Hendo sends 'Orns top

Back on top. After an absence of just 24 hours the Hornets have re-claimed topspot with a 2-1 victory at Ninian Park. Yes, Ninian Park, home of Cardiff City on a Wednesday night - what were the fixture people thinking when they decided this? Never mind, it would have been an even longer journey had Watford not come with all three points.

Faithfully listening to my crackly radio (sure as hell I`m travelling however many miles to sit in a cramped tin!) it was evident Cardiff offered little going forward. Their old boys union is far more impressive than ours with Hasselbaink and Fowler leading the Bluebirds frontline. In midfield, Trevor Sinclair, another recent addition was the youngest of the veteran duo.

Watford were without Lee Williamson so Aidy Mariappa filled that void in midfield whilst Aidy Boothroyd`s other changes saw Adam Johnson get his first start and Nathan Ellington picked ahead of Marlon King.

The first quarter of an hour brought few chances - none of which were taken by either side. The cliché 'possession is 9/10`s of the law` was booted into touch after 17 minutes when Adam Johnson whipped the free kick in, 'keeper and defender collided allowing Henderson to claim his fourth of the campaign.

Henderson repeated that trick with thirteen minutes to go to notch his fifth of the season. Before that though, Watford were indebted to 'keeper Mart Poom who prevented his goal being penetrated as Cardiff saw chances for Hasselbaink and co were wasted.

Eventually Hasselbaink`s Premiership experience and quality shone through as he equalised with a curling effort. The goal was made by another old-boy in Sinclair who picked out the former Leeds, Charlton, Chelsea and Boro` forward. Hasselbaink then displayed all his ability to curl the ball into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

The goal came on the hour mark and again, Cardiff were only level for 17 minutes when Henderson struck again. 'Skipper Gavin Mahon put the cross in for the peroxide-blonde forward who tucked the ball away from six yards.

Watford held on for the remaining thirteen minutes and although not at their best defensively, Shittu and DeMerit managed to get through a slightly haphazard remainder of the game. Poom was again to thank with a couple of smart stops to give Watford the points.

Watford now have a few days to rest before another away trip, Q.P.R are the hosts, I`ll be there, so look forward to an improved match report…!

Teams:
Cardiff City: Turnbull; Gunter (Thompson), McNaughton, Johnson, Capaldi; Sinclair, Rae, McPhail, Parry; Fowler (Whittingham) and Hasselbaink.

Watford: Poom; Doyley, Shittu, DeMerit, Stewart; Smith, Mahon (c), Mariappa (O`Toole), Johnson (McAnuff); Henderson and Ellington (King).
Referee: Lee Probert
MoM: Darius Henderson

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