HOME TO WATFORD

We ought to be able to look at this as a comfortable home win but far from it at the moment. Much more likely to be a defeat..... maybe 0-2.

Perhaps another poor performance would mean bye bye to Hughes?

I think Watford will start as favourites but they did show some fragility against Bournemouth so who knows I might actually see us score a goal today. Still don't think we will win but think we might sneak a 1 - 1 draw. Also hoping that Hoedt doesn't play, should be dropped after his performance at City though more likely not to play as may have an injury. Though if he starts we lose.

Well got the prediction right but wish I had been wrong and we had won, or even lost as that would have meant Hughes being sacked. Doesn't learn and had 3 up front as Redmond cannot be classed as a midfield player. No place for Romeau or Bednaek but glad to see Yoshida back. Interesting that Stephens took the can for the hammering at City, not Hoedt who was awful there.
Overall not a bad performance but again like other sides we have drawn at home with Watford didn't look that good. Gabbadini looked lively, more so than Ings who didn't have a good game and didn't seem very happy. Scrappy start and McCarthy needed to be sharp for a decent save down at his near post. Watford then had another chance but shot over as we seemed incapable of keeping the ball. Gabbadini had a shot that went wide but the chance was there so no complaints then had a corner that Hoedt had a headed well saved by Foster. Next corner we took the lead, Watford failed to clear, Ings turned it on and Gabbadini put past Foster. That gave them confidence and with the best move of the half which ended up with a pull back from Bertrand to Armstrong who hit it well but Foster got a leg to it to deflect. Ings went of injured before half time with what looked like a knee injury and Hughes showed his stubborn mentality bringing on Austin, he could have brought on Abafemi and left Gabbadini who was having a good game as CF.

Second half had a slow start but Watford should probably have had a penalty when Bertrand came in from the wrong side and while think he may have got the ball he took the player out as well. We then were denied the second when Redmond made a great burst into the box, pulled the ball back to Austin who beat Foster to celebrate, then 30 seconds later we realised the ref decided to give offside based on the lineman decision, no one in the ground could see any reason why not given and replays have shown just was a terrible decision that was. I don't blame Austin for his rant on tv after the game as something has to be done about the consistently poor standard of officials. It is unacceptable that the supposedly best league in the world has the worst officials, who are very well paid. We all know that if it had been City, United, Chelsea etc the goal would have stood.

Saints then lost momentum and conceded with less than 10 minutes less. The ball was in the right side of box and we had plenty of players to deal with it but allowed Watford to get the ball in, Ward Prowse then had the chance to clear but failed, with no power, ball deflected to a Watford player whose shot took a deflection to beat McCarthy. Truth is we could have lots in the end as heads went down, no one took charge. Hughes brought on Abafemi with 2 minutes left, what was the point?

McCarthy 7 Made several good saves at 0-0 and no chance with goal
Cedric 6 doesnt do enough to keep Bedanek out of the team for me.
Hoedt 6 One of his better games but still far to many mistakes, moans to much and blames others
Yoshida 7 made a couple of errors but showed real commitment, pair him with Bedanek or Vestergard and we will be fine.
Bertrand 6 a couple of decent runs and crosses but should have cleared the ball that lead to a goal and dumb tackle he got a way with
Hojberg 6 plenty of effort but gave the ball away a few times
Lemina 7 another high energy game from him winning numerous tackle blocks
Armstrong 5 seems reluctant to shoot yet when at Celtic known for this scoring, looks like Hughes has coached that out of him
Redmond 6 great burst that should have lead to our second but fits and start and if we play 2 strikers he weakens the midfield
Ings 5 didn't have a good game, seemed pretty unhappy pretty much from the start.
Gabbadini 7 took his goal well, inside the 6 yard box where he is at his best not out wide

Subs
Ward Prowse 5 at fault for the goal conceded with poor clearance and looks lost when he comes on as a sub aside from set pieces.
Austin 5 arguably would have been more if his goal had counted but he was caught offside several times, doesn't put in the effort.

Still believe the squad is not as bad as the results but poorly organised particularly in midfield and defence. Yoshida Romeau and Bedanek should be starting regularly, Austin should not be on the pitch unless losing with 5 minutes to go but Hughes won't change has his favourites and will pick them week in week out

Thanks Matty, very interesting reading. The 'highlights' on TV didn't show much