Hornets Come From Behind To Win

Watford repeated their feat of Portman Road this afternoon as they came back from 1-0 down at Half Time to beat Ipswich 2-1 for the second time this season.

Watford, who have not lost to Ipswich since March 2004, and not lost at home to them since September 2003, made two changes to the side that beat Bristol City in midweek. Injured captain John Eustace returned to the starting line up as did Joe Garner, they replaced Prince Buaben and Chris Iwelumo respectively.

Watford started the better side and wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead in the opening minutes. A good build up on the left saw Joe Garner break away and his centre found Troy Deeney who shot straight at Alex McCarthy whilst all alone in the penalty area.

Ipswich immediately came back in a frantic opening and almost opened the scoring themselves when a short corner was crossed in and Damien Delaney rose to glance his header just wide of the post.

Ipswich did take the lead after 19 minutes in an incident Hornets left back Carl Dickinson would rather forget. Ipswich left back Andy Drury ventured forward and his deep cross was headed straight to Jay Emmanuel-Thomas by an indecisive Dickinson and he fired low under Kuszczak to give Ipswich the lead.

Watford continued to huff and puff throughout the first half but it was Ipswich who came closest to doubling their lead. Emmanuel-Thomas, giving Dickinson all kinds of problems, broke free once again and his ball across the box was met by Michael Chopra who somehow managed to miss at the far post with the goal gaping.

Half Time: 0-1

Neither side managed to stamp their authority on the opening stages of the second half with Watford trying to force an equaliser and Ipswich trying to double their lead on the break.

The substitution of Joe Garner for Chris Iwelumo just before the hour made all the difference as the big forward won balls in the final third of the pitch and allowed Watford to start boxing Ipswich in.

It nearly paid off on a couple of occasions, firstly when Deeney broke onto a loose ball in the box but fouled McCarthy with his challenge and again when his persistent forced a series of corners but Watford could not capitalise.

Watford did equalise after 71 minutes through Sean Murray with his second goal in two games. A long ball forward caused chaos in the Ipswich defence and after Deeney's shot was blocked by Damien Delaney, Sean Murray side footed the ball into an empty net from the edge of the penalty area with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy stranded.

It took Watford just nine minutes to find a winner as Ipswich's defence continued to self-combust. A poor back pass to McCarthy was intercepted by Deeney who was forced wide by the goalkeeper but he managed to curl his effort into the top corner over the head of the Ipswich defenders back on the goal line.

Watford saw out late Ipswich pressure, which saw Martin Taylor back-heel the ball over his own crossbar from a corner, to win consecutive games and extend their unbeaten run to six matches.

Watford: Kuszczak, Doyley, Nosworthy, Taylor, Dickinson, Murray, Hogg (Buaben), Eustace, Kacaniklic, Garner (Iwelumo), Deeney

Subs Not Used: Loach (GK), Bennett, Assombalonga

Ipswich Town: McCarthy, Edwards, Smith, Delaney, Cresswell, Emmanuel-Thomas, Bowyer (Hyam), Martin (Carson), Drury, Chopra (Stevenson), Murphy

Subs Not Used: Lee-Barrett (GK), Sonko

Referee: P Walton

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