20th February 2016- FA Cup Fifth Round, Watford 1 Leeds United 0

Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
18,336

Watford reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2007 after Scott Wootton’s own goal gifted them victory against Leeds.

It took Quique Sanchez Flores’ side until the 54th minute to break down their Championship opponents on Saturday, when Wootton turned Ben Watson’s cross into his own net.

It was fitting that an error-strewn cup tie should be decided by an awful own goal from Leeds defender Scott Wootton, who volleyed a harmless cross from Ben Watson into his own net shortly after half-time.

Watford had made six changes and, with their top scorer, Odion Ighalo, on the bench, their only real opportunities early on came from corners. Troy Deeney, starting behind Nordin Amrabat, headed wide in the second minute before the Uruguayan defender Miguel Britos did the same from Watson’s corner when he was given time in the Leeds penalty area. Other than those half-chances and a deflected shot from Étienne Capoue, Marco Silvestri went untested.

There’s a distinct lack of Cup fever at Vicarage Road for this one, it has to be said, where the more gormless of Watford’s support betray their long-standing desire to be Premier League wankers by trotting out the “One-nil on your big day out” chant, and gurning “who?” at Leeds subs, including Alex Mowatt who anyone paying any level of attention will have heard of. That trick was moronic when Birmingham City were doing it to us 15 years ago, it’s now both moronic and old.

I’ve been staring at my laptop for a couple of hours now. Part of me wondering how to start this post, part of me distracted by Football League Tonight and Forestieri getting sent off and Lloyd Doyley giving away a penalty on his Rotherham debut.

More games from 20th February at https://oldwatford.com/tag/feb20

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