Javi avoids sting in tail
LATE SCARE FOR HORNETS BOSS
JAVI GRACIA was finally able to celebrate that three-and-a-half-year deal as Watford grabbed a vital first win in seven attempts.
Hornets boss Gracia must have wondered if he had not cursed his previously excellent reign by putting pen to paper on a contract extension last month.
But three crackers from Gerard Deulofeu, Jose Holebas and Domingos Quina laid those doubts to rest and fired Watford back into mid-table security.
Yet the hosts’ joy so nearly turned to misery when two late Cardiff strikes in as many minutes threatened the most improbable of fightbacks.
As it was, wobbling Watford clung on and afterwards their Spanish coach admitted to mixed feelings of relief and pride.
Gracia said: “I’m so pleased because we have played very well in recent weeks without getting results.
“I was not too worried at the end – even if we suffered a bit by letting them back into the game. We deserved this.”
Anything less than victory would have been a total travesty. Yes, Neil Warnock’s side showed spirit but it was way too little, too late to prevent a seventh away defeat. That left the Bluebirds two places and four points above trouble – and their manager moaning about rookie ref Andrew Madley.
Warnock said: “Andre Marriner is standing next to me as the fourth official. I just don’t understand why we have such an inexperienced ref out on the pitch.
“Maybe it’s because it’s little old Cardiff. But I bet we don’t get another young ref when we play Man United next weekend.”
Warnock can complain all he likes but the reality is Watford dominated the contest for 70 minutes. The hosts were the brighter from the off – mainly thanks to a sensational display from their former Barcelona and Everton playmaker Deulofeu.
He was involved in all three goals, having sparked the rout with an absolute peach of his own in the 16th minute.
Talk about bringing the stadium to its feet. Deulofeu’s sublime shimmy of the hips cut the Cardiff defence in half before he calmly stroked past Neil Etheridge. Thereafter it was one-way traffic – and Watford would have been out of sight but for two glaring Roberto Pereya misses either side of the break.
They soon became irrelevant, though, as the Hornets scored a crucial second goal in the 56th minute.
It was another fine finish.
This time Deulofeu was the creator, feeding Holebas who curled in a left-footer from the edge of the box.
Two soon became three midway through the half with Quina adding his contender for goal of the day.
Game over – until Junior Hoilett’s 20-yard screamer breathed life into Cardiff limbs in the 80th minute.
And when substitute Bobby Reid reduced the deficit further immediately afterwards, it ensured a nervy finale for Gracia’s side.