MY least favourite Watford chant of all time has to be, 'Warnock what's the score? Warnock, Warnock, what's the score?' For decades now, we've come up against the manager known amongst friends as "Colin", and every time that chant seems to bubble up, only for it all to backfire rather horribly.
Normally we'll be 2-0 up, chanting merrily, Warnock will rudely gesture at the baying Rookery, and then jump around like a loon as his team (be it Palace, Sheffield United, anyone) inevitably scores three or four to silence the chanting. Gah.
On Saturday, if you'd had told me there was going to be five goals in the second half I would have cried, or headed off to The Harlequin to bludgeon myself to death with a blunt object in the John Lewis crockery department.
Inevitably the teams had marched off at half time to the cry, 'Warnock, Warnock, what's the score?'. It was 2-0 after a thoroughly impressive first half performance, why wouldn't we be singing? Because… of… Mr Warnock people! Because. Of. Warnock.
At 2-1, despite the fact we were still playing brilliantly, I was utterly convinced we'd lose 2-3. At 4-1, the players romping away with it, showing some real class, I still thought there'd be a cruel 4-5 finish. Every, 'Warnock what's the score?' cut right through me. For the first time I can ever remember a three goal cushion was almost too unbearable to watch.
So imagine my worry at 4-3. The game wasn't remotely a "true" 4-3; Brendan's Hornets had out-classed the high-flying Eagles at a bit of a canter.
But life as a Watford supporter isn't always kind enough to give you that stress free 4-0 or 4-1. All that worry and pain does however; always make the victory all the sweeter. And as Mr W scuttled off angrily down the tunnel after 96 minutes of football, I have to confess I did join in with my loathed chant… just a little bit.
The score was of course 4-3, meaning Watford were once again in the FA Cup fifth round hat. A home tie with Chelsea? Well with more sub-plots than a series of 24, or Lost, that's certainly a tie to get excited about.
Though the chant, 'Lampard what's the score? Lampard, Lampard, what's the score?' may cause more than a little confusion.
Season Ticket holder Lee Coan will be bringing you regular updates on life as a Hornet and following the team on the road throughout the season. To see past articles click here.
The views in this blog are not necessarily the views of Watford Football Club.
