By Jemma Tappenden
November 3 2007

Tony Mowbray recalled Midfielder Zoltan Gera into his midfied at the expense of Chris Brunt, while onloan Roman Bednar also made his first appearance in the Baggies sqaud since arriving during the summer. Aidy Boothroyd named an unchanged side as top of the table entertained an Albion side searching for just their second away victory of the season.

Despite all the hype the game got of to a steady but slow start.  Watford recorded the games first chance within the opening minutes, but O’Toole fired his shot well wide of the target. 

The unnamed squad was forced into an early change as Jay Demerit was stretchered off following a change with Ishmael Miller in the 10^th minute.  Adrian Mariappa was the man to come on. Albion won themselves a free kick in the 17^th minute, Jonathan Greening from the right wing finding Martin Albrechtsen who headed onto James Morrison.  But Morrison could only watch as his right foot flick drifted over the bar.   

Watford might have taken the lead in the 23^rd minute when an Adam Johnson corner found Tommy Smith in space on the right.  Crossing top the back post he picked out Darius Henderson, who climbed high above Albrechtsen and forced Dean Kiely into a tough goal line save with a testing header.   

Minutes later Watford threatened again.  A 27^th minute free kick allowed Shittu a goal bound header, which bobbled out of play off Henderson.  Paul Robinson was called into action 2 minutes later, clearing a Tommy Smith fierce shot from Johnson’s left wing cross. 

Gera recorded the Baggies next chance powering past Johnson inside the box before releasing a powerful left footed shot which was just wide of the left post. 

In the 33^rd minute Ishmael Miller played the perfect ball to Kevin Phillips who powered past substitute Mariappa to force his way into the box.  Phillips could not beat Hornets keeper Richard Lee, but Lee could not keep hold of the ball.  Miller controlled the rebound with skill and powered the ball past keeper and defence to give the Baggies a goal advantage against the run of play. 

If Watford had seen the best of the game so far it was soon to be a distant memory.  The goal awakened the Baggies who now pressed for a second.  It very nearly came just moments after the first when Paul Robinson rattled a 15 yard shot against the crossbar.  But Robinson’s effort did not go to waste.  As the hardman defender looked on in despair at his miss James Morrison was fast closing down the ball and booting it goalward.  Kevin Phillips provided the toe poke to double Albion’s lead just 2 minutes after their first. 

Johnson very nearly pulled one back for Watford on the stroke of half time, but his 20 yard free kick was wide of the target.    

Time: Watford 0-2 West Bromwich Albion 

Three minutes into the second half Albion might have found their third goal.  Morrison broke forward after breaking free of Doyle, but he held onto the ball for too long when he could have released Miller and Shittu intercepted the ball to clear the danger. 

It was a short reprieve.  Just one minute later Jonathan Greening picked out Albrechtsen with a free kick, who powered his header past keeper Lee despite his fully stretched dive.  With 40 minutes of the second half still to play Albion were cruising and Watford faced only their second defeat of the season. 

The Hornets already facing an uphill struggle, very nearly gifted the visitors a 4^th goal on the hour mark.  Miller launched what looked to all to be tame shot on goal.  But Lee made hard work of it and nearly gifted Phillips his second of the game before redeeming himself and gathering on the second attempt. 

In the 63^rd minute Albion fans got their first taste of online striker Roman Bednar as he came on in place of Miller.  The double substitution also saw Brunt replace Morrison.  Two minutes later Watford should have clawed a goal back when Cesar seriously misjudged Doyle’s boot up the field.  The ball sailed over his head and gifted Henderson with a glorious chance, but his miscued shot fired horribly wide. 

In the 72^nd minute Baggies fans saw Nathan Ellington as he replaced Henderson for Watford.  He soon found himself in space and tried his luck from 30 yards.  But the former Albion man could not test Kiely as his shot was off target

broke again in the 80^th minute, the debutant Bednar trying the shot after cutting in behind Mariappa when he would have done better to square to Brunt who was in space in the box. 

In the closing minutes Chris Brunt came close to making it four for the Baggies when he latched on to a Gera cross.  But his shot trickled out of play just wide of the right post. 

Full Time: Watford 0-3 West Bromwich Albion 

Miller (33) 

Phillips (35) 

Albrechtsen (49) 

Attendance: 18, 273