Watford v PNE: Minute-By-Minute
Posted on: Sat 07 Nov 2009
Watford v PNE
Vicarage Road
Coca-Cola Championship
Saturday 7th November, 3pm kick-off
Final Score: Watford 2 Preston 0 (Helguson 9, Cleverley 33)
Click here to listen to PNE Player coverage from 2pm.
Email your thoughts to the matchday commentary team via ged.mills@centralradio.fm, phone the studio on 01772 708 000, or send your thoughts via SMS - text CENTRAL then your message to 81803.
1657: It's all over here at Vicarage Road. The Lilywhites just didn't have enough in their locker to take anything from the game today. They must now endure a long 16 day wait for their next match action when they entertain Newcastle United at Deepdale.
90+2 min: North End finish strongly. Jon Parkin spinning on the edge of the box and hitting a volley which looked to be heading for the bottom corner before Loach got his fingertips to the ball to turn it wide.
90 min: We've had the 90 but we will be having four minutes of added time here at Vicarage Road.
87 min: 13,524 is today's attendance, 686 of those travelling down from Preston.
85 min: Nathan Ellington receives the ball with his back to goal in the box, but he's given opportunity to turn and drills a shot through a crowd of players, but the ball slams wide.
83 min: Hart is yellow-carded for a foul on Don Cowie. The Watford No.7 using his pace to good advantage and Hart just collided with him as he looked to sprint down the middle of the pitch. Henri Lansbury smashed a free-kick which was only a whisker away from finding the target.
80 min: We enter the last 10 minutes of the game. A little spell of pressure for the Lilywhites, Loach punches the ball clear and Hart follows up but he scuffed the ball as he tried to drill it goalwards.
76 min: You just get the feeling that a goal for North End could catapult them back into this match. But the ball is at the other end of the field where Eustace powers a header into the sidenetting before Lee Hodson is one on one with Lonergan but Lonners saves the day, not for the first time today.
73 min: Chris Brown comes on Chris Sedgwick. Preston are now 4-3-3. Jon Harley replaces Tom Cleverley as Watford look to shore things up.
70 min: A change for the Hornets and it's not a bad one to be fair. Goalscorer Heidur Helguson replaced by the equally dangerous Nathan Ellington, this as my fingers start to seize up due to the cold.
66 min: The change is made and Parry and Elliott come on to replace Davidson and Mellor. A tactical reshuffle sees Hart move to left-back, Jones move back to right-back, Sedge move into centre-midfield and Parry go out to the right.
65 min: Henri Lansbury forces Lonergan into a low save. The Arsenal loanee volleying an effort from the edge of the box and Lonners has to parry the ball away from danger.
64 min: Alan Irvine is readying a couple of subs to send into action. It looks like both Elliott and Parry are to enter thr fray.
59 min: Surging run from Neill Collins and the Lilywhites win their first corner of the afternoon as Collins' cross is blocked away by Cathcart for a corner.
50 min: Preston start the second half brightly and a couple of Jon Parkin long-throws cause a little panic in the Watford box. The Lilywhites also win a free-kick as the ball hits Cleverely's arm and Wallace smashes a curling effort over the wall which Loach does well to save, Mellor almost gets on the end of the rebound.
1608: We are back underway here, after we've waited for the linesman to sort his battery-pack out on his mini-microphone.
1606: No changes for the Lilywhites at the break.
1600: Half-time entertainment for the crowd at Vicarage Road this afternoon constitutes a few more Elton John tunes and a penalty shoot-out involving a load of young ruffians, think they might be the Watford youth team. No pies or Bovril for the press team but a lovely piece of chocolate cake keeps me going as it gets decidedly chilly.
45+3 min: Last changce of the half is North End's and it's the best of the game so far for PNE. Billy Jones scuffs a volley on the edge of the Watford box but it falls invitingly into the path of Parkin who spins and hits a low shot across the face of goal. The ball strikes the outside of the post and away for a goal-kick.
45+2 min: First booking of the game is for a Watford player. Heidur Helguson with a sliding challenge in on Lonergan, well after the ball had been claimed by the Preston keeper.
37 min: A rare strike on goal from Preston. Liam Chilvers sends a ball down the channel for Parkin to chase and he turns his man, gets to the edge of the box before firing a volley towards goal. Loach can't hold the ball but it is well cleared.
35 min: Alan Irvine stands motionless on the touchline. Malky Mackay on the other side of the technical area is understandibly bouncy.
33 min: Goal for Watford!! Preston are torn apart by a speedy Watford counter-attack. Henri Lansbury runs at the Preston defence and dances past two challenges, feeds the ball inside to Helguson who in turns finds Cleverley who lives up to his name by cleverly slipping the ball under Lonergan.
32 min: This is becoming almost comical. Three players now have slipped on the ball in the space of 30 seconds. Some incredulous looks on the bench, the pitch is like an ice-rink.
30 min: Half an hour gone and Watford are on top as Preston just can't get settled into any sort of rhythm. The Preston defence under continuous pressure and Cleverley fires a volley over the crossbar from the edge of the box.
26 min: I was praising the state of the pitch earlier but I might have to change my opinion. Several players are slipping and sliding on the surface, longer studs needed maybe?
22 min: Controversy here as Lonergan comes to collect a ball on the edge of the box and the linesman adjudges that Lonergan claimed the ball outside the area. A free-kick is awarded and Cleverley smashes a shot at goal but Michael Hart is brave to get his tender regions in front of the ball.
18 min: It's all Watford at the moment. Helguson sees another goalbound header cleared away for a corner by Collins and that corner is swung in and it takes North End an eon to clear their lines.
17 min: 'H' is denied by Andy Lonergan. The Icelandic striker running through onto a smart Cleverley ball but Lonergan was out quickly to close down the angle before saving with his feet. The ball richocheted up into the air and fortunately for North End Danny Graham slipped as the ball bounced towards him.
15 min: Helguson's nickname is 'H'. We know this because Sean Dyche on the Watford bench keeps shouting it. If I were Helguson I wouldn't have chosen a member of former camp pop combo Steps as my nickname.
11 min: Preston need to compose themselves and get themselves into this game.
9 min: Goal for Watford!!! Watford enjoying a really good spell of pressure and Don Cowie dips a cross in from the right and Helguson heads the ball back across the face of goal and the ball lands just inside the post for the first goal of the game.
7 min: It's an open game at the moment. Craig Cathcart glances a header which is only inches wide and then good footwork on the edge of the box from Watford finds Danny Graham in space, his low shot is well saved by Lonergan.
6 min: Another chance for Preston. Parkin is manhandled to the ground, a free-kick is awarded and Shumi floats one into the box. Billy Jones goes flying but the ball lands at the back post where Liam Chilvers side-foots a half-volley over the bar.
4 min: Preston look good down the right flank in the opening stages and that's exactly where the first chance for the Lilywhites comes from. Sedgwick cutting in from the flank and before hitting a low shot with his left foot that Scott Loach is forced to save at his near post.
3 min: 'Well done Neill' the Gaffer shouts as Collins rises to head the ball away.
1 min: Sean Dyche is the loud voice on the bench for the Hornets and he's full of it as Cleverley breaks down the left and squares a ball into the path of Danny Graham who volleys over the bar. First chance of the game.
1503: We are underway!
1501: North End must have won the toss as they've opted to switch the teams around. We've just had a minutes silence. Respectfully observed by both teams and supporters.
1459: The two teams are out on the pitch. North End are in all-white this afternoon. Watford in their yellow shirts and black shorts.
1455: 'The two minute bell has just gone. Let's raise those voices because the Golden Boys are on their way'. So says the man with the mic and the loud voice stood pitchside.
1451: The pitch looks in good condition, especially considering they play rugby union every other week here. The sun was shining but has now disappeared behind the stand opposite us, which makes watching the match a lot easier.
1442: The two teams are warming up in front of us here. The one thing which is very apparent is that the Watford team are very quick and they have very quick feet!
1436: To my right is the Preston North End fans, they've made their way down the M6 and M1 this afternoon in good numbers. It's always a popular trip and today is the YNE's special away game.
1432: Crocodile Rock is blasting out and whilst Elton is doing his thing I'll take the opportunity to describe our surroundings to you. The press are congregated almost pitchside in the condemned stand in which the dressing rooms are located. The one advantage of our location is that we are sat right next to the dugouts, we'll be able to listen to all the instructions that the respective managers bark out.
1429: No Richard Chaplow at all. The midfielder injured his shoulder in the game against Crystal Palace last week and has been training with pain-killing injections through the week.
1427: So five changes for Alan Irvine's side. Callum Davidson was kind of expected, but Billy Jones moving up to the centre of midfield may take a few by surprise, that switch allows for Michael Hart to come into the team at right-back.
Watford: Loach, Mariappa, Lansbury, Cowie, Graham, Helguson, Doyley, Cleverley, Cathcart, Eustace, Hodson. Subs: Severin, Harley, Bennett, Henderson, Ellington, Bryan, Bond.
PNE: Lonergan, Hart, Chilvers, Collins, Davidson, Sedgwick, Jones, Shumulikoski, Wallace, Parkin, Mellor. Subs: Henderson, Mawene, Nolan, Parry, Carter, Brown, Elliott,
1419: If you are a fan of Elton John you would be in your element at Vicarage Road this afternoon. He's playing live at Watford's home ground soon to raise money for transfer funds and they are currently playing his last concert on the big screen here.
1416: Welcome to Vicarage Road. We'll have the team news for you as soon as we get it. Till then I will keep you updated with everything going on in the build-up to the game.
Vicarage Road
Coca-Cola Championship
Saturday 7th November, 3pm kick-off
Final Score: Watford 2 Preston 0 (Helguson 9, Cleverley 33)
Click here to listen to PNE Player coverage from 2pm.
Email your thoughts to the matchday commentary team via ged.mills@centralradio.fm, phone the studio on 01772 708 000, or send your thoughts via SMS - text CENTRAL then your message to 81803.
1657: It's all over here at Vicarage Road. The Lilywhites just didn't have enough in their locker to take anything from the game today. They must now endure a long 16 day wait for their next match action when they entertain Newcastle United at Deepdale.
90+2 min: North End finish strongly. Jon Parkin spinning on the edge of the box and hitting a volley which looked to be heading for the bottom corner before Loach got his fingertips to the ball to turn it wide.
90 min: We've had the 90 but we will be having four minutes of added time here at Vicarage Road.
87 min: 13,524 is today's attendance, 686 of those travelling down from Preston.
85 min: Nathan Ellington receives the ball with his back to goal in the box, but he's given opportunity to turn and drills a shot through a crowd of players, but the ball slams wide.
83 min: Hart is yellow-carded for a foul on Don Cowie. The Watford No.7 using his pace to good advantage and Hart just collided with him as he looked to sprint down the middle of the pitch. Henri Lansbury smashed a free-kick which was only a whisker away from finding the target.
80 min: We enter the last 10 minutes of the game. A little spell of pressure for the Lilywhites, Loach punches the ball clear and Hart follows up but he scuffed the ball as he tried to drill it goalwards.
76 min: You just get the feeling that a goal for North End could catapult them back into this match. But the ball is at the other end of the field where Eustace powers a header into the sidenetting before Lee Hodson is one on one with Lonergan but Lonners saves the day, not for the first time today.
73 min: Chris Brown comes on Chris Sedgwick. Preston are now 4-3-3. Jon Harley replaces Tom Cleverley as Watford look to shore things up.
70 min: A change for the Hornets and it's not a bad one to be fair. Goalscorer Heidur Helguson replaced by the equally dangerous Nathan Ellington, this as my fingers start to seize up due to the cold.
66 min: The change is made and Parry and Elliott come on to replace Davidson and Mellor. A tactical reshuffle sees Hart move to left-back, Jones move back to right-back, Sedge move into centre-midfield and Parry go out to the right.
65 min: Henri Lansbury forces Lonergan into a low save. The Arsenal loanee volleying an effort from the edge of the box and Lonners has to parry the ball away from danger.
64 min: Alan Irvine is readying a couple of subs to send into action. It looks like both Elliott and Parry are to enter thr fray.
59 min: Surging run from Neill Collins and the Lilywhites win their first corner of the afternoon as Collins' cross is blocked away by Cathcart for a corner.
50 min: Preston start the second half brightly and a couple of Jon Parkin long-throws cause a little panic in the Watford box. The Lilywhites also win a free-kick as the ball hits Cleverely's arm and Wallace smashes a curling effort over the wall which Loach does well to save, Mellor almost gets on the end of the rebound.
1608: We are back underway here, after we've waited for the linesman to sort his battery-pack out on his mini-microphone.
1606: No changes for the Lilywhites at the break.
1600: Half-time entertainment for the crowd at Vicarage Road this afternoon constitutes a few more Elton John tunes and a penalty shoot-out involving a load of young ruffians, think they might be the Watford youth team. No pies or Bovril for the press team but a lovely piece of chocolate cake keeps me going as it gets decidedly chilly.
45+3 min: Last changce of the half is North End's and it's the best of the game so far for PNE. Billy Jones scuffs a volley on the edge of the Watford box but it falls invitingly into the path of Parkin who spins and hits a low shot across the face of goal. The ball strikes the outside of the post and away for a goal-kick.
45+2 min: First booking of the game is for a Watford player. Heidur Helguson with a sliding challenge in on Lonergan, well after the ball had been claimed by the Preston keeper.
37 min: A rare strike on goal from Preston. Liam Chilvers sends a ball down the channel for Parkin to chase and he turns his man, gets to the edge of the box before firing a volley towards goal. Loach can't hold the ball but it is well cleared.
35 min: Alan Irvine stands motionless on the touchline. Malky Mackay on the other side of the technical area is understandibly bouncy.
33 min: Goal for Watford!! Preston are torn apart by a speedy Watford counter-attack. Henri Lansbury runs at the Preston defence and dances past two challenges, feeds the ball inside to Helguson who in turns finds Cleverley who lives up to his name by cleverly slipping the ball under Lonergan.
32 min: This is becoming almost comical. Three players now have slipped on the ball in the space of 30 seconds. Some incredulous looks on the bench, the pitch is like an ice-rink.
