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Town Look to End Watford Hoodoo
Tuesday, 21st Aug 2012 12:08

Town visit bogey side Watford tonight looking to end their extraordinary run of 15 games without a victory over the Hornets (KO 7.45pm). Manager Paul Jewell and his assistant Chris Hutchings will be hoping their side carries on where it left off at the end of Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Blackburn.

Hutchings took on the pre-match press duties on Monday and said he was pleased with the way the team played against Rovers, particularly having gone a goal behind: “I thought we showed great character and determination to come back and I thought we finished very, very strongly.

“[Blackburn have] come down from the Premier League and with the experience that they’ve got — Robinson, Givet, Dann, Etuhu, Murphy, Pedersen it goes on and on — and what we have in terms of certain positions, midfield, wide left, I thought we did very well.

“I thought we could have shifted the ball better and quicker into wider areas, especially in the first half, which we didn’t do. But in the second half I thought we switched the play and got at them a lot more.”

With games coming thick and fast in the early stages thoughts immediately turned to the trip to Vicarage Road: “At the beginning of the season it’s bloody hectic with the cup games as well,” Hutchings said. “We’re going to Watford, they’re coming off the back of a very good win at Crystal Palace [3-2] and we’re looking forward to it.

“I felt for [ex-Hornets boss] Sean Dyche when he got the sack, but new owners come in and unfortunately new managers come in and old ones go. That’s the way that football is.

“Sean had done a fantastic job there with the budget he had, getting the best out of his boys and finishing in the highest position Watford had for numerous years.

“Zola’s come in, there’s been an influx of loan players, his Italian boys have come in, and it’ll be interesting to see whether he can play the Italian way.

“You don’t know what to expect, to be honest. We’ve gone through the DVDs and had a little look to try and learn as much as we possibly can about them, but it’s about what we do. We’ve got to go about our game, get on the front foot and take it to them.

“We’re looking for three points, we’re not going there for a draw and we’re going there in a very positive frame of mind.”

The Blues’ most recent defeat to the Hornets came at Vicarage Road in March when they went a goal in front via Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and dominated a first half in which they had further chances to score.


Hutchings says they paid for not taking those opportunities with the Hornets coming back strongly after the break to win 2-1: “We had chances to win that game early on, so that was very disappointing. In any game, if you don’t take your chances, you don’t win games, it’s as simple as that.

“If you don’t defend set pieces properly, it can lose you games. You take good set pieces, it can win you games. Small details.

“On Saturday we were very disappointing in that respect, the lads knew that. The players knew who they were supposed to be picking up and to concede at a set piece was very frustrating.”

Hutchings said that as of yesterday everyone other than Elliot Hewitt, who will be back in September after undergoing hip operations prior to joining Town, was fine despite the extreme heat on Saturday, and it’s likely that the Blues will be unchanged for tonight’s game.

Keeper Scott Loach will be returning to his old club, while skipper Carlos Edwards and Aaron Cresswell will be the full-backs and Tommy Smith and Luke Chambers the centre-halves.

In midfield, Josh Carson and Emmanuel-Thomas will continue on the flanks with Massimo Luongo and Luke Hyam in the centre of the midfield behind Lee Martin with Michael Chopra the one out-and-out striker.

Watford midfielder Almen Abdi is expected to keep his place despite not being 100% fit, while defender Daniel Pudil and striker Steve Leo Beleck could be in contention after injuries. Frontman Alex Geijo, defender Fitz Hall and midfielder Stephen McGinn are all still sidelined.

Striker Matej Vydra, who scored in the victory over Palace, is now fit enough to start but may still be left on the bench.

Manager Gianfranco Zola says he hopes the Vicarage Road fans will get behind his players in their first home game of the season: “The home crowd is always important. The other day the supporters were fantastic at Crystal Palace and they are vital for us because they can make the difference.

"The players need to see their support - if they see the support is behind them then their performances will always be much better."

Town haven’t beaten Watford in 15 games home or away in all competitions since March 2004 when a Dean Bowditch hat-trick and a rarity from Jermaine Wright condemned the Hornets to a 4-1 defeat at Portman Road.

