...and we're playing at home

Watford v Crystal Palace (FA Cup 3rd Round)

Saturday January 5^th

Whichever end of the table a team is at, it has become routine for the question to be posed of whether a cup run is a “distraction” from important league business, perhaps because it is unlikely to be little else (a lucrative distraction at most) for any but the top four clubs. Waiting outside the stadium for Joss, I was pleased to hear our team was at full strength, not least because it gave us another chance to break this terrible run of home form. Today was not meant to be taken as a distraction.

Crystal Palace have been the form team of the division, not having lost since we went to Selhurst Park at the end of October (which also marked a turning point in our fortunes). Betty won the Manager of the Month Award, often portrayed as a curse, after that month of victories, and Palace’s Neil Warnock comes to the Vic having just been given the same accolade. All the omens are in place, then.

Joss and I took our seats a few rows from the back of the Rookery (you can change for cup games) and saw Watford boss the early exchanges with the fans right behind them. So far, so much like our last home outing but only half way into the half we take the lead when Danny Shittu heads in a corner; it has been seven games since we’ve gone ahead at home and we agree we’ve got a much better view of it.

Watford’s style of play has been derided as “hoofball” by many, including some of the Watford supporters, and there are shouts to “get it on the ground” at every match. Today, though, we played some better passing football and were less reliant on the long ball. Jobi McAnuff attacked well and Tommy Smith also had the better of his man though both Marlon King and Darius Henderson were unable to profit from the crosses coming in.

Supping on our rapidly-cooling hot chocolate at half-time (a one-litre flask seems too large to do its job) we felt confident the ‘Orns could win the match against an opposition that had made several changes in an attempt, perhaps, not to be distracted from the league. The second half mirrored the first in many ways including Shittu’s second goal. With ten minutes to go King and Henderson were substituted for Nathan Ellington and Tamas Priskin, the latter of whom showed some fantastic touches whereas the “Duke” seemed nonplussed. With a few minutes left we serenaded Shittu off to the African Cup of Nations with his song: “Chim-chimaney, chim-chimaney, chim-chim-cheroo: Who needs Sol Campbell when we’ve got Shittu?” and he saluted us back as he left.

Fourth round, here we come. I’ll take a home draw against anyone outside the big four (or away to one of them). In the meantime, we have to negotiate the transfer window. Gavin Mahon has now become a QPR player and we’ve signed Lionel Ainsworth in full (two loan deals made permanent). We need someone to cover Danny and we’re all hoping that Marlon will stay.