30 min: Half an hour gone and Watford are on top as Preston just can't get settled into any sort of rhythm. The Preston defence under continuous pressure and Cleverley fires a volley over the crossbar from the edge of the box.
26 min: I was praising the state of the pitch earlier but I might have to change my opinion. Several players are slipping and sliding on the surface, longer studs needed maybe?
22 min: Controversy here as Lonergan comes to collect a ball on the edge of the box and the linesman adjudges that Lonergan claimed the ball outside the area. A free-kick is awarded and Cleverley smashes a shot at goal but Michael Hart is brave to get his tender regions in front of the ball.
18 min: It's all Watford at the moment. Helguson sees another goalbound header cleared away for a corner by Collins and that corner is swung in and it takes North End an eon to clear their lines.
17 min: 'H' is denied by Andy Lonergan. The Icelandic striker running through onto a smart Cleverley ball but Lonergan was out quickly to close down the angle before saving with his feet. The ball richocheted up into the air and fortunately for North End Danny Graham slipped as the ball bounced towards him.
15 min: Helguson's nickname is 'H'. We know this because Sean Dyche on the Watford bench keeps shouting it. If I were Helguson I wouldn't have chosen a member of former camp pop combo Steps as my nickname.
11 min: Preston need to compose themselves and get themselves into this game.
9 min: Goal for Watford!!! Watford enjoying a really good spell of pressure and Don Cowie dips a cross in from the right and Helguson heads the ball back across the face of goal and the ball lands just inside the post for the first goal of the game.
7 min: It's an open game at the moment. Craig Cathcart glances a header which is only inches wide and then good footwork on the edge of the box from Watford finds Danny Graham in space, his low shot is well saved by Lonergan.
6 min: Another chance for Preston. Parkin is manhandled to the ground, a free-kick is awarded and Shumi floats one into the box. Billy Jones goes flying but the ball lands at the back post where Liam Chilvers side-foots a half-volley over the bar.
4 min: Preston look good down the right flank in the opening stages and that's exactly where the first chance for the Lilywhites comes from. Sedgwick cutting in from the flank and before hitting a low shot with his left foot that Scott Loach is forced to save at his near post.
3 min: 'Well done Neill' the Gaffer shouts as Collins rises to head the ball away.
1 min: Sean Dyche is the loud voice on the bench for the Hornets and he's full of it as Cleverley breaks down the left and squares a ball into the path of Danny Graham who volleys over the bar. First chance of the game.
1503: We are underway!
1501: North End must have won the toss as they've opted to switch the teams around. We've just had a minutes silence. Respectfully observed by both teams and supporters.
1459: The two teams are out on the pitch. North End are in all-white this afternoon. Watford in their yellow shirts and black shorts.
1455: 'The two minute bell has just gone. Let's raise those voices because the Golden Boys are on their way'. So says the man with the mic and the loud voice stood pitchside.
1451: The pitch looks in good condition, especially considering they play rugby union every other week here. The sun was shining but has now disappeared behind the stand opposite us, which makes watching the match a lot easier.
1442: The two teams are warming up in front of us here. The one thing which is very apparent is that the Watford team are very quick and they have very quick feet!
1436: To my right is the Preston North End fans, they've made their way down the M6 and M1 this afternoon in good numbers. It's always a popular trip and today is the YNE's special away game.
1432: Crocodile Rock is blasting out and whilst Elton is doing his thing I'll take the opportunity to describe our surroundings to you. The press are congregated almost pitchside in the condemned stand in which the dressing rooms are located. The one advantage of our location is that we are sat right next to the dugouts, we'll be able to listen to all the instructions that the respective managers bark out.
1429: No Richard Chaplow at all. The midfielder injured his shoulder in the game against Crystal Palace last week and has been training with pain-killing injections through the week.
1427: So five changes for Alan Irvine's side. Callum Davidson was kind of expected, but Billy Jones moving up to the centre of midfield may take a few by surprise, that switch allows for Michael Hart to come into the team at right-back.
Watford: Loach, Mariappa, Lansbury, Cowie, Graham, Helguson, Doyley, Cleverley, Cathcart, Eustace, Hodson. Subs: Severin, Harley, Bennett, Henderson, Ellington, Bryan, Bond.
PNE: Lonergan, Hart, Chilvers, Collins, Davidson, Sedgwick, Jones, Shumulikoski, Wallace, Parkin, Mellor. Subs: Henderson, Mawene, Nolan, Parry, Carter, Brown, Elliott,
1419: If you are a fan of Elton John you would be in your element at Vicarage Road this afternoon. He's playing live at Watford's home ground soon to raise money for transfer funds and they are currently playing his last concert on the big screen here.
1416: Welcome to Vicarage Road. We'll have the team news for you as soon as we get it. Till then I will keep you updated with everything going on in the build-up to the game.
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