Norwich City's play-off hopes suffered a set-back when they were caught cold
at Vicarage Road.
Despite a spirited second-half fightback City were unable to wrest a point
from a Watford side that had only won once in 11 previous outings.
The hosts were off to a flying start, taking the lead after seven minutes.
Stephen Glass sent in a diagonal cross which Marcus Gayle rose to beat keeper
Robert Green and nod down for Micah Hyde to be left with a easy strike into an
empty net.
Despite the heavy surface Watford dominated the first half, with Tommy Smith
twice forcing Green into saves and Allan Nielsen seeing a shot blocked.
City's David Nielsen gave Watford a scare however when he rose to head a Steen
Nedergaard centre onto the top of the bar.
Just before the interval Watford went close again when Gayle headed wide from
Smith's cross.
Watford's second arrived after 40 minutes with Gayle again involved.
Following a series of passes Gayle slipped the ball through to Smith who found
Nielsen in space and the Denmark international slotted past the keeper.
City made two substitutions after the interval but although they had more
possession they were unable to make much progress against a determined Watford
defence until the 66th minute.
After Nedergaard's break on the right, Nielsen met the ball with a shot which
Alec Chamberlain was only able to block and former Watford striker Iwan Roberts
stretched to prod into the goal.
Watford panicked for a spell but City were unable to carve another opening.
Teams
Watford Chamberlain, Cox, Galli, Brown, Robinson, Nielsen,
Okon, Hyde (Hand 90), Glass, Gayle (Helguson 77), Smith.
Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Cook, Doyley.
Booked: Okon, Nielsen.
Goals: Hyde 8, Nielsen 41.
Norwich Green (Crichton 50), Nedergaard, Kenton, Fleming,
Sutch, Notman (Easton 45), Holt, Russell,
McVeigh (Benjamin 46), Iwan Roberts, Nielsen.
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Libbra.
Goals: Iwan Roberts 66.
Att: 12,622
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook