Bristol City 2 – 2 Watford…………….. Excitement Robins could do without
By By Stephen Coombes
at Ashton Gate
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson had issued a pre-match war cry to produce “play that excites” prior to the visit of Watford to Ashton Gate, and while four goals, a sending off and three disallowed goals very much fit the bill, yet more last-minute heartbreak was certainly not the excitement he courted.
A nine-minute first-half flurry saw the hosts lead 2-1 at the break, Manchester United loanee Tom Cleverley briefly cancelling out a Danny Haynes strike before a delightful Paul Hartley free kick restored the advantage. But late dramatics were to follow, for the sixth time this season, as midfielder John Eustace’s improvised injury-time finish shattered home hearts.
City made three changes for the third consecutive game as Lewin Nyatanga, Marvin Elliott and David Clarkson were all promoted from the boxing day substitutes bench. Liam Fontiane and Alvaro Saborio sat in their place, while Gavin Williams missed out completely through injury.
Aiming to give the home faithful reason to cheer City flew out of the blocks and should have been ahead within minutes, Nicky Maynard causing confusion amongst the Watford defence before teeing up David Clarkson who’s left-foot effort skewed wastefully wide.
Henri Lansbury then received a caution after returning to the field of play, after being forced off through injury, without the referee’s consent. Collecting a Watford corner City keeper Dean Gerken gave a quick release to Haynes wide right who burst clear. In an act of sheer cynicism Lansbury, sensing the threat, returned to the field to break up the attack earning a caution for his actions.
A neat give and go then saw the influential Hartley test Watford keeper Scott Loach from the angle, before the Scotsman turned provider for Carey to head over from a corner.
Having weathered the storm and looking a threat on the counter the Hornets began to assert themselves. Nyatanga was required at full stretch to prevent a goalbound effort shortly after the half hour, and then the first of three disallowed goals as Helguson finished at the back post after Eustace flicked on the focal Cleverley’s free kick, the Icelandic hit man just straying beyond the last defender.
Relieved for the reprieve City compounded the visitors frustration just two minutes later. The workmanlike Clarkson wriggled free on the left and centred for Maynard who lost out to Lansbury, the midfielder’s clearance only succeeding in finding the oncoming Haynes who drilled home from 15 yards.
Celebrations were short-lived however as Watford mustered an almost immediate response. Bradley Orr’s poor clearance found its way to Lansbury whose cross was half cleared by McAllister, Cleverley doing as Haynes had done moments earlier in producing a strong controlled finish affording the opposing stopper no hope.
With the half drawing to a close Cleverley clipped Elliott 30 yards out. Ushering the ball and with options in the box, the cultured Hartley curled a sublime effort over the wall and off the underside of the bar to restore the home side’s supremacy.
Shortly after the restart Clarkson appeared to atone for his earlier miss when receiving a return pass from Maynard, the summer signing’s composure held where it had failed earlier as he found the bottom corner, only for the assistant’s flag to cut short home celebrations.
Lansbury, who was often the visitors’ catalyst, bustled into the City box only to blaze over. Gerken then had to be at his best to deny Don Cowie’s stinging volley and Danny Graham’s follow up, although the linesman’s flag would have ruled out the latter.
With the game opening up England Under 21 international Loach superbly denied Maynard with a flailing boot after excellent work from the ever-threatening width of Haynes, Gerken’s tame clearance was controlled and ambitiously returned narrowly wide from 40 yards by Graham, and Gerken once more stood firm to deny Helguson one on one.
With the game perilously poised Nyatanga then irresponsibly, recklessly, lunged at Lansbury to earn a second caution and subsequent red. Despite the defender’s desperate claim that the challenge was ball-winning there can be few complaints over a tackle that could well have been more harshly received.
Clarkson was immediately withdrawn for Fontaine but the dismissal had swung the balance in Watford’s favour and only courageous blocks from Skuse and Elliott prevented sooner repercussion.
City were then granted a stroke of luck as a pumped ball into the box saw Gerken and McAllister collide leaving Helguson to lash into the unguarded net. Despite being in the vicinity the forward appeared to have done little wrong yet, much to the Robins’ relief, the referee penalised the attacker.
Hartley fired another set piece agonisingly wide before Haynes was justly awarded a standing ovation when replaced by Sproule.
In an all too familiar story however the home defence finally buckled as Cleverley’s hopeful cross was flicked in by Eustace deep into injury time. Deflated if not defeated, and with a 12-day break until their next league outing at Crystal Palace, City must pick themselves up for a home FA Cup tie against rivals Cardiff on Saturday.
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