Watford 1 Manchester City 1

April 21, 2007

VASSELL: Enough to send Watford down

BEN Foster's dreadful error gifted Darius Vassell the goal that condemned Watford to relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship.

Goalkeeper Foster, on loan from Manchester United, misdirected a pass into the path of Vassell eight minutes into the second half, with the forward accepting the chance to send Watford down with three Barclays Premiership matches still to play.

In front of watching Oasis star and City fan Noel Gallagher, substitute Tamas Priskin equalised for Watford 15 minutes from full time, but it was not enough to give Adrian Boothroyd's team a chance of staying in the top flight.

Boothroyd's decision to introduce Priskin paid off in the 75th minute when the improving forward equalised for the home team.

Rinaldi found him in space with a clever pass and Priskin steadied himself before drilling the ball beyond Isaksson from 15 yards.

Shortly after the goal, City boss Stuart Pearce followed Boothroyd's lead by substituting a substitute, Georgios Samaras replacing Miller.

In the last 10 minutes both managers played their final cards, Watford sending on Dan Shittu for Rinaldi and City replacing Sun with Stephen Ireland.

Watford came desperately close to scoring the winner when King headed inches wide after Shittu had hooked Bouazza's left-wing cross back into the danger zone.

What do you think? Have your say.
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Pearce Out Now!!, Road to Oblivion (21/04/2007 at 17:26)

Absolute Rubbish!! One shot on target all game. Pearce out now!! Season Card deadline extended - way down apparently!! Same next season unless we get rid!! As bad as early season.

Pearce Out Now!!, Road to Oblivion (21/04/2007 at 17:27)

To the poster eho claimed previous players don't criticise Pearce:

'I'M HAPPIER AT BOTTOM UNDER PARDEW THAN IN THE MIDDLE WITH PSYCHO SAYS BEN THATCHER'

BEN THATCHER has revealed he would rather be playing for relegation threatened Charlton under Alan Pardew than for former boss Stuart Pearce.

In a damning indictment of the Manchester City boss, Thatcher revealed Pardew has a better rapport with his players and has managed to get "50-60 per cent" more out of the players.

Jesper, Copenhagen (21/04/2007 at 17:33)

Dont understand this performance today. It was as if we didnt want to win the game. Absolutely toothless and without passion to say the least, how can the players go into the game with such an attitude after that great performance against Arsenal. Noel Gallagher must have been embarrased to see his precious time wasted on this drivel. I sincerely hope this style of football will soon be history at Man City.

HulmeLoon, M15 (21/04/2007 at 17:40)

I for one am glad this season of mediocrity is over. Im glad we are safe but City fans deserve better than being "safe"... I have renewed my season ticket as I'm Blue thru and thru but also on the basis that money is coming into the club one way or another....let's see what they do with it...as Redical change in outlook , targets and playing staff is required.. This season on the back of last year has been extremely hard to take

stuart malcolm (21/04/2007 at 18:20)

"We had to be really cute to wrestle a draw from this one!"Yea! Right! Time to go Mr Pearce. You and your team are not up to the job!

Pearce Out Now!!, Road to Oblivion (21/04/2007 at 18:30)

Barton slags off signings by Pearce!!!!!! Well it's all coming out NOW!!! Barton has said he woudn't buy a season ticket next season!! He said we are rubbish at home!! Dreadful to watch... It looks like he wants Peace out!!! WOW WOW WOW!!

OB1, Transmancunia (21/04/2007 at 18:31)

We really should of shown some more ambition today. Most of the entertainment was from taking the mick out of Foster. City's passing and movement was again poor overall; only Hamann and Johnson seemed capable of regularly finding their own players.

Pearce Out Now!!, Road to Oblivion (21/04/2007 at 18:32)

LISTEN TO THE GMR JOEY BARTON INTERVIEW!! AVERGAE PLAYERS BROUGHT IN BY PEARCE AT RUBBISH!!! WE ARE DREADFUL AT HOME - RUBBISH TO WATCH AND HE WOULD NOT BUY A SEASON TICKET TO WATCH IT!!

