Sunday, January 19, 2003 at Vicarage Road

RESULT:

WATFORD (1) 2 - Nielsen 44, Helguson 85.

NORWICH CITY (0) 1 - Cox og 52.

TEAMS:

WATFORD: Chamberlain; Ardley, Cox, Gayle, Robinson; Pennant, Vernazza, Hyde, Nielsen; Noel-Williams, Helguson. Substitutes: Smith for Noel-Williams after 59 minutes; McNamee for Nielsen after 78 minutes; Mahon for Vernazza after 86 minutes; Brown and Lee not used.

NORWICH CITY: Green; Kenton, Fleming, Mackay, Drury; Russell, Holt, Mulryne, Rivers; Roberts, Nielsen. Substitutes: Llewellyn for Rivers after 78 minutes; Abbey for Roberts after 88 minutes; Henderson for Russell after 90 minutes; Briggs and Crichton not used.

WATFORD'S MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Marcus Gayle, Paolo Vernazza and Heidar Helguson were the pick of the bunch in a display more noted for application than good play.

CONDITIONS: Drizzle, grey day, no wind, a little late sunshine.

ATTENDANCE: 13,388. (Norwich contingent: 1,936. No problems).

REFEREE: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire). Very lenient with regard to Paolo Vernazza and Iwan Roberts and allowed himself to be conned by the diving Darel Russell on a couple of occasions. Unusually, the linesman opted to wear a cap in the second-half when usually they work the other diagonal to avoid the sun in their eyes.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Had its moments.

CRINGE-MAKING MOMENT: When Iwan Roberts punched Gifton Noel-Williams, the linesman flagged and the referee did nothing.

HIGHLIGHT MOMENT: Paul Robinson's last-gasp sliding tackle late in the game to win the ball in the box.

CLEAR-CUT CHANCES: Watford 4 (Helguson 2, Hyde 1, Nielsen 1), Norwich 2 (Nielsen 1, Mulryne 1).

ASSISTS: Pennant-Hyde; McNamee.

WATFORD GOAL ATTEMPTS BY: Helguson 6, Hyde 3, Vernazza 2, Nielsen 2, Pennant 1, Smith 1, Gayle 1.

GOAL ATTEMPTS (ON-TARGET): Watford 12, Norwich City 2.

GOAL ATTEMPTS (OFF-TARGET): Watford 4, Norwich City 8.

CORNERS: Watford 3, Norwich City 11.

FOULS COMMITTED: Watford 18, Norwich City 10.

TIMES OFF-SIDE: Watford 7, Norwich City 2.

BOOKINGS: Vernazza for a foul on Drury (4); A. Nielsen for a foul on Russell (54); Russell for a foul on A. Nielsen (59); Robinson for a foul on Russell (61).

January 27, 2003 15:30