Hornets Sting A Lacklustre City

City went into the game at Watford, looking to carry on the run of winning every Championship game they had played at Vicarage Road. City saw the late injury jinx hit again with Evander Sno being stretchered off with a suspected back injury during the warm up. Cole Skuse came back into the side along with Alvaro Saborio, Lee Johnson and David Clarkson as City made 4 changes. It wasn't to be as Watford made a great first half display count as City wilted.
City were under pressure right from the start and Watford had an early chance with Martin Taylor getting a stooping header in which just went past Dean Gerken's upright. Watford had the best of the early going with Cowie having another half chance. City came back with a Louis Carey header which went just wide of Scott Loach's post and wide for City's first chance of the game. It was Watford who took the lead and made the pressure count on 14 minutes, Adrian Mariappa easily beat Alvaro Saborio who was back at left back before finding Heidar Helguson who headed past Dean Gerken to give the Hornets the lead.

City couldn't get a hold of the game with Cole Skuse and Lee Johnson struggling to impose themselves as Watford dominated play. Skuse was the first man to enter the book following a tackle on the goal scorer Helguson. Helguson was playing a key part for Watford and he went close again on the half hour mark to doubling the lead. Bradley Orr joined Skuse in the book following a tough challenge on Jay De Merit. Watford would double the lead soon after when Martin Taylor volleyed home following a well worked Watford move. The second goal kick started City and Jamie McAllister was unlucky to see a volley that was going towards the top corner blocked by Mariappa. David Clarkson was also inches from giving City a goal back when he slid in to get on the end of Liam Fontaine's shot that went across the face of goal, only to see the ball go just past him. Towards the end of the half Louis Carey's dogged defending prevented a possible third goal when he and Heidar Helguson came into battle again with the on loan striker, firing over.

City made two subs at half time with Marvin Elliott and Ivan Sproule coming on for Jamie McAllister and the lacklustre Alvaro Saborio. Liam Fontaine had a real chance as Scott Loach was called into action for the first meaningful time to tip his header over the bar. Ivan Sproule started the half brightly as City kept on going with no real threat to the Watford goal. Patrick Agyemang threatened the goal but his header went just over the bar. Lewin Nyatanga and Lee Johnson were both booked in the second half. Nyatanga for a tackle on the edge of the area and Johnson for persistent mouthing off at the referee. Marvin Elliott was also booked in stoppage time as City City have had few chances and the ones they did have they were unable to convert with Scott Loach only making one real save of note.

513 City fans travelled to Watford and will be disappointed with the display with the first half inparticular being frustrating, City picked it up in the second half but the same old problem of converting chances was evident again with the only real chances of the evening coming from headers from set pieces. City travel to Sheffield United and after tonight's result a big result will be needed, Gary Johnson's job is certainly under the magnifying glass now.