WATFORD bounced back after five games without a win to reach the Fourth Round of the Worthington League Cup for the first time since 1992.

They took Bradford City apart with an unexpectedly inspiring performance; unexpected, because they had previously failed to win in five and unexpected, because they had to field a makeshift team.

Without wishing to reduce the credibility of the Hornets 4-1 success, it must be said Bradford played into their hands. They came and sat back, instead of contesting space and closing down on the Hornets,.

The result was Watford so dominated the first 35 minutes, it took 29 of them before City mustered a goal attempt.

But Watford deserve credit for this performance. They were positive from the outset, when they could be forgiven for being tentative.

The game also featured a fine return to form for Gifton Noel-Williams, a striker who has lost his way since he was discovered to have an arthritic condition back in February 1999.

He has never been the same player since and his performances under Luca Vialli looked flat, unco-ordinated and, at best, mediocre. On Tuesday night (October 9), however, he looked bright and moved quickly, anticipating as opposed to reacting to situations and he weighed in with two goals as well.

Top performance came from Tommy Smith who hammered in a succession of shots and produced some inspiring, darting runs in the first half hour and that completely unhinged Bradford.

Smith had a goal disallowed for an infringement by a colleague, but really he was so much a thorn in Bradford's side, when he was substituted with 20 minutes to go, City subsequently enjoyed their best spell, pulling back a goal.

So it was a welcome change of fortune and performance for Watford, who now face Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday at Vicarage Road.

They should have a few more players available, which poses an interesting dilemma for Luca Vialli. One of the successes on Tuesday was 19-year-old David Noble, who looked the part and had an inspired game. Does he change a winning side?

* For more news on Watford FC, click on Hornets Buzz.

October 11, 2001 19:07

By Oliver Phillips