The Blues' last victory at Vicarage Road was in September 2003 when a debut goal from sub Shefki Kuqi and a superb chip by Jim Magilton saw Joe Royle's men to a 2-1 win, Scott Fitzgerald netting for the Hornets.

Historically, the clubs are evenly matched, the Blues winning 24 times (21 in the league), losing 24 (23) and drawing 16 (16). The Hornets have won the last five games between the sides.

The Blues’ league winless streak of 14 games against Watford (one of the overall 15 was in the FA Cup) is the second worst in the club’s history behind a 15-game streak against Everton between 1962 and 1974.

Town were last at Vicarage Road in March when the Hornets came from behind to beat the Blues 2-1.

Paul Jewell’s men should have been more than Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’s goal in front at half-time, Michael Chopra having missed a sitter, but were second best after the break with goals from Sean Murray and Troy Deeney — the latter after a Carlos Edwards error - seeing the home side to victory.

In December, Watford again came from behind to condemn Town to what was their seventh successive defeat as the Hornets left Portman Road with a 2-1 win.

Keith Andrews saw the Blues into a half-time lead but a penalty from Marvin Sordell and a second from Troy Deeney soon after sealed the victory for the visitors.

Michael Chopra scored five goals in five starts and one sub appearance during a month on loan at Vicarage Road in 2003, including four in a 7-4 away win at Burnley.

Fellow Blues striker Nathan Ellington was with the Hornets for four years up to last summer but made only 23 starts and 33 sub appearances while at Vicarage Road, also scoring five goals. Keeper Scott Loach joined the Blues from Watford for £150,000 during this close season.

Watford goalkeeper-coach Alec Chamberlain was, like Loach, a youth player with the Blues but never made a first team appearance, while Blues recently returning youth development coach Steve Foley spent time coaching at Vicarage Road earlier in his career.

Town supporters currently without tickets can gain entry on cash turnstiles at Vicarage Road this evening.

Tonight’s referee is Roger East from Wiltshire, who showed 124 yellow and six red cards in 45 games last season. East’s most recent Town match was the 2-2 draw at Hull in March in which he booked Damien Delaney and two Tigers players.

Probable squad: Loach, Lee-Barrett, Edwards, Cresswell, Ainsley, Whight, Smith, Chambers, Delaney, Luongo, Hyam, Drury, Emmanuel-Thomas, Carson, Martin, Stevenson, Chopra, Scotland, Murray.


Photo: Action Images



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Mark added 12:23 - Aug 21
We're passing and holding the ball well, so let's hope we can get a win this evening.

I agree with Hutchings about time being needed for Watford's new signings to settle in, although they got off to a great start with a 3-2 win at Palace Saturday so it won't be easy.
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pazelle added 12:24 - Aug 21
According to those stats Phil, we haven't had the better of them historically anymore!
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PhilTWTD added 12:28 - Aug 21
Pazelle

Good spot, amended!
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NoCanariesAllowed added 12:36 - Aug 21
Odds on Watford 2-1 Ipswich? Been to Vicarage Road three times with Town and the scoreline has ended up like that every time - worst of all back in March, when we really were in a good position to beat them.

Sorry folks, but I'm going again tonight... permission to blame me if it ends up 2-1 to Watford again.

;-)
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FenboyBlue added 12:37 - Aug 21
I normally go to this game every season but this year can't make it. So if we finally win it must be me who jinxes it.
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runningout added 12:38 - Aug 21
Watford 1 : 0 ITFC : /
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ArnieM added 12:48 - Aug 21
Town are going to WIN tonight ! Feel it in me water 2-0 to us !
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Back_The_Boss added 12:54 - Aug 21
Come on Town
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uppersirbob added 12:55 - Aug 21
Hutchinson talks sence lets take the game to them and end this run please !

coyb
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IvorFeeling added 13:00 - Aug 21
Nervous about tonight, but confident that team will finish the stronger. Whilst this doesn't guarantee a result alot of goals are scored in the last 10-15mins and we already have one in this timezone and I am confident of alot more - it is a habit of a good team.

