Watford Sneak into the Semis

There’s a certain irony in the fact that the 21st minute goal Watford conjured up to sink brave battling Plymouth and make it to the dizzy heights of the semi-final of the F.A. Cup came from a short corner, pulled back by Kabba and thundered into the roof of the net by Hameur Bouazza. Because that, as far as clear-cut chances were concerned, was pretty much all Adie Boothroyd’s long ball side managed to create in this tie.

The truth is that Ian Holloway’s boys battered their Premiership rivals for most of this game and went close on so many occasions that four goals would certainly not have flattered them. But through a combination of Ben Foster’s brilliance, an occasional lack of composure from the home team in front of goal, the immense efforts of Danny Shittu at the back and a policy of time wasting at throw-ins, free kicks, corners and substitutions that seemed to begin early in the first half, they survived. Even if they did not deserve to.