Watford 2 - 1 Bolton Match Report.
Goals from Matej Vydra and Almen Abdi secured a 2 -1 victory for the hornets on Saturday. Watford had to come back from 1-0 down after former hornet Marvin Sordell had converted a 32nd minute penalty after Daniel Pudil fouled Sam Ricketts. Bolton had started the game the better and just about deserved their lead. But after Sordell had scored the Bolton penalty, Watford came to life and soon were playing the football that they are renowned for this season. Gianfranco Zola made 6 changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Bristol City. Lloyd Doyley, Marco Cassetti, Nathaniel Chalobah, Cristian Battochio, Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra all came in for Nyron Nosworthy, Sean Murray, John Eustace, Jonathan Hogg, Alex Geijo and Fernando Forestieri. This would be the first time that Nosworthy has not started for the hornets for the past month. The first 10 minutes was quiet at Vicarage Road. Bolton put Watford under pressure allowing them to having the better chances with Darren Pratley shooting wide. But then Watford had the best chance of the opening half in the 15th minute. Matej Vydra played in Troy Deeney with a brilliant through ball but the 12 goal striker could only shoot straight at Bogdan who saved with his feet. Soon after, Former loanee Chris Eagles scooped the ball well over for close rnage after meeting a cross with his boot. In the 31st minute, Cristian Battochio saw a sidefooted shot from 20 yards go just wide of Bogdans post. But Bolton went straight up the other end and got a penalty. Sam Ricketts burst into the box and Daniel Pudil clumsily knocked him over and referee James Adcock had no hesitations in pointing to the spot. From where I was sitting in the Lower Rous, it looked like a penalty and I would have been annoyed if that decision was given against us if it was us appealing for a penalty. Former Hornet Marvin Sordell stepped up to take for Bolton and after a long wait, he calmly slotted the ball past Watford Captain Manuel Almunia. Sordell did the decent thing and did not celbrate the goal and came out after the game saying that Watford his still like home to him and he has lots of respect for the Watford and its fans. Four minutes later and Watford were level and it was that man Vydra again. Marco Cassetti passed the ball to Vydra who tried to flick it round to Deeney. But the ball came straight back to Vydra who breazed past Tim Ream to calmly slot past Adam Bodgan in the Watford goal. This was Vydra's 19th goal of the season. Three minutes after Vydra's goal, Fitz Hall headered behind after meeting a corner.
Half Time 1 - 1
Watford started the second half better and had a golden oppotunity 5 minutes after half time. Vydra linked up well with Deeney who played the ball in to Abdi's path. But the Swiss midfielder's low shot was deflected behind. Then in the 65th minute, Chung Yong Lee passed the ball to Sordell whose shot smacked off the crossbar and was cleared by Lloyd Doyley. Watford went back up the other end and nearly scored. Vydra was through on goal and was bound to score if Tim Ream did not make a fantastic last ditch tackle to block the Czech strikers shot. But in the 70th minute, Watford went ahead. Vydra had burst into the box but was surrounded by three Bolton defenders. After some fantastic hold up play, the 20 year old passed the ball to Abdi who drilled a low shot through the legs of numerous players and in to the net to send Watford into the lead. This was the Swiss midfielders seventh goal of the season and Watford's second in the match. Bolton were then lucky to escape with a incident. Darren Pratley refused to let Marco Cassetti past him and Pratley kept mouthing off towards Cassetti. Then after getting away with no card, He was at it again and was still mouthing off at the referee. Eventually refere James Adcock booked both Pratley and Cassetti to the dismay of the Hornets Fans. I agreed with them as Adcock had not had his best game and seemed to be bias towards Bolton. For example, Watford committed a foul on the outside of the box, which Adcock let Bolton play advantage, Lee shot and Almunia saved. No Problem. But then Adcock pulls it back for the foul. This was one of many mistifying decisions made by this referee.Bolton were desperate at this point and they made a triple substitution in the 76th minute. Goalscorer Marvin Sordell, Chris Eagles and Josh Vela were all replaced by Kevin Davies, Craig Davies and new loan signing Steve De Ridder. Joel Ekstrand was then substitued two minutes later and was replaced by Nyron Nosworhty. It was confirmed after the game that Ekstrand had a knee knock. Jonathan Hogg then came on for Nathaniel Chalobah in the 85th minute. John Eustace then came on for Cristian Battochio deep in to stoppage time. After five minutes of added time, Watford ran out 2-1 winners.
Full Time - 2-1
Team Lineups and ratings
Watford - Almunia (GK)(C) 6, Doyley 7 , Hall 7, Ekstrand 6 (Nosworthy 78 6), Pudil 6, Chalobah 7 (Hogg 85 5), Battochio 8 (Eustace 90+4), Abdi 8, Cassetti 6, Deeney 7, Vydra 8.
Goals - Vydra (34) (Abdi 70)
Booked - Cassetti (66), Abdi (73)
Subs Not Used - Bond (GK), Murray, Geijo, Forestieri.
Bolton - Bogdan (GK), Ricketts, Knight (C), Ream, Alonson, Chung Yong Lee, Vela (De Ridder 76), Spearing, Eagles (K Davies 76), Pratley, Sordell (C Davies).
Subs Not Used - Longergan (GK), Wylde, Ngog, Dawson.
Goals - Sordell (32 Pen)
Bookings - Pratley (66), Spearing (75), Ricketts (88), De Ridder (90 + 4)
My Man Of The Match - Matej Vydra - Another brilliant display from the Czech striker who caused all sorts of problems for the Botlon defence. Showed good pressure during the first and second half when he tracked back to make good tackles.
Possesion - Watford - 43% Bolton - 57%
Attendance - 13,223
Referee - James Adcock