Seven wins straight after grudge game
Malky Mackay's Hornets battled back from conceding an early goal to claim a much deserved draw at Reading on Saturday.
A second half header from Danny Graham cancelled out Grzegorz Rasiak's opener for a 1-1 draw at the Madejski Stadium.
Thanks to a large travelling support from the Watford fans, it was a fixture that had all the intensity of a local derby, but it was clear from the outset that there were more personal matters involved.
Around 3,500 Watford fans had gathered in Berkshire, intent on venting their dislike for one man - that being the brazen figure of Brendan Rodgers standing in the home dugout.
The Irishman was facing the Hornets for the first time since his six month affair with the club came to a hostile end in June, and all afternoon long he was the brunt of some ferocious taunting from the Watford faithful.
There was further interest on the playing side too, Rasiak facing several of his team mates from last campaign and Jobi McAnuff making his debut for the Royals after a move from the Hornets in the summer.
The latter made a habit of troubling former clubs in his time at Vicarage Road, and along with Rasiak he helped the hosts make a blistering start.
The home side were without a win at the Madejski in 12 league games but went about trying to put things right with only seconds on the clock.
Scott Loach had to be alert to save a header from Rasiak before Brian Howard fired the rebound off the post.
Mackay's men seemed unable to contend with the furious pace of the game in the opening minutes and Reading duly took the lead.
After McAnuff fed Icelandic Gylfi Sigurdsson, the midfielder set up Rasiak to slam the ball home from eight yards in a fashion that was all too familiar to the Hornets fans.
Despite making the perfect start to the game, the Royals could not sustain the pressure exerted in the opening 10 minutes, and the Hornets began to find their feet.
A shot from Craig Cathcart sailed wide and after a 20 minute spell of midfield jockeying, Graham fired a shot just wide of the mark.
The second half was a far more eventful affair, beginning with the ever impressive Tom Cleverley firing into the arms of Adam Federici.
Mackay's men looked the far more dangerous outfit on the attack and were quickly denied an equaliser.
Finding himself one on one with Federici, John Eustace's poke cannoned off the underside of the crossbar with the midfielder seemingly fouled as he struck the ball.
Nonetheless, the Hornets continued searching for a way back in to the game and it came on 66 minutes courtesy of a fantastic cross by Eustace.
Finding himself in space several yards outside the box, the former Stoke man bent the ball beautifully onto the head of Danny Graham, and with the hosts' defence and keeper stranded, the forward expertly guided the ball into the net.
The arrival of Nathan Ellington shortly before the goal ended soon after, with the striker picking up two yellow cards despite some good work in his short spell on the pitch.
Reduced to 10 men, the Hornets had to withstand some late pressure, but superb clearances by Cathcart and Lloyd Doyley and a poor Reading attack saw the game finish in a draw.
The Watford boss declared his happiness with his players and the fans after the game:
"I'm incredibly proud with how they played in terms of coming back after the first ten minutes.
"Especially after half-time we really took the game to Reading and have the courage, to go forward with a real belief.
"I think it's fantastic any time you can bring a large traveling support to an away ground."
"To come out and see the sea of yellow at that end, it inspires the players."
Watford are now unbeaten in seven games and lay in seventh place prior to Tuesday night's fixture with Coventry, the game taking place as The Gazette went to press.
The Hornets will have been without Heidar Helguson, who after missing the Reading game is expected to be out of action until after the international break which follows Saturday's encounter with Cardiff City.
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Weather for Tring
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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