I travelled to Vicarage Road on my bill last weekend after a busy morning moving out of my flat and had very little thinking time prior to the match, but walking from the tube station to the ground I predicted a score draw and I think I would have been right had Charlton not gone a man down in the 45th minute.
It was my first trip to Vicarage Road.... what a dump. A horrible ground.... after my year of supporting Charlton, it's clear we have among the best facilities in the league.The team lined up as most expected with Varney and Gray up front, Racon and new boy Bailey in the middle of the park with Bouazza and Lloyd Sam out wide. Kelly Youga lined up at left-back, Mark Hudson and Jonathan Fortune at centre half with Jose Semedo completing the quartet.
The match started with a stutter and the Addicks found themselves exposed at the rear as early as the 4th minute thanks to a probing run from Jon Harley down the left. His cross set up Jobi McAnuff who had his header cleared by Addicks Captain Mark Hudson. Charlton’s first real effort on goal came from Frenchman Thierry Racon who fired just over the cross bar in the 18th minute. Ten minutes later Charlton found themselves a goal down as a ball played down the left wing outsmarted Jonathan Fortune whose mishap allowed Tommy Smith to turn inside and slot home past Weaver much to the delight of the home crowd and the despair of the travelling contingent.
The goal allowed Watford to settle down and although Charlton had a few efforts the match was much of a stalemate until Charlton were reduced to ten men in the 47th minute. A perfectly weighted through-ball from John Eustace allowed Tomas Priskin to stretch his legs with Kelly Youga chasing the Watford centre forward. Youga caught Priskin but was adjudged to have fouled the Hungarian by referee Iain Williamson who promptly produced a red card for the foul.
Saturday was “Respect the Referee” day or whatever the FA choose to call it…. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to respect referee Williamson on this day. Williamson decided against seeking advice from his linesman and instead chose to send off Kelly Youga in stoppage time in the first half. I sincerely hope that the referee has phoned Alan Pardew to apologise for making a match changing decision that turned out to be so glaringly wrong. I also questioned his use of discretion – if he thought it was a foul why did he not just show a yellow card – surely he knew that it was the end of the half?? Anyhow, I think this decision changed the face of the game and from here on it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Addicks to salvage anything from the match.
The second half was more encouraging for Charlton and I thought that despite being down to ten men, we were still in the game, we were still making opportunities and we were unlucky not to equalise through Luke Varney who saw his effort stopped by Mart Poom.
Grant Basey came on for Bouazza and had a quiet start to his match whilst Racon hobbled his way off the pitch (due to a broken metatarsal) and made way for Matty Holland who did a great job trying to take the game by the scruff of its neck chasing the ball all over the pitch like a mad man….
Striker Chris Dickson was brought on for Jose Semedo and did a cracking job of chasing the ball and giving the game a good go. I’m looking forward to seeing him get a start, his youthful energy and clear ability is something that we will certainly benefit from having on the pitch .
The final whistle signalled a victory for Watford and the boos echoed around the away enclosure, not aimed at the players (this time) instead aimed at the Refereeand his linesman who was down the Charlton end who both had woeful afternoons.
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