Tuesday 2 February: The Telegraph

Watford 3 Sheffield United 0: match report

WATFORD claimed their first win for two months and, afterwards manager Malky Mackay thanked Sir Alex Ferguson for helping to inspire his side. The win was sparked by Tom Cleverley's 10th goal of the season and Mackay revealed that the youngster, on loan from Manchester United, had been invited by Ferguson to the Emirates on Sunday to be part of the impressive win over Arsenal.

"I see determination in Tom every day to be a top footballer and his manager invited him to be part of the group that went to the Emirates to have a little taste," said Mackay. "Little things like that show class and he came back to us and that rubs off on others."

Goals from Cleverley, Heidar Helguson and Don Cowie ended Watford's barren sixth-match run and took them five places up the Championship table to 12th - and dealt the visitors their second defeat in four days.

Afterwards Kevin Blackwell, the Sheffield United manager, bemoaned the defensive changes forced on him by outside influences; Tottenham recalled Kyle Walker 15 minutes before the Monday deadline while Fulham's Toni Kallio signed too late to play and, in the first half captain Chris Morgan suffered rib damage.

"We started well but threw the game away but there were mitigating circumstances," said Blackwell. "Yesterday we had a back four that looked as good as your going to get, but we ended up with a defence that has never played together."

Blackwell did give a debut to Nyron Nosworthy, formerly of Sunderland, but the early exchanges suggested the omissions were not hindering United, who were quick to discover just why Scott Loach, the Watford goalkeeper, courted so much attention on transfer deadline day.

Tottenham had a £3 million offer for Loach rejected and he added a couple of hundred pounds to his value when, firstly, he tipped a James Harper corner over his cross-bar. And, from a Harper free-kick, the goalkeeper made an impressive reflex save on his line to deny Chris Morgan.

Watford responded immediately when Helguson, on loan from Queens Park Rangers, forced Mark Bunn to make a similarly notable one-handed save. And soon afterwards Cleverley struck a post.

In the 39th minute, the Old Trafford starlet took advantage of poor defending when, from Taylor's long ball, the United defence hesitated with Morgan and former Watford forward Darius Henderson allowing Cleverley to beat Bunn for his 10th goal for Watford.

Soon afterwards, Morgan was replaced and after Helguson missed one chance he converted another, in the 55th minute, before Cowie completed a one-sided win.

Wednesday 3 February: Daily Mail

Watford 3 Sheffield United 0: Scott Loach reaps the reward for loyalty

WATFORD boss Malky Mackay praised his young keeper Scott Loach for turning down the glamorous pull of a £3million move to
Tottenham.

And England Under 21 regular Loach showed why he is far better off in Watford's first team than sitting on the Spurs bench as he pulled off a brilliant close-range save from Chris Morgan's header on 21 minutes that was the springboard for this crushing win.

Mackay, whose side leapt from 17th to 12th, said: 'It just shows the focus Scott has. An awful lot of things were going off yesterday on deadline day.

Martin Taylor debuts at home win

'Credit to him, his family and adviser, he wanted to stay and play — he realised that was best for the future and he has an England Under 21 place to keep. He needs to play a first full season and this is it. He has come on, going from strength to strength.
'It was his fine save that gave us the chance to go on and win well.

'I also give credit to my chairman Graham Taylor as we didn't need to sell and that's not a situation that some clubs are in.'

After Loach's early save, Tom Cleverley, on loan from Manchester United, took over as he thumped the right post from 30 yards on 31 minutes.

Watford broke through on 39 minutes when new signing Martin Taylor hoisted a long ball from his own half, only for United captain Morgan and former Watford striker Darius Henderson to leave it to each other. Cleverley still had to be brave to steer his header into an empty net for his 10th goal of the season as he knew he was about to be clattered by keeper Mark Bunn.

Watford striker Heidar Helguson missed a sitter before snapping up a John Eustace lob and coolly tucking the ball into the right side of the net on 54 minutes.

United's misery was complete in the 74th minute when a Don Cowie free-kick from the left missed everyone in the goalmouth and bounced inside the far right post.

Defeated manager Kevin Blackwell admitted: 'Although I had to change my back four around completely we took liberties, thinking it was going to be easy.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1248125/Watford-3-Sheffield-United-0-Scott-Loach-reaps-reward-loyalty.html#ixzz0fbHBf3qB

Wednesday 3 February: Yorkshire Post

Watford 3 Sheffield United 0: Defensive troubles haunt boss Blackwell

WATFORD took advantage of some woeful defending from Sheffield United to pick up three welcome Coca-Cola Championship points and dent the Blades' chances of reaching the play-offs.

