Saturday 21 August: Watford Observer
Unbeaten run continues for Watford after draw at Hull City
WATFORD'S unbeaten start to the season continues after a well-fought 0-0 draw at Hull City.
The Hornets were a little on the back foot early on but were the better side for much of the match and had a number of decent chances to grab a winner.
Danny Graham and Jordon Mutch forced Matt Duke into good saves and John Eustace had a header cleared off the line in the second half.
Watford started with the same XI for the third consecutive Championship match, as new arrivals Josh Walker, Jordon Mutch and Troy Deeney all began the game on the bench.
Arsenal striker Jay Simpson made his Hull debut, with Slovenia captain Robert Koren playing just off the former QPR loanee.
Hull were arguably the better team in the early stages but there was not much in it, as neither side created anything of note in the opening 24 minutes.
The first real opportunity fell to the home side as John Bostock's through ball was blocked by Martin Taylor and Slovenia captain Robert Koren smashed a powerful shot at goal from the edge of the area, with Scott Loach parrying the ball away.
Watford enjoyed a spell in Hull's half around the half-hour mark and Danny Graham had a cross bound for Marvin Sordell cleared at the last moment.
Don Cowie then sent in two set pieces which caused Hull a few problems. A free kick was headed back into the danger area by Taylor and Matt Duke did well to claim. Then Cowie's corner was met by John Eustace but his header seemed to hit his shoulder and go wide.
Watford were having joy on the right-hand side and Adrian Mariappa did well to beat his man on the right byline but his pull-back missed everyone in the box and Hull broke with pace. Bostock slowed down the play too much though and Paul McShane's cross was overhit, which sent Simpson too wide and the Arsenal youngster's volley hit the side netting.
Watford arguably should have had a penalty shortly before the break when Liam Cooper had hold of Taylor's shirt from a Mariappa throw-in, but the referee was on the opposite side and his linesman did not flag, to the frustration of Malky Mackay and his assistant Sean Dyche.
A short corner from Watford had the home fans worried for a moment as Lee Hodson burst into the box but, again, his pull-back just missed Graham at the front post and Eustace's cross was cleared.
Hull went close to opening the scoring six minutes after the break when Cairney's corner was headed to the edge of the box by Taylor and Koren's volley went just over the bar.
Ian Ashbee then had a goal-bound shot blocked by the face of Mariappa.
Watford enjoyed a positive spell soon after though and had a host of chances in the second half.
First Buckley had a shot saved from 20 yards and then Cowie's in-swinging free kick was headed into the side netting by Taylor.
The Hornets then had three very good chances in quick succession. John Eustace had a header cleared off the line from a Cowie corner and then the Scot picked out substitute Troy Deeney but the former Walsall striker headed wide from eight yards out.
But the best chance of the game fell to Graham. Deeney's flick on released the Hornets' top scorer and he was able to shoot from 12 yards, but his low effort forced a good stop from Duke.
Cairney's set pieces were causing a few problems and he almost picked out Barmby at the far post from a free kick.
Then Barmby himself crossed for fellow replacement Richard Garcia and the midfielder should have done better as he headed wide.
Watford did create the better chances though and Duke prevented his side going behind when Deeney chested the ball down to Birmingham loanee Jordon Mutch and he smashed a low shot towards the bottom corner. Duke couldn't hold on to Mutch's powerful strike but the Hull keeper did well to gather the ball before Graham arrived.
Koren was City's most dangerous player and he had a shot blocked shortly before forcing Loach into a good save.
Watford were then kicking themselves when they failed to test Duke after new signing Josh Walker released Cowie through the middle and the Hornets found themselves three-on-one,. The former Inverness midfielder picked the wrong option and the attack broke down.
Both teams kept pushing for a winner but neither side could find the all-important goal.
Saturday 21 August: BBC Sport
Hull 0-0 Watford
WATFORD ground out a point in a forgettable clash with Hull to keep their unbeaten start going.
New Tigers signing Robert Koren was at the heart of the hosts' best football and he forced Scott Loach into a flying save with a long-range drive.
The game opened up after the break and home keeper Matt Duke tipped a snapshot from Danny Graham around the post.
