Hornets Buzz, with Oliver Phillips

On Saturday, October 27, against a Bradford City side that had lost their last five games, Watford were defensively inept, conceding four goals.

On Tuesday, taking on a Sheffield United outfit that had won their last three games at Bramall Lane, the Hornets kept a clean sheet.

Certainly, the victory against United was as deserved as it was unexpected, provided courtesy of two superbly crafted goals by Heidar Helguson and Tommy Smith.

It was such a contrast to the defeat at Bradford where the Hornets were 3-0 and 4-1 down at various stages and, despite coming back to finish beaten 4-3, the rally could not disguise the flaws that led to it being necessary.

After that defeat, Luca Vialli made changes, sidelining Espen Baardsen, the goalkeeper who did not appear to be at fault with any of Bradford's goals.

Another victim of the purge was Filippo Galli who, at 38, does not seem to cope so well with two games a week and maintain his quality.

As a result, Watford picked up all three points at Bramall Lane and they could now, with the benefit of two home games against struggling sides, begin to move up the table.

However, harbouring such thoughts or making such predictions is a risky undertaking, for inconsistency is the byword in the First Division and Watford have mirrored that trend by fluctuating between the inspired and insipid.

However, the goals apart in a tedious game, the most encouraging thing about Watford's performance at Sheffield on Tuesday was that they demonstrated a quality not normally associated with Luca Vialli sides. They ground out a result with a brisk and workmanlike performance.

The game also saw the return of Paolo Vernazza, victim of a stabbing incident when he caught a burglar in his home five weeks ago.

Vernazza was the star of Watford's early-season displays and the manager will be hoping he picks up where he left off, and said: "He is an important players for us and I am glad he came back quickly."

November 6, 2001 10:30