Watford star Jose facing Cup Final heartbreak after red card

SAME old Watford – they reach an FA Cup Final and the left-back suffers Wembley heartbreak. Back in 1984, Wilf Rostron missed the biggest day of his career after being harshly sent off by Roger Milford in a local derby at Luton. Fast forward 35 years and it’s Jose Holebas who will be robbed of a once-in-a-lifetime showpiece against Manchester City next Saturday after a controversial red card. West Ham forward Michail Antonio went down like the proverbial sack, but there was a definite hand on his shoulder and it will be a surprise if Chris Kavanagh entertains Hornets coach Javi Gracia’s appeal.

Don’t blame Kavanagh – once linesman Dan Cook decided to make a name for himself and wave his flag so eagerly, he had little option.

But the officials must have known the consequences of their decisions. Holebas will be 35 next month and unlikely to get the chance to play in a cup final again.

Gracia was inconsolable, saying: “I am not going to change my attitude towards referees in the last game of the season, but I can’t believe a player can miss the final for that contact.

“I can’t believe it. WATFORD: WEST HAM: REF: Maybe it was a foul, a soft foul, a light foul. But we will appeal. I won’t even think about him not being available. “It is difficult to accept when there is such an important game next week. Tonight we are angry and sad, but tomorrow we must start to recover and prepare for the final.” Watford felt aggrieved when skipper Troy Deeney was sent off against Arsenal last month – also after the intervention of a linesman – and the price Holebas will pay is grotesquely out of proportion with the offence.

But it was not the wisest challenge of his MOTM ATT: career and the Hornets’ Wembley send-off veered horribly off-message.

One-club legend Mark Noble has been a fine servant for the Hammers, spanning 467 games and 56 goals, but when he rattled the collection tin, Gracia’s creaking defence gave generously. He ghosted past Christian Kabasele then picked his spot in the bottom corner.

Antonio was the key protagonist in West Ham’s second, six minutes before the break, as Ben Foster tipped his thunderous shot against the bar, but Manuel Lanzini, following up, nodded his first goal of an injury-hit season from the rebound.

Hammers player of the season Lukasz Fabianski made a superb reflex save to deny Deeney in first-half added time.

And just 12 seconds after the interval, there was a brief chink of light for the home side as substitute Pablo Zabaleta’s terrible backpass was intercepted by Gerard Deulofeu.

But three minutes later the roof caved in on Holebas and Watford’s goose was cooked.

Marko Arnautovic pocketed the rebound after Felipe Anderson’s volley was tipped on to the post by Foster to make it 3-1 and when Antonio went down readily again, this time under Kiko Femenia’s escort, Noble was infallible from the penalty spot.

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