Hornets Halloween Hell

Watford came back down to earth with a sudden bump at The Hawthorns yesterday as Roberto di Matteo's side took full advantage to knock the 'Orns for five.

The Hornet's were on the back foot virtually from the off as former Arsenal protegee Jerome Thomas ran at Lee Hodson. The Northern Irish fullback used all his youthful inexperience to send the winger tumbling to earn himself a booking and the Baggies a free kick. Some sloppy marking later and centre back Jonas Olsson gave the home side the lead with a simple far-post header.

Just thirteen minutes later one became two as skipper Adrian Mariappa managed to catch the infectious case of frankly scary defending, bundling over striker Luke Moore who wasn't going anywhere inside the area after a long ball from Joe Mattock. Up stepped Graham Dorrans to net the Baggies second with a simple penalty.

Watford did carve out one good chance at two down, Jon Harley engineering some room down the left to fire a low cross over for Danny Graham. The former Carlisle striker somehow contrived to miss a gaping chance at the back post to leave the 'Orns trailing at half time.

Half Time: 2-0

The third again came from more Hornet's defensive frailties as the aforementioned Moore outmuscled Lee Hodson before shooting at Scott Loach. Loach beat the shot away straight away before the cross came back in for Moore to finish.

Having missed an earlier chance, full back Gianni Zuiverloon smashed home from the right-hand corner of the penalty area having held off the innefectual Craig Cathcart.

After sixty-eight minutes the rout was complete as Simon Cox scored his first league goal for the Albion. A long ball onto the chest of Luke Moore was layed off to the striker who smashed into the top corner from twenty yards.

Full Time: 5-0

Watford
Loach; Hodson, Mariappa (c), Cathcart, Doyley; Cowie (Helguson), Eustace (Severin), Cleverley, Harley; Lansbury; Graham (Ellington).

West Bromwich Albion
Carson (c); Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Mattock; Teixeira, Jara, Dorrans, Thomas (Brunt); Cox and Moore.