Pearce Out Now!!, Road to Oblivion (21/04/2007 at 18:36)

GO JOEY - FANS BEST IN THE LAND BUT NEED SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT - SLAGS OFF PLAYERS AND LACK OF AMBITION - GO JOEY - PEARCE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

blueloon, Northwich (21/04/2007 at 18:41)

an other derisory, sub standard, totally inept display as usual from the lads, fieiding a defensive side against a relegated team is absolutly unforgivably, surely the board are counting down the days as to when the new manager starts

Pearce Out Now!!, Road to Oblivion (21/04/2007 at 18:41)

ONE JOEY BARTON, THERE'S ONLY ONE JOEY BARTON, ONE JOEY BARTON!!! JOEY LOVES THE CLUB 20 MINUTES ON THE AIR SLAGGING OFF PLAYERS = PEARCE AND LACK OF OUR AMBITION!!!!! WELL DONE JOEY BARTON!!!!!

blueloon, Northwich (21/04/2007 at 18:43)

well said joey barton

Pearce Out Now!!, Road to Oblivion (21/04/2007 at 18:45)

One Joey Barton, there's only one Joey Barton, one Joey Barton, there's only Joey Barton!!

Jesper, Copenhagen (21/04/2007 at 18:53)

Road to Oblivion: It doesnt matter how much players, present or former, criticise Pearce he will still be here next season as he has the backing of the current board and I dont think they will hesitate recommending that SP should stay. Only way a change of manager is going to occur in the summer is if SP takes the U21 full time or a big manager name becomes available.

danceofdeath (21/04/2007 at 18:56)

i was hoping we would attack today with a 442(with samaras upfront-for confidence). this was the first time we let a lead slip in pl this year!so was a bit disapointed.i didnt get to watch it, was it distins mistake that led to the goal? Cause thats wat i read.

Coach, Dugout (21/04/2007 at 18:57)

You lot in the Pearce out brigade really live in a fantasy world if you think a change of manager can transform us into a top six side. Our economy is such that we can not afford a really good manager. Nor would any proven manager come here, knowing we are not able to buy players of any real quality. Pearces defensive tactics has saved our premiership status this season, and mid table is the best we can hope for without substantial investment.

Blue John, London (21/04/2007 at 18:59)

Just back home from the game. Minging is about the only fitting adjective to describe today's offering. City tried to play football for the first 20 minutes at least, with Johnson and Baron working Beasley in two or three times, but once the American limped off with a fractured eyelash, that was the end of it from an attacking point of view. Miller and Sun Jihai were dire out wide, Vassell offered no threat up front, so Johnson, Hamann and Barton had nowhere to go. Watford were pants, there for the taking, yet in the end they nearly nicked it when King headed wide in front of an open net. Dreadful end of season stuff, made enjoyable only by baiting the Rag, Foster, and giving Noely G. a rousing chorus of 'Who are ya, who are ya?'. A lot of work needs to be done in the summer, and for that we will need money. Let's hope the 'takeover' isn't the damp squib, spin driven, non-event, I believe it to be!

Pearce Out Now!!, Road to Oblivion (21/04/2007 at 19:08)

Jesper - do not worry Pearce will not be here next season - and that is on good authority!!

Sam Haggar (21/04/2007 at 19:29)

Not a good performence 1 shot on target for both teams both shot went in 2 home games left get goals in them come on City Come City

Bluetooth, Manchester (21/04/2007 at 19:39)

Absolutely dreadful. I was going to make the trip today, but just couldn't face it after the last 2 home games. I just knew SP would stick with his dire safety first football, even though we are safe and Watford would be relegated.

If he won't try new tactics in an end of season nothing game like this, he never will. If Wardle doesn't replace him in the summer, we are going to see ugly scenes at the COMS next season. This can't go on.

blueloon, Northwich (21/04/2007 at 19:46)

pearce out now !! road to oblivion i hope we can count on that

Kent Blue, Kent (21/04/2007 at 19:49)

Yet another Pearce inspired inept performance.Playing one up front against the worst team in the league then having fluked a goal courtesy of their rag goalkeeper sitting back and inviting them to equalise summed up this season.
Yet again Beasley goes off after an innocuous tackle.Miller comes on as sub and has his usual useless game -what does Pearce see in him ? The only bright spots were the performances of Johnson and Hamann who held us together in the middle and another steady game from Dunnie. Pearce must go at the end of the season.We've competed in the past against the rags,Liverpool and Chelsea and beaten them all - now we capitulate against the likes of Watford.

Geoff Middlewich, Middlewich Cheshire (21/04/2007 at 20:02)

Whilst a lot of what Joey said is correct and is what most of us have been saying , at least since Christmas, he didn't include himself in the poor performances and it was him giving the ball away yet again, when we were attacking, which led to their goal.

blueloon, Northwich (21/04/2007 at 20:08)

i think joey,s in a spot of bovver again for saying what he did even though it is true

Edski Vega, Nottingham (21/04/2007 at 22:04)

You don't think there is any chance of Fergie recalling Ben Foster for the derby do you?

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