Tom Cleverley scored his 10th goal of the season after United captain Chris Morgan and former Hornets striker Darius Henderson feebly let a ball bounce inside the area and Heidar Helguson doubled the lead after the break after more shoddy play. Don Cowie's late free-kick wrapped up the win.

The Blades had deadline-day signing Nyron Nosworthy in their starting XI alongside former Hornets striker Henderson.

Henderson was a key part of the side which won promotion to the Barclays Premier League under Adrian Boothroyd in 2006 and immediately caused havoc on his return. He beat Taylor to the ball and his header fell at the feet of Stephen Quinn, but the Blades midfielder could not keep his shot down.

James Harper swung in a dangerous ball from the right and Morgan powered a header goalwards from no more than five yards only to see Scott Loach somehow palm the ball to safety.

Cleverley put the Hornets ahead with a scruffy goal in the 39th minute. Taylor launched a long ball forward to the edge of the penalty area and as Henderson, Morgan and Derek Geary all let the ball bounce Cleverley nipped in to head over Bunn.

Helguson punished more slack defending to clip in the second before Cowie sent in a devilish delivery from close to the left touchline and despite three players attacking the ball nobody made a connection and the ball flew straight into the net.

Tuesday 2 February: Skysports.com

Hornets sink hapless Blades: Poor defending allows Watford to gain first win of the year

WATFORD recorded a first win of 2010 after a convincing 3-0 success over Sheffield United at Vicarage Road.
Poor defending contributed to the Blades' defeat as Tom Cleverley took advantage of sloppy play to open the scoring before half-time.

Heidar Helguson capitalised on more slack defending from the visitors to score the second before Don Cowie completed the scoring from a free-kick.

Malky Mackay's side had not played in front of their home fans since Boxing Day thanks to the cold weather but were good value for the victory against a dreadful United side which ended a six-game winless streak.

Watford handed a debut to Martin Taylor after he signed on a free transfer from Birmingham while United had deadline-day signing Nyron Nosworthy in their starting XI alongside former Hornets favourite Darius Henderson.

Henderson was a key part of the side which won promotion to the Premier League under Adrian Boothroyd in 2006 and immediately caused havoc on his return.

The striker beat Taylor to the ball and his header fell at the feet of Stephen Quinn, but the Blades midfielder could not keep his shot down.

Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach attracted interest from Tottenham on deadline day and showed why with an instinctive save in the 20th minute.

James Harper swung in a dangerous ball from the right and Morgan powered a header goalwards from no more than five yards only to see Loach somehow palm the ball to safety.

Opposing goalkeeper Mark Bunn was then also at his best to acrobatically turn a Helguson flick over the crossbar as both sides struggled to get the ball down.

Helguson then again went close with a header from a corner before Cleverley came within inches of an opener for the hosts.
The on-loan Manchester United man showed his pedigree with a fine free-kick which beat Bunn but cannoned away off the post.

However Cleverley did have the Hornets ahead with a scruffy goal in the 39th minute. Taylor launched a long ball forward to the edge of the penalty area and as Henderson, Morgan and Derek Geary all let the ball bounce Cleverley nipped in to head over the advancing Bunn and into the net.

Heidar Helguson scores Watford's second of the evening

Cleverley took a whack from Bunn in the process but was quickly back on his feet as the Hornets led at the break.
United boss Kevin Blackwell brought on Mark Yeates at half-time in a bid for more attacking flair but it was the home side who nearly scored straight from kick-off.

Bunn fluffed a kick straight to Helguson but recovered marvellously to tip his shot around the post at full stretch.
The Icelandic striker really should have scored but did double the lead in the 55th minute thanks to more ponderous defending.

John Eustace helped a ball forward and the visiting back four were again slow to react as Helguson ran past them to control the ball ahead of Bunn and clip in a clinical finish.

Henderson received a standing ovation from the home fans as he was replaced with 20 minutes remaining before Cowie made it 3-0 in the 74th minute.

The Scot sent in a devilish delivery from close to the left touchline and despite three players attacking the ball nobody made a connection and the ball flew straight into the net.

Hornets blunt Blades to end barren run

WATFORD ended their seven-game winless streak - and jumped five places in the table as a result - with an impressive 3-0 victory over Sheffield United tonight.

Playing their first game at Vicarage Road for 37 days, the Hornets started to take control from midway through the opening period and deservedly went in front when Tom Cleverley capitalised on a defensive mix-up six minutes before the break to head in his tenth of the season.