My lasting impression from Saturday was that the team looked the fitness I can remember for the past 10-12 years.

COYB
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Wickets added 13:03 - Aug 21
I'M off to Vic Rd 2night and was there last time we beat 'em 2-1 after being 1 down at HT. A great winner from Souper Jim Magilton a chip from outside the box.
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irishtim added 13:07 - Aug 21
What idiot keeps disagreeing with posts when they are town supportive?? 2-1 town.
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WeirdFishes added 13:33 - Aug 21
IPSWICH ARE BETTER THAN EVERYBODY
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Michael11 added 13:35 - Aug 21
If you want to be play-off contenders you have to beat the teams like Watford, hope we break the hoodoo tonight COYB
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nitroblue1970 added 13:40 - Aug 21
I think JET will get some joy tonight..and a goal.
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Big_Foot_Blue added 13:50 - Aug 21
I think we could win by a margin tonight, we have to beat them eventually and Scott Loach hasn't kept a clean sheet yet since he said he would pledge the bonus to charity so what better place to get the first bonus!?!

I reckon if we get a good start we could get a 2 or 3 nil win tonight...
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DanLyles added 13:58 - Aug 21
Watford will be full of confidence from beating Palace in injury time. It sounded like they deserved their victory too. Zola has introduced a passing and possession orientated philosophy at Vicarage Road and it looks as if many of his players have taken to it quickly, especially Abdil (on loan from Udinese) and Hogg. The likes of Garner, Yeates and Eustace however, really struggled with a more sophisticated approach, which could work to our advantage.

Matej Vydra will be their danger man. The Czech is on loan from Udinese and is supposed to be "scarily good at this level" with his "lightning pace, he tracks back, defenders can't touch him, unbelievable finishing." His cameo transformed the game on Saturday. Hyam will need to continue his form from Saturday to keep this guy quiet.

I hope that we persevere with our passing game too as we won't get much change if we do revert to the long ball against the likes of Nosworthy and Martin Taylor. These two will also be a threat from set pieces.

The Palace goals on Saturday came from the spot after a run into the box from Zaha and a long range shot from Garvan. JET has both these traits in his locker, time for him to make ammends for Saturday's performance.
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RYITFC added 13:59 - Aug 21
Big game tonight, it's difficult to judge where we are at after the Blackburn game, did we make Blackburn look ordinary or are they ordinary. Tonight will give us a better indication, sort of game we should be winning if we are thinking of a top 6 finish.
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chorltonskylineblue added 14:01 - Aug 21
Chris Hutchings seems to talk less drivel than PJ. Can he do all of the press conferences please. Assuming Bluey is unavailable of course.
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TractorBoy666 added 14:06 - Aug 21
I've been going for a 3-1 win to Town tonight....COYB!!
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jabberjackson added 14:52 - Aug 21
I am not entirely confident that we will win tonight, however I am hopful of a draw which would be a solid start to the season
I think we would do better if Paul Jewell didn't always sit in Sixto Peralta's chair in the dugout (see above)
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jabberjackson added 14:57 - Aug 21
A draw tonight or a streaky win. Watford are no mugs. If we get a point it won't be a disaster.
We really must move on from Sixto PEralta though, for him to have a chair in the dugout named after him is over the top!
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whittonite added 15:05 - Aug 21
i thought we played with a good sense of purpose on saturday.only a few edgy mistakes. liked the way looked to try to play people in ,instead of boring square passes.thought jet was double teamed most of the game and didnt have a lot of space most of the game . but we didnt pick him out when he had a chance to go 1 on 1 when he pulled wide. looking forward to the next installment!
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tim added 15:11 - Aug 21
jet will get his freak on tonight and score 2
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Lombokblue added 15:20 - Aug 21
If Jewell sends anyone out on loan I think it should be Ellington. He was a good player once maybe if he payed a few times he could be again.
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