Watford...1 Sunderland...0Gianluca Vialli, the millionaire son from a millionaire's family, started suing Watford last week. For money. Ray Lewington, not a millionaire son from a millionaire's family, continued managing Watford last week. With no money.
Last Friday Watford informed five professionals that they would be released because the club cannot afford to keep them. That took the tally to nine. A further 14 players' contracts expire in the summer, including six of the 11 who started here.
One of those is the hero of the hour, Tommy Smith. His younger brother Jack, also at Watford, is another of the 14.
The financial hardship has clouded Watford's season to the extent that when Lewington was asked what this victory meant to Watford overall, he replied: "Unfortunately sometimes you have to push away the glory. What it really means to Watford is that we're earning some money."
It's a sad state of affairs. Sitting three points off a play-off place in the First Division and now in the same velvet bag as Arsenal, Lewington should be stoking dreams. But again, when offered the chance to romanticise, he stressed that "survival" was the priority.
Maybe Smith, an enthusiastic 22-year-old, would at least mention Cardiff. "It was a fantastic result for the club," he began, promisingly. "Money is as important to us as anything. The team, in team meetings, have talked about the club's predicament financially and we know what a quarter-final could mean."
At least Smith provided a little geographical entertainment. "My dad David will have a huge smile on his face because he's a Newcastle fan."
Geordie laughter will have been loud. Not only did Sunderland lose again, they lost to a twice-taken penalty that should never have been awarded in the first place.
Jason McAteer's foul on Heidar Helguson barely constituted an offence, but referee Mike Dean gave it and then contradicted himself when explaining why Smith was allowed to re-take the kick after Thomas Sorensen had saved the first effort.
Sorensen was off his line, Dean said. Then he said it was encroachment. He did not see that the ball was not on the penalty spot either time.
Guardian Service
SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Gray, Babb (Proctor 72), Craddock, Wright, Arca (Talal El Karkouri 59), McAteer, Thornton, Kilbane, Phillips, Flo (Bellion 59). Subs Not Used: Macho, Thirlwell. Booked: Gray, Craddock.
WATFORD: Chamberlain, Ardley, Cox, Gayle, Robinson, Nielsen, Vernazza, Hyde, Mahon, Helguson, Tommy Smith (Doyley 86). Subs Not Used: Brown, Noel-Williams, McNamee, Lee. Booked: Robinson, Hyde. Goals: Tommy Smith 65 pen.
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).
