A golden return for Helguson
A twenty minute brace from returning hero Heidar Helguson helped Watford battle back to claim at 3-3 draw against Leicester on Saturday.
Malky Mackay's men looked set for their first home defeat of the campaign as they trailed 2-0 at half-time, only for on-loan Helguson to come off the bench and bag two goals to give his team a 3-2 lead.
A stoppage-time equaliser from the visitors and an injury to the Icelandic forward dampened celebrations, but having claimed seven points from their last three outings, the Hornets continue to exceed expectations.
After selling a host of names in the summer transfer window, boss Mackay has managed to engineer several unexpected results using a mix of youth and experience.
The acquisition of Helguson on loan until December undeniably adds to the latter, as well as providing further prowess in front of goal for the Hornets.
The Icelandic forward had to wait until half-time to make his entrance. On-loan Man Utd youngster Craig Cathcart made his debut alongside captain Adrian Mariappa in central defence with Jay DeMerit again absent through injury.
After Tom Cleverley and Steve Howard saw their respective efforts miss the goal, the visitors took the lead on 20 minutes.
A rush of blood to the head saw John Eustace handle inside the box and Matty Fryatt stepped up to convert the resulting penalty for the Foxes.
Cleverley continued to threaten the Leicester goal while Mariappa showed why he was given the armband but the Foxes doubled up with five minutes left of the half.
Again it was Fryatt who did all the damage, the forward running down the wing before rounding Cathcart and slotting past Scott Loach.
Many teams would have sunk from therein, but the half-time words of Mackay and the arrival of Helguson inspired a fight back from the team in yellow.
Helguson almost saw his first contribution find the net, but it was his strike partner Danny Graham that grabbed another crucial goal on 58 minutes.
With Helguson unable to convert a Eustace cross, Graham scrambled the ball over the line from an awkward position in true striker's fashion to reduce to deficit.
It took only two more minutes for Helguson to draw the team level and send Vicarage road in to raptures.
Lloyd Doyley was making his 200th appearance for the club but it was right-back Lee Hodson that was making another big impression from the flank, the youngster's cross finding Helguson at the far post to slam the ball home.
A penalty shout for the Hornets was turned down and Loach made a fantastic save to keep the scores even until Helguson scored his second on 77 minutes.
Again it was Hodson with the delivery and the Icelandic player typically threw himself at the ball in fearless fashion to head into the net.
A late effort from from Leicester's Dany N'Guessan stole a point for the visitors but it was very much Helguson's day, despite limping off injured with nine minutes left.
Manager Mackay took a moment to praise his latest signing:
"We knew what we were going to get at the club when we brought Heidar in, he's a man and he showed that today.
"You could see his experience in the way he plays and I know he's a goal scorer as well, if you can get the ball into the area he will score."
Despite conceding late on, Mackay was delighted with his team given their limited experience:
"I think the courage of these youngsters is incredible" said the Watford boss.
"They're really disappointed but they have nothing to be disappointed about in my mind.
"You look at that performance and I'd take that every week from my team."
Saturday's draw came off the back of another impressive away win, a single goal from Tom Cleverley and several superb saves from Scott Loach enough to take all three points at Plymouth in midweek.
Saturday will see Mackay's men take the short trip to the Madejski Stadium where Watford face Reading, and the contentious figure of Brendan Rodgers.
The former Hornets boss is under a lot of pressure already at the Berkshire club after a difficult start, and is likely to receive a very hostile reception from the travelling Watford fans.
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Weather for Tring
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
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