Hornet's lack killer instinct in defeat

DESPITE CREATING the better chances Watford went down at home to a struggling Nottingham Forest thanks to a piece of misjudgement from Scott Loach and Carl Dickinson.

The Forest goal was a scrappy one with Ishmael Miller poking beyond Loach after the Hornet`s stopper allowed a high bouncing ball to land on the edge of the area at the forward`s feet.

Watford named the same side that drew at Barnsley bar one, with the departed Andi Weimann replaced by Nottingham Forest old-boy Joe Garner. On the bench youngster Sean Murray made his first appearance of the season.

Steve McClaren brought in new loan signing Clint Hill at left-back meaning Joel Lynch switched to right-back to cover for the injured Chris Cohen.

It was Garner who had Watford`s best opportunity early on when he was slipped in down the left-hand side of the penalty area before hacking wide.

Garner then turned provider when he slid an inch-perfect pass into Marvin Sordell who couldn`t reach the ball before Forest stopper Lee Grant.

Forest came close twice in the space of a minute not long after when Lynch`s half-volley was blocked, the resulting header from the Tricky Trees full-back flashed inches wide.

Garner came close in the 32 minute when he flicked a near-post header toward Camp`s goal from six yards, but the Northern Ireland cap was able to palm the effort away.

Half-time: 0-0

Watford were the first to test Camp in the second period when Craig Forsyth was put through by Garner but waited too long to shoot, seeing his left-footed effort blocked by Camp.

Forsyth had another good chance when he met a Lloyd Doyley cross but looped a header narrowly over.

Garner came close yet again when he met a John Eustace cross with a diving header but steered wide.

Forest took an undeserved 60th minute lead when a long ball over the top was allowed to bounce leaving Ishmael Miller on hand to nudge it under the onrushing Scott Loach.

Substitute Marcus Tudgay tested Loach with a low left-footed effort from the edge of the area but the Hornet`s stopper palmed away at full-stretch.

Eustace was the next to test Camp with a low-strike following a goalmouth scramble but the effort went straight down the keeper`s throat.

Watford: Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, Taylor, Dickinson; Yeates (Murray), Eustace (c), Hogg, Forsyth (Deeney); Sordell & Garner (Iwelumo).

Subs: Gilmartin (g) & Mirfin.Nottingham Forest: Camp; Lynch, Morgan, Chambers (c), Hill; Gunter, Greening, Moussi, Findley (Derbyshire); McGugan (Reid), Miller (Tudgay).

Subs: Smith (gk), Reid & Majewski.

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