Sheffield United 0-1 Watford

Watford got back to winning ways on Saturday at the expense of Gary Speed`s Sheffield United, the Hornet`s coming away from Bramall Lane with all three points thanks to an early Marvin Sordell strike.

espite the disappointment of a midweek defeat by Swansea City, Malky Mackay stuck to his guns and named the same eleven beaten 3-2 at the Vic` by the Swans on Tuesday, Lloyd Doyley retaining his place at right back keeping youngster Lee Hodson on the bench.

Without Arsenal loanee centre-half Kyle Bartley, Blades manager Speed moved another loanee in Ritchie De Laet to centre half to accommodate Nancy loanee Jean Calve at right back up. Former Hornet`s Lee Williamson and Darius Henderson both missed out through injury.

The lead was the Hornet`s after just sixteen minutes, by no means a classic goal, but they all count - just ask the home side, who`ve managed five in ten league games so far, only two of those coming at home.

A long ball from centre-half Martin Taylor picked out frontman Danny Graham working the right-hand channel before firing a low cross in towards striker partner Marvin Sordell who turned home from close range.

Afterwards manager Malky Mackay hailed his young Hornet`s side claiming that his charges" wouldn`t have won the match last season."

'After the interval I was pleased with the guts and commitment we showed when defending. That was good to see; people throwing their bodies in the way and working hard for each other.

'To be up where we are makes me very happy and I think we're good value for it, especially away from home.'

Opposing manager Gary Speed highlighted his side`s lack of potency in front of goal as the reason for another disappointing day at the office:

'Goalscoring is a recurring theme. It was a problem already before today and it's not something new at all,' he remarked.

'If you aren't scoring then you aren't going to win football games. That's obvious.

Have I got faith in the strikers? Yes, of course I have. They're the only ones that I've got but that doesn't mean I don't have belief or faith in them. I have.

'What we've got to do is keep working hard on the training ground. That's the only thing we can do other than try and bring somebody else in"

A good way to head into the international break for the Hornet's who are on the road on their return with a trip to a rejuvenated Portsmouth.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Calve, De Laet, Nosworthy, Jordan; Yeates, Ertl, Montgomery (c), Quinn; Evans and Bogdanovic.

Subs: R.Wright; Morgan, Britton, Evans, A.Taylor, Lowton and Slew.

Watford: Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, M.Taylor, A.Taylor; Eustace (c); Cowie, Buckley; Mutch; Sordell and Graham.

Subs: Gilmartin; Hodson, Walker, Deeney, McGinn, Bryan and Bennett.

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