Sport

Watford make a point

FA Premiership/Watford 1 West Ham United 1: If a team can suffer from an excess of positivity, Watford must be in danger

Simon Burnton At Vicarage Road
Wed Aug 23 2006 - 01:00

FA Premiership/Watford 1 West Ham United 1: If a team can suffer from an excess of positivity, Watford must be in danger. The top-flight's most recent arrivals and favourites for relegation have passed most of the summer talking up their chances of surprising the doomsayers, and spent most of this match piling into opponents whose blossoming last season constitutes a blueprint for success at this level.

For a time, it seemed their approach would bring their first win of the season. Not, however, for much time. A wonderful goal from last season's top scorer Marlon King gave them the lead with just under half an hour to go. They held out for less than two minutes - Bobby Zamora volleyed the visitors back to parity and present another challenge to the optimism of the Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd, whose next duty is to prepare his charges for Saturday's visit of Manchester United.

The home side dominated the early exchanges but their passing, particularly from the right-back Lloyd Doyley, tended to be too long, too high and insufficiently accurate. Watford created the best chance of the first half. Their captain Gavin Mahon was the only man to anticipate Zamora's dummy from John Paintsil's low cross, and he released Hameur Bouazza for a sprint down Watford's left flank that ended with a fine centre which King headed onto the inside of the far post with Roy Carroll flailing.

At the break Boothroyd took off Mahon, brought on Matthew Spring and pushed Bouazza towards the front of a 4-3-3 formation. The move brought mixed results. The attack seemed energised, the defence brittle. Indeed both defences creaked and, in the space of two minutes they cracked.

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Watford took the lead in stunning style, King picking up the ball 25 yards out and turning to hammer the ball into the top corner. Almost from the kick-off West Ham burst down the left and Paul Konchesky's cross was volleyed past Foster by Zamora.

WATFORD: Foster, Doyley, DeMerit, Shittu, Powell, Bouazza (Priskin 73), Francis, Mahon (Spring 45), Young, King, Henderson. Subs Not Used: Lee, Stewart, Mackay. Goals: King 63.

WEST HAM: Carroll, Paintsil, Ferdinand, Gabbidon (Benayoun 66), Collins, Konchesky, Bowyer, Mullins, Reo-Coker, Harewood (Sheringham 66), Zamora (Cole 83). Subs Not Used: Walker, Dailly. Goals: Zamora 65.

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).