Monthly Archives: March 2002

29th March 2002- New Division One, Watford 0 Bradford City 0

http://watford.fcdb.info?id=4501

Bradford almost snatched all three points as both Tom Kearney and Eoin Jess rattled the woodwork in the second half at Vicarage Road.

Having wasted a large chunk of a beautiful Good Friday on this thoroughly grey, tedious match, you’ll have to forgive me if I’m unwilling to do the same with an equally glorious Saturday. It was very dull indeed – a game of no real importance, with no serious attempt made to keep up the illusion – and we’ve all got better things to do with our time. I can hear the Hoover calling me as I type….

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2002-03-29

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/29-march-2002/

16th March 2002- New Division One, Watford 3 Coventry City 0

Went off half time 2-0 up after another headed goal from Brown having dominated the first half. Mahon, in particular, had been a star in defence but, on the rare occasion that the boyz had given, or lost the ball, they went looking for it as unit, and worked very, very hard. Delightful stuff.

Still, let’s enjoy it. Sure, the scoreline gives little indication of what a hard-fought contest this was, nor that there were periods when Coventry were clearly on top. Until the third goal went in, we were never comfortable. That’s a good thing, though. We need challenges right now, we need to be tested, we want to get into the habit of meeting opponents head-on rather than hiding away. Just as we’d imagined that we’d seen all that Luca Vialli’s Watford had to offer – some gorgeous football, made mediocre by limp performances and stupid results – it has revealed a darker, more threatening side. A First Division mentality, if you like. A winning mentality, certainly.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2002-03-16

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/16-march-2002/

9th March 2002- New Division One, Crystal Palace 0 Watford 2

Transfer-listed duo Allan Nielsen and Marcus Gayle made Gianluca Vialli think again when they both scored in Watford’s win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

In first-half injury-time Allan Nielsen converted Stephen Glass’s centre, then two minutes after the interval Marcus Gayle beat Matt Clarke to another Glass cross.

At its start, a rather feeble turn-out of Watford fans – in either this season’s away performances or our recent record at Selhurst Bloody Park, it’d be hard to find a logical reason to swap nineteen quid for a seat in the Arthur Wait Stand – was taunted and ridiculed by the ever-charming locals. “Why don’t you all sit together?” they queried, looking at expanses of empty seats and occasional clumps of people. By the end, the same chants were being cheekily returned to the rapidly emptying home stands.

Pre-match, looking at the programme, my ‘escort’ was his usual optimistic self. “We haven’t beaten this lot since 93”. “All the more reason to be here than, in case we witness this rare event”. Looking around the fleapit that is Selhurst, that is the only reason.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2002-03-09

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/09-march-2002/

2nd March 2002- New Division One, Watford 0 Crewe Alexandra 1

Crewe striker Dean Ashton scored the only goal of the game to ease his side’s relegation fears. It was Ashton’s eighth goal of the campaign but Watford boss Gianluca Vialli will wonder how his side lost.

Somehow, another opportunity has slipped from our grasp. While this performance fell far short of Tuesday’s, neither capturing its furious intensity nor matching the elegance of some of the football, it still should’ve been enough to produce a single goal victory.

https://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=2002-03-02

https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/02-march-2002/