More poor defending from the Blades allowed Heidar Helguson, who could have netted a hat-trick, to add a second ten minutes after the restart before a somewhat fortuitous Don Cowie free-kick wrapped up a first win for Watford in almost two months.

Malky Mackay gave a debut to new signing Martin Taylor in the only change from the 3-2 defeat at Blackpool a week-and-a-half ago, with Lee Hodson rested after being an ever-present in the matchday 18 this term.

Sheffield United had the first chance of the game when Jay DeMerit could only head the ball straight to Stephen Quinn just inside the area but his half volley was sliced comfortably over the bar.

Watford enjoyed their share of possession in the opening ten minutes without really creating anything of note.
The home side had a slight scare from a James Harper inswinging corner in the 11th minute when Scott Loach just about managed to tip the delivery away under pressure from former Hornet Darius Henderson.

United had another half chance which they should have done more with when Jamie Ward was quickest to react to a flick-on from a throw in but he failed to make decent contact and Loach easily saved.

There was nothing simple about the England Under-21 international's next stop though, as he saved low down from a point-blank Chris Morgan header following a Harper free-kick.

Watford had to wait until midway through the first half for their first attempt as Helguson's flick-on header was instinctively saved by Mark Bunn.

Helguson almost helped his side open the scoring soon after also, when he powered a header back across goal from a corner but neither DeMerit or Henri Lansbury were able to apply the final touch from close range.

The Hornets were starting to take control more as the half wore on and went even closer to scoring when Cleverley rattled the post with a 25-yard free-kick.

Tom Cleverley makes a brave move towards Mark Bunn to score for the Golden Boys

And that pressure paid off on 39 minutes when new signing Taylor launched a long ball from his own half and after Helguson dropped off and did not challenge, three United defenders left the ball for Bunn only to see Cleverley beat the on-rushing keeper to head into the empty net.

The link-up play between Lansbury and Cleverley has been one of the features of Watford's season so far and the on-loan pair helped create the space for Cleverley to send in a dangerous low cross wide right but Bunn dived on the ball before anyone could arrive.

Loach had to gather a Richard Cresswell header deep into injury time but the visitors created nothing of note in the later stages of the first half.

The visitors made a change at the start of the second half, with Mark Yeates replacing the ineffective Ward, but they really should have been two down within 60 seconds of the restart.

Jonathan Fortune totally fluffed a back pass, leaving Helguson one-on-one with Bunn, but the on-loan striker took too long to make up his mind what to do and although he got a shot away, Bunn was able to parry it to safety.

Another chance came and went after 49 minutes when a Mariappa long throw fell for Ross Jenkins and he fed Taylor in space on the right side of the six-yard box. The centre-half made the correct decision by playing in a low cross but no team-mate was able to get a touch.

But Helguson was to make no mistake when presented with another opportunity after 55 minutes. The Blades were caught out by another ball through their ranks and this time the Icelandic international struck it sweetly first time past Bunn to make it 2-0 and net his first at Vicarage Road since November.

Henderson became the third Blade to be booked after an incident with Lloyd Doyley on 64 minutes, but there was very nearly another moment to savour for the popular Hornets left-back soon after when he found himself with the chance to break onto a John Eustace pass on the edge of the area but the ball ran away from him.

Henderson's evening came to an end after 69 minutes when he was replaced by Ched Evans but the former Hornets striker was given a superb ovation by the Rookery and he responded in kind by applauding them.

But the win was wrapped up five minutes later, albeit with a degree of good fortune, when Don Cowie drilled in a free-kick from all of 40 yards out wide on the left and the ball inexplicably missed everyone as it beat Bunn inside his far post.

Cleverley then made way for Danny Graham and he was soon into the action, seeking to get on the end of a Helguson knock down.

Still the home side kept coming forward, with Helguson picking out Lansbury on the right side of the area with a cross-field ball but the on-loan Arsenal man struck an ambitious first-time attempt wide.

Helguson made way for Will Hoskins with nine minutes remaining and he was soon forcing Nyron Nosworthy to concede a free-kick, for which he was booked. From the resultant set-piece, Jenkins saw a goal-bound effort blocked. The young midfielder was then replaced by Jon Harley.

Graham nearly ended his goal drought in sensational fashion with three minutes remaining when he attempted to latch onto a long ball forward, saw the pace taken off the ball by a defender's head and struck a superb 20-yard half-volley which Bunn had to dive to push behind.

Nick Montgomery could have netted a consolation in the last minute of normal time, but he struck a rising drive from the right side of the area over. But there was still time for the Hornets to almost add a fourth when Hoskins capitalised on more sloppy defending from Nosworthy and curled a shot narrowly over.

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