Both sides had chances late on but Richard Garcia headed wide for Hull and Duke parried Jordon Mutch's volley.
Those moments of excitement apart, it was a drab game that always looked to be heading for a stalemate.
Watford carved out the first opening of the contest when Will Buckley brushed aside Paul McShane and cut inside but his curling effort drifted wide.
At the other end, Koren combined with another new signing, striker Jay Simpson, but the midfielder just failed to pick out the former Arsenal man with a superb cross.
The hosts began to look the most likely side to score with Koren easily the most creative player on display.
First, he forced Loach into an acrobatic save with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Then the Slovenian's dipping 20-yard volley went just over.
The visitors should have taken the lead just after the break when Martin Taylor headed wide from six yards after getting on the end of Don Cowie's free-kick.
But Hull continued to look marginally more threatening and Tom Cairney drilled an angled drive across the face of goal before Mark Cullen scuffed a shot from a good position.
Troy Deeney failed to make the most of a decent opening for Watford as he headed wide from close range after Cowie had picked him out with a pinpoint cross.
However, Duke was forced into action moments later when he tipped wide Graham's effort from 18 yards.
Koren then went close for a third time with a cross from the left wing that nearly sneaked in at the far post.
As the clock ticked down, the game finally started to open up but a lack of cutting edge continued to frustrate at both ends.
Nick Barmby's cross was headed wide by the unmarked Garcia for Hull, before Watford nearly snatched a late winner when a low half-volley from Mutch was well saved by Duke.
Saturday 21 August: Mail OnlineHull 0 Watford 0: Duke shows his class to deny Hornets at the KC Stadium HULL goalkeeper Matt Duke earned a point for his side as Watford maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
In a dour stalemate at the KC Stadium, Duke was called upon to produce two fine saves to thwart Danny Graham and Jordon Mutch after the interval.
Hull, coming off the back of a 4-0 defeat at Millwall, offered little going forward despite the presence of new signing Jay Simpson.
The former Arsenal striker fired Paul McShane's cross into the side-netting early on, but was quiet otherwise as the hosts struggled to break down determined opposition.
Hull created the only real opportunity of a drab first half, with Scott Loach producing an impressive save to keep out a stinging drive from Robert Koren.
Watford created the better openings after the break, though, with Martin Taylor heading Don Cowie's free-kick just wide and then Graham forcing Duke to save at full stretch with a low drive.
With time running out, Duke produced another excellent save low to his right to deny Mutch from the edge of the area.
Saturday 21 August: Yahoo Sport
Honours even after bore draw
Watford kept their unbeaten start to the season going by grinding out a 0-0 draw in a forgettable clash at the KC Stadium.
New signing Robert Koren went close on three occasions for Hull from long distance, but the hosts had goalkeeper Matt Duke to thank for preserving a clean sheet as he denied Danny Graham and Jordon Mutch after the break.
Jay Simpson went straight into the Hull starting XI after joining from Arsenal, while Watford manager Malky Mackay named the same line-up for the third npower Championship match in a row.
Watford carved out the first opening of the contest when Will Buckley brushed aside Paul McShane and cut infield, but his curling effort drifted wide.
Koren and Simpson then combined at the other end, with the former just failing to pick out the latter with a superb cross.
The hosts began to build some pressure, and Koren went close minutes later when he forced Scott Loach into a flying save with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area.
Simpson then fired into the side-netting following McShane's deep cross, but with little separating the two sides in a mediocre encounter, Hull started resorting to ambitious efforts.
The early stages of the second half were similarly stop-start, but Koren demonstrated his ability from long range again with a dipping volley just over from 20 yards.
The visitors should have taken the lead though when Martin Taylor headed wide from six yards following Don Cowie's inswinging free-kick from the left flank.
Mackay tried to shake things up with a double substitution as Troy Deeney and Mutch came on to replace Marvin Sordell and Buckley, respectively.
Hull continued to look marginally more threatening though, as Tom Cairney drilled an angled drive across the face of goal and then substitute Mark Cullen scuffed a shot from a good position.
