Watford 2 - 0 Nottingham Forest Match Report.
A Matej Vydra double sent Watford back into the play off positions and beat Sean O'Driscolls Nottingham Forest. Vydra's double means that he has 10 goals for the season and sends him back to the top of the clubs goal scoring charts. Forest had Daniel Ayala sent off in the first half thanks to 2 yellow cards. Watford were on top in the first half and fully deserved their lead. But they dropped their performance in the second half but still nearly had a couple more goals to the collection. Gianfranco Zola made 1 change to the side that drew 1-1 with Burnley. Alex Geijo dropped to the bench with Matej Vydra taking his place. For Nottingham Forest, Simon Cox returned up front. Forest maybe should have gone ahead in the opening minutes when Danny Collins glanced a corner wide in the opening minute when he really should have done better. Soon after, Simon Cox dispossessed Tommie Hoban and crossed the ball to Billy Sharp who shot wide from close range. Almen Abdi had a shot deflected behind. But in the 15th Minute the hornets went ahead. Almen Abdi strode forward with the ball and played a delightful ball in to Vydra who hammered his shot home. Lee Camp got a hand on the ball but could not prevent the ball from going in. Soon after, Marco Cassetti missedd a header from a corner and Camp did well to save after being under pressure from Horents centre back Fitz Hall. Then Daniel Pudil went close with a 30 Yard Strike which wizzed wide of the Forest goal. Then in the 39th Minute, Forest went down to 10 men. After being booked 10 minutes before, Ayala needlessly pulled down Troy Deeney. Ref Neil Swarbrick had no option but to produce a second yellow card for the centre back who was going to be replaced anyway with Greg Halford ready to be intrdoduced on the sidlines. One minute after the sending off and Watford went 2-0 up thanks to Abdi and Vydra again. Abdi played Vydra through One On One and the Czech striker calmly rolled the ball into the net for his 10th goal of the season.
Half Time - 2-0.
During the first 20 minutes of the second half, Zola's men were not as good as they were in the first half. Almen Abdi tried his luck but his shot was blocked. Abdi did have the ball in the net after some good play by the hornets but he was adjudged to be ofg side. Marco Cassetti played a brilliant cross in to the area in the 61st minute which was met by Daniel Pudil but his drive was well over. Then Adlene Guediora had a free kick deflected into the side netting. Steve Leo Beleck came on in the the 74th minute replacing goalscorer Vydra. He maybe should have had a penalty as well when he was bought down by a Forest player but referee Neil Swarbrick somehow thought that Beleck had dived and was booked. Deeney sent a header well wide in the 79th minute after another brilliant cross by Cassetti. Cristian Battochio then came on for Almen Abdi in the 84th minute. Daniel Pudil's cross come shot went wide in the 87th minute. Geoffrey Mujangi Bia came on for Nathaniel Chalobah in the 90th Minute. During the final minutes, Dexter Blackstock had a header well saved by Manuel Almunia. But that was to be the last action and Watford held on for their first win of December and their first clean sheet for over a month.
Full Time - 2-0
Team Line Ups
Watford - Almunia (GK)(C), Ekstrand, Hall, Hoban, Cassetti, Chalobah (Mujangi Bia 90), Hogg, Abdi (Battochio 84), Pudil, Deeney, Vydra (Beleck 74).
Subs Not Used - Bonham (GK), Neuton, Yeates, Geijo.
Bookings - Beleck, Cassetti, Deeney.
Sending Offs - 0
Goals - Vydra (15,40)
Nottingham Forest - Camp (GK), Ayala, Collins, Ward, Harding (Halford H/T), Hutton, Reid (Guediora H/T), Moussi, Cohen, Sharp, Cox (Blackstock 79).
Subs not used - Darlow (GK), Gillet, Lansbury, Majewski.
Bookings - Ayala, Ward, Cox, Sharp,
Sendings Off - Ayala (2 Yellows)
Possesion - Watford 52% - Notts Forest 48%
Attendance - 15,143 (1,687 Forest Fans)
Referee - Neil Swarbrick.