never troubled by the right-footed effort.

But how Watford didn't go in front after 61 minutes was anyone's guess. Following a McAnuff inswinging corner from the left, Shittu headed down and off the far post and the ball looped back across the goalline, over Lonergan and Smith, and Chris Sedgwick managed to head clear.

Still the chances kept coming and going, with Shittu flicking on a long Bromby throw from the right but a combination of Ellington and McAnuff were unable to get the required touch. Next, McAnuff did very well to get away from two challenges down the left before pulling the ball back to O'Toole, but he fired over from the edge of the area.

It was the Preston manager who was the first to play his hand after 72 minutes, bringing on Neil Mellor for Karl Hawley, and the visitors then enjoyed their best offensive spell of the second period, although the best they could muster was a couple of useful crosses.

But the Watford boss was convinced his side should have had a penalty after 77 minutes when Smith was bundled over in the area, although his attention soon switched to the other end when Chaplow was given a second bite after a McKenna shot was blocked and his left-footed effort was deflected narrowly wide.

Next, Lee had to go to ground to save a Chris Brown toe-poke, before DeMerit was introduced to the action at the expense of Mariappa after 81 minutes.

Sean St Ledger then came on for Whaley, before Lionel Ainsworth replaced Smith, and the home side thought they'd won it in the last minute of normal time when Henderson teed up Ellington, and his shot was bundled in after it rebounded out off the far post, but the assistant's flag had long since been raised.

The Hornets laid siege to the opposition goal towards the end of four minutes of injury-time, but the closest they came was when Lonergan dived to his left to keep out a Shittu header.

To rate the performances of the players against Preson, click here

Watford: Lee; Mariappa (DeMerit, 81), Bromby, Shittu, Sadler; Smith (Ainsworth, 85), Eustace, O'Toole, McAnuff; Ellington, Henderson. Not used: Stewart, Williamson and Kabba.

Preston North End: Lonergan; Jones, Mawene, Chilvers, Davidson; Whaley (St Ledger, 84), McKenna, Chaplow (Hill, 89), Segwick; Hawley (Mellor, 72), Brown. Not used: Nicholls and Neal.

Bookings: Davidson for a foul on Mariappa after 43 mins; Mellor for time-wasting after 90 mins.

Attendance: 16,798.

Referee: Anthony Bates.