Fishermen's 'Friend' is Watford's foe

Match ref Kevin Friend will be the toast of Hull tonight after a quite awful refereeing performance that overshadows an outstanding goalkeeping display of Boaz Myhill and leaves Aidy Boothroyd questioning if the official was up to the job!

The blundering Leicestershire ref played a major part in the Hornets 2-0 play off defeat after disallowing a perfectly good goal from the head of Shittu in just the 2nd minute - a harsh decision from every angle bar the one the ref took, according to Sky TV cameras!

The second half dismissal of John Eustace for a 'no footed tackle` before ignoring a clear and blatant stamping by a Hull shirted player as the fracus kicked off had the Watford bench fuming with Boothroyd stating 'For the John Eustace sending off both feet were on the floor so I don't know what he was sending him off for".

There can be little doubt that Hull`s fisherman 'Friend` of a referee has left a rather nasty taste in the mouth of the Watford changing room with Boothroyd questioning whether the official was up to the job. He told the official club site "'It's a difficult job as we know, there is a respect issue and also there's a respect from the powers that be that we can get people who can cope. I'm not so sure that has happened today."

No it wasn`t Aidy. Thankfully we have a no nonsense ref with Premiership experience in Mark Clattenburg for the return leg so it should be a totally different ball game.