Deeney failed to make the most of a decent opening for Watford as he headed wide from close range after Cowie had picked him out with a pinpoint cross.
However, Duke was forced into action moments later when he tipped wide Graham's snap-shot from 18 yards.
Koren was easily the most creative player on display, and he went close for a third time in the match with a cross from the left wing that nearly sneaked in at the far post.
As the clock ticked down, the game finally started to open up, but a lack of cutting edge continued to frustrate at both ends.
Nick Barmby's cross was headed wide by the unmarked Richard Garcia as Hull tried to commit more men forward.
Watford nearly snatched a late winner when a low half-volley from Mutch was parried by Duke, but the contest always seemed certain to end goalless.
Saturday 21 August: The Sun
Mac gives Hornets a real buzz
WHEN Malky Mackay was battling to keep Watford up last season, I'm sure he was not counting his blessings at the task he faced.
No money, the club sliding dangerously towards going out of business, and basing a survival fight largely around youngsters.
But he managed it then and, despite being among the outsiders this time, the early signs are the Hornets may not be casting nervous glances over their shoulder in the coming months.
Last season's arduous task will stand him in good stead for the rest of his management career.
I remember their final home game, having sold their best players, with the spectre of relegation looming ever large.
Malky told me lots of his lads were nervous and he felt the same. But he kept everyone calm, got them focused and they got a priceless win.
As a player Mackay, 38, impressed me hugely - but that day there was so much more than his own future at stake - keeping the club afloat was also on the line.
This season's opening win at Norwich was a joy to watch.
Okay, they let a two-goal lead slip against Coventry but no one can argue Malky is not the right man to take Watford forward.
Blackpool have already proved you write anyone off at your peril - what price the Hornets following suit?
Saturday 21 August: Sky SportsTigers held by Hornets: No goals at KC Stadium as Tigers are denied comebackHULL City failed to bounce back from their drubbing last weekend after they could only manage a 0-0 draw against Watford.
The Tigers, who suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Millwall last weekend,
were unable to find the net in a forgettable clash at the KC Stadium, while the Hornets maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
Hull went close on three occasions thanks to new signing Robert Koren, while goalkeeper Matt Duke managed to keep a clean sheet, denying Danny Graham and Jordon Mutch after half-time.
Jay Simpson went straight into the Hull starting XI after joining from Arsenal, while Watford manager Malky Mackay named the same line-up for the third Championship match in a row.
Watford carved out the first opening of the contest when Will Buckley brushed aside Paul McShane and cut infield, but his curling effort drifted wide.
Koren and Simpson then combined at the other end, with the former just failing to pick out the latter with a superb cross.
The hosts began to build some pressure, and Koren went close minutes later when he forced Scott Loach into a flying save with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area.
Simpson then fired into the side-netting following McShane's deep cross, but with little separating the two sides in a mediocre encounter, Hull started resorting to ambitious efforts.
The early stages of the second half were similarly stop-start, but Koren demonstrated his ability from long range again with a dipping volley just over from 20 yards.
The visitors should have taken the lead though when Martin Taylor headed wide from six yards following Don Cowie's inswinging free-kick from the left flank.
Mackay tried to shake things up with a double substitution as Troy Deeney and Mutch came on to replace Marvin Sordell and Buckley, respectively.
Hull continued to look marginally more threatening though, as Tom Cairney drilled an angled drive across the face of goal and then substitute Mark Cullen scuffed a shot from a good position.
Deeney failed to make the most of a decent opening for Watford as he headed wide from close range after Cowie had picked him out with a pinpoint cross.
However, Duke was forced into action moments later when he tipped wide Graham's snap-shot from 18 yards.
Koren was easily the most creative player on display, and he went close for a third time in the match with a cross from the left wing that nearly sneaked in at the far post.
As the clock ticked down, the game finally started to open up, but a lack of cutting edge continued to frustrate at both ends.
Nick Barmby's cross was headed wide by the unmarked Richard Garcia as Hull tried to commit more men forward.
Watford nearly snatched a late winner when a low half-volley from Mutch was parried by Duke, but the contest always seemed certain to end goalless.
By Leigham Stone
