Watford 1-2 Norwich City - TalkSoccer

**Huckerbys right foot** · 24-04-2004, 04:06 PM

With the first real sun of the summer streaming down on Vicarage Road this afternoon, the Travelling Yellow and Green Army wasted little time in hitting the promotion party button — particularly once club owner Delia Smith decided to watch this afternoon’s game from the stand rather than the directors’ box.
As for this afternoon’s team, it came as absolutely no surprise to find Canary chief Nigel Worthington naming precisely the same side that swept beyond Walsall last Saturday with that 5-0 romp that effectively booked Norwich’s place in the top flight once Crystal Palace did all that was required at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night.
As a result the Hornets’ back line found themselves facing City’s three-pronged strike force of Leon McKenzie, Mathias Svensson and, of course, Darren Huckerby.
For the home side manager Ray Lewington kept faith with the team that booked Watford’s place back in the first division next season with an excellent 2-1 away win at Milwall in midweek.
All of which ensured there was no place for influential striker Heidar Helguson as he returned from injury.
Likewise Hornets’ skipper Neil Cox also had to wait for his first team return.
The game was barely two minutes old before Norwich had their first opportunity of the afternoon as City skipper Adam Drury lifted an inviting, little cross into the penalty area where McKenzie lurked virtually unmarked. With his first touch the former Peterborough favourite gave himself all the room he needed to send a sharp shot whistling past Alec Chamberlain’s right upright.
Three minutes later and it was McKenzie’s turn to become the provider as his far post nod-down fell at the feet of Svensson and it needed an excellent block from the covering Marcus Gayle to deny the in-form Swede.

On what was fast proving a treacherously bobbly pitch — something that Watford no doubt had Saracens Rugby Union Club to thank for — for all Norwich’s early share of possession clear-cut chances were proving few and far between.
Thus far on-loan Southampton right-back Chris Baird was managing to keep Huckerby largely in check and on the couple of occasions that the Canary star did manage to swing over a cross there was Marcus Gayle mopping up the danger.
At the other end Watford struggled to make much of a dent in the City defence though on 19 minutes young Frenchman Hameur Bouazza did get the chance to run at the heart of the City back four only for a combination of Craig Fleming and Marc Edworthy who eventually forced the ball away for a corner.

City finally got their due reward in the 29th minute when Damien Francis grabbed his fifth goal of the season.
The move began with a wonderful back-heel from Holt in the middle of the Watford half which enabled Kevin Cooper to spring clear through the middle and find the feet of McKenzie with his back to goal on the edge of the Hornets’ box.
McKenzie carried on the good work by feeding the perfect ball to Francis on his outside and from 15-yards out the Canary midfielder produced an excellent, side-foot finish to send the ball sailing sweetly inside Chamberlain’s right upright.
Two minutes later and Norwich almost extended their advantage in rather more bizarre fashion Micah Hyde’s bouncing back-pass reared up awkwardly for Chamberlain on the edge of his penalty area.
Faced with the on-rushing Cooper, the panicking Watford keeper attempted to head the ball over the advancing Canary winger only to give Cooper himself the chance of an instant return header which he could only guide a yard wide of an empty goal.

To their credit Watford did make Canary keeper Robert Green earn his living before the break with Hyde drilling a low shot goalward in the 41st minute which Green comfortably collected low to his right.
At the other end, Norwich continued to press forward and immediately before the break enjoyed a lengthy spell of possession only to be denied a clear sight of Chamberlain’s goal.

Half-time: Watford 0, Norwich 1.

The second period was barely three minutes old before Norwich extended their lead.
Watford striker Bruce Dyer had already tested Green with a spinning shot from 18-yards out before Watford skipper Sean Dyche handed keeper Chamberlain a nightmare back-pass in the shape of a huge up-and-under that landed squarely on the corner of the Watford box — just where McKenzie lurked.
In the event Chamberlain had little option but to handle the ball outside his area. From the resulting free-kick Cooper swung the perfect, hanging ball into the danger area and there was McKenzie, stealing in between two yellow shirts to thump his header home.

Norwich’s perfectly timed second strike — coming as it did just three minutes after the re-start — took much of the wind from Watford’s sails and the Canaries looked set fair to rack up their sixth straight success — their best league run for 18 years.
Watford did, however, come agonisingly close to working their way back into the contest on 62 minutes when skipper Dyche unleashed a 30-yard rocket which slammed against the junction of post and bar — much to Norwich’s relief.
Moments later and Watford boss Lewington made his first change of the afternoon with youngsters Scott Fitzgerald and Dominic Blizzard replacing Hyde and Bouazza.

On 68 minutes the game had its first booking when Gavin Mahon clattered late into the back of Francis’ legs and immediately had referee Nick Fletcher reaching for his top pocket and a yellow card.
A minute later and Worthington made his first change with Phil Mulryne replacing goal scorer McKenzie — a move that found Huckerby moving to a central striker’s role alongside Svensson with the City playmaker operating on the right-hand side of midfield.
Needless to say by this stage the travelling Canary supporters were in good heart and good voice with “We’re going to win the league! We’re going to with the league!” ringing round Vicarage Road.
Norwich’s hopes of a comfortable afternoon ended in the 78th minute when substitute Blizzard struck out of the blue.
Mackay appeared to have cleared the first danger before Devlin lifted the ball back into the danger area where a lurking Blizzard managed to get the faintest of touches on the ball and send it on beyond a startled Green and inside his right-hand post.
That immediately brought a furious response from Canary boss Worthington that such a soft and sloppy goal could potentially ruin his best-laid title plans.

The suggestion that Lady Luck had looked after the Canaries well this season was again evident in the 82nd minute when Fitzgerald managed to slip away from Drury before drilling a glorious low cross through the Canary six-yard box to where Dyer arrived perfectly on cue.
An equaliser looked inevitable only for the Watford striker to somehow slam his shot against the underside of the bar and enabling a rattled Norwich to finally clear.

Moments later and Huckerby had a great chance to put the contest beyond Watford’s reach when he sprang clear of Dyche only to lift his final shot wide of the target as the Watford skipper recovered the tackle.

With three minutes of normal time remaining Worthington made his second switch with McVeigh replacing Cooper.
Huckerby again had a golden chance to end Norwich’s nerves when a fabulous throw from Green sent him clear again and having beaten Baird the Canary striker looked certain to score only for Chamberlain to produce an excellent diving save as Huckerby looked to tuck the ball beneath the advancing keeper.
With the fourth official announcing there would be three minutes of extra time, it enabled Norwich’s veteran marksman Iwan Roberts to make a late appearance as he replaced Svensson.

Result: Watford 1, Norwich 2

**Pennywise** · 24-04-2004, 04:10 PM

Great victory!

Now we have to secure the first place.

norwich_fi · 24-04-2004, 05:54 PM

i watched it at the beamback, good performance although we were very lucky at the end, can't believe they hit the post with a late chance, easier to score! very funny at the end when they were interviewing worthy and paul mcveigh sneaked up behind him and poured an entire bottle of purple sports drink all over his head

worthington said afterwards he'd deal with him on monday morning...hmm...