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PortVale Vs Watford - Inside View Good morning, and the award for services to Division One relegation threatened strugglers goes to......... Mr. George Cain (Bootle) This cheeky Scouser was the king of the Potteries last night (that wasn't the universal view around Vale Park, it has to be said) as he spectacularly failed to send off 2 Watford players and thus eased the dirty southerners to a comfortable 2-1 victory over Port Vale. (SUPERB) The night which, on reflection, was probably the first time ever I've seen Graham "Can we not knock it ?" Taylor in the flesh, was well and truly dominated and the massed visiting supporters in the Hamil Rd end, and at least one Bury fan in the Bycars end, didn't have much doubt from the early stages that Watford were going to come out on top and overtake bolton to claim 5th place. But it could have been oh so different. Watford, unlucky to be only 1-0 up, came under a bit of pressure from Vale. This is what happened: Ball into the box....... Lee challenged with Palmer, both fell over, bit of a tangle getting up...... few words...... get on with the game. 2 mins later, another ball in the box..... Lee goes up, header goes nowhere, ends up on the floor with both Palmer AND Page standing over him....... few words, Lee tries to get up, flails his legs a bit, Palmer sees red mist and punches Lee !!! "Oh great", the Bury fans (ok, fan) was thinking. Big skirmish, Cain consults linesman, speaks long and hard to Palmer and only books him. Immediately after brandishing the yellow card, he points to the spot. Tommy W. steps up...... 1-1. Well, it was a relief, even though I wanted a Vale equaliser about as much as a Neil Cox signed photo, because Palmer should undoubtedly have been sent off. If Cain considered the punch to be worthy of a penalty, even though the ball was dead at the time, then it had to be a red card. More fun was to come several mins later..... this all happened as quick as a flash, so you've got to consider this as I explain it in long, drawn-out detail.......... ball bouncing around midfield.... 2 players go into a tackle and the ref blows for a Watford free-kick, but from the tackle, the ball rebounds out in between Stewart Talbot and Watford left-back-superstar Paul Robinson. Well, we may be upset that Dawsy may miss the last-day shoot out v. Vale, but don't worry.... Stewie will do too !!! Robinson launches himself and catches Talbot halfway up his leg...... cue another melee but rather more concern for Talbot's leg. Don't worry though.... the sub had plenty of time to warm up, cos it took at least 3 mins for them to strap him up and stick him on a stretcher. He's in Stoke Infirmary this morning with a compund fracture ! Now, 2 factors here...... Cain was too busy giving his original free kick to Watford so I don't think he actually saw it too clearly, and Kevin Kent, the BBC Radio Stoke reporter who was up in the gantry looking right down on the incident, said that the ball was there to go for. In any case, it was only a yellow card. I'm afraid I wouldn't have been so lenient ! Not to worry though..... Watford with 11 men, level at half-time. I mystically predict a 2-1 win for Watford, possibly 3-1. Sure enough, Mooney follows up his rather nifty strike from the edge of the box after Mussy spilled it and it's 2-1. Vale take off their right midfileder Eyre for the sake of an extra forward, and Watford proceed to flood down the left at 2 minute intervals and Peter Kennedy strikes a 20 yarder against the post. It could have been many more, but I was quite happy with 2-1. And if Graham Taylor was asking "Can we not knock it ?", his players proved him wrong with some excellent long ball football to Ngonge up the middle and Mooney down the sides. I know they were only up against Vale, but I was mighty impressed. I hope they go up. In fact, I was so caught up in admiring Watford's excellent performance that I almost forgot to do a scouting report, but here it is....... If there is one keeper who is worse at kicking than Deano, then it is probably Paul Musselwhite. Stewart Talbot won't be playing. They've got about 15 other choices for right-back, I would think. Tankard was good as ever The 2 centre halves, Aspin and Beesley, are old and slow. Their only strong point is in the air, but Ngonge out-jumped them and I reckon AP could have a go as well. If Preece and Jaff play like they did v. Bolton, then we'll tear that back-line apart (although they may defend deeper away) Vale's wingers are powder puff. Their centre midfield isn't great, although they'll certainly be competitive, especially against us. Brammer and Widdrington played last night. Up front, Foyle causes problems for 60 mins, when he then has to go off cos he's too old for this sort of thing. Also, I was under the impression that Page and Palmer had played all season for Watford together at the back, but they looked a bit troubled, not by Vale's forwards, but just because they were indecisive and out of position all the time. Our centre halves are far better and shouldn't have much problems with the likes of Lee, Foyle and Naylor, once we calm them down. Of course, most, if not every game of the season will count for nothing and we will probably have to fight our guts out against them, as you'd expect. I spent a good half hour lying awake in my sleeping bag last night thinking about the relegation picture - it really is unbearable. Just keep your fingers crossed. On a final final note........ I've watched 5 Vale games in the past 2 seasons and they've drawn 2 and lost 3. How much is anyone going to pay me to miss West Brom on Saturday to go to see them v. QPR ??? From your Port Vale correspondent ! M.R.Taylor If you've ever been to Pompey, Would you like to have your say about Bury's last match? Was the ref really that bad? If so then send a match report to:
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