Fernando ‘acting’ upsets Jackett
WOLVES boss Kenny Jackett pointed the finger of blame squarely at Watford substitute Fernando Forestieri after an excellent match ended with two injury-time dismissals.
Barely 60 seconds after Watford full-back Tommie Hoban saw red, Forestieri appeared to overreact resulting in Bakary Sako also being sent off.
It was a disappointing end to an evenly-contested draw in which both sides highlighted their promotion credentials with fine football.
Jackett said: “I was close to the incident and have also seen the video. There was no raising of arms, no contact and no intent from Sako – it wasn’t even a coming together. Forestieri has thrown himself to the ground. I think that was poor from Forestieri. We will be appealing Sako’s red card.
“We showed the kind of performance we will need to go on a run to push for a place in the top six.
“We needed a third goal at 2-1 and came close to getting it but credit to Watford – they aren’t top scorers in the Championship for nothing and I like the way they play. I’m disappointed we haven’t got the three points.”
Wolves made a flying start to both halves before being hauled back by lightening Watford counter attacks.
Kevin McDonald was creator-in-chief of the home side’s opener after 14 minutes with a sweeping 40-yard ball that Benik Afobe took confidently in his stride to slip an angled shot past Heurelho Gomes.
Wolves were good value early on with Rajiv van La Parra making regular inroads on the right only to be caught straight down the middle on the half hour. Adlene Guedioura began the move with a neat pass, Troy Deeney developed it with a through ball and Matej Vydra never looked like missing as he shot beyond Tomasz Kuszczak.
James Henry, nipping in at the near post, and Afobe, with a farpost header tipped over by Gomes, nearly restored the Wolves lead before they had better luck amid a positive beginning to the second half.
Full-back Kortney Hause’s 25-yard shot was deflected by Jack Price beyond the unconvincing Gomes as Wolves again looked to have total control.
Henry flicked a 15-yard header agonisingly wide before Ben Watson highlighted Watford’s threat by cracking the bar from a similar distance.
And Former Wolves midfielder Guedioura exposed the home defence in a flash. His sublime lofted pass was perfection and Deeney left Kuszczak beaten in the 65th minute.
Hornets manager Slavisa Jokanovic, when asked about Forestieri’s reaction, said: “I can’t comment on something I did not see. I was disappointed he didn’t score a few moments earlier.
“It was a difficult game for us. We always want to win games but one point is better than being beaten. We made mistakes and had good chances.
“This Championship is a crazy competition and the most important and interesting part is still ahead of us.
“The first yellow for Hoban was a mistake – it was not a foul. I am a professional manager, with professional players and we need support from referees.
“But this is not something I can resolve. I prefer not to talk about referees.”