Watford's golden boy
It would seem that everything Heidar Helguson touches in a Watford shirt turns to gold.
On loan from QPR, the Icelandic bagged another brace in the Hornets 3-0 win over Scunthorpe on Saturday, making it five goals in four games since returning to West Hertfordshire.
Having struggled to regularly find the net at other clubs since his previous six year spell with Watford, the way in which he has seamlessly hit goalscoring form suggests there is a sense of affinity between him and the yellow shirt.
At 32, Helguson's aerial prowess shows no signs of waning, the 5 ft 10 ins forward's overbearing presence in the penalty area once more providing the cutting edge against Saturday's visitors, just as it has throughout his time with the Hornets.
However the forward owes much to the talented attacking force which surrounds him, one which is becoming extremely adept at dismantling visiting teams to Vicarage Road.
Malky Mackay made no changes to the team which overcame Preston a fortnight ago and the Hornets were quickly on the offensive from the first whistle.
Suffering a goal drought following a prolific start to the campaign, Danny Graham had the ball in the net with barely a minute on the clock, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
A Henri Lansbury strike was deflected wide shortly before Paul Hayes saw his effort sail just over following good link-up play.
With the likes of Lansbury, Tom Cleverley and Don Cowie creating chances from midfield, it seemed a matter of time before the Hornets opened the scoring.
So it came as little surprise when Helguson climbed to head Cleverley's pinpoint cross down past Josh Lillis after 18 minutes.
The visitors barely had the chance to gather their thoughts before they were back under pressure, and three minutes later it resulted in a second goal.
With the Hornets progressing down the right, Graham found himself in an unfamiliarly wide position, only for the striker to send a perfect cross into the centre for Helguson to characteristically power into the roof of the net with his head.
The creative powers of the Watford midfield were causing all sorts of trouble for the visiting team, but the Irons came desperately close to getting a goal back on 40 minutes.
The Hornets defence managed to get itself in somewhat of a mess and only a last ditch block from John Eustace prevented a seemingly inevitable goal.
Lloyd Doyley continued in his search for his first goal for the club but once again could not find the target after storming into the box.
With the scoreline at 2-0 the game was far from over at the interval, but two minutes after the restart Danny Graham ensured it was effectively won.
After hassling the Scunthorpe defence, Cleverley stole the ball outside the area and squared it for Graham to fire low into the net beyond the stranded Lillis, the forward deservedly rewarded with a goal for his tireless effort.
With 40 odd minutes left on the clock, Mackay's men went searching for further goals and had chances to add to the tally.
Helguson almost claimed his third of the day on 63 minutes, but Scunthorpe keeper Lillis parried away the forward's effort from a tight angle.
At the other end the Hornets had to rely on a fantastic save from Scott Loach to push Gary Hooper's curling effort round the post a minute later.
Substitute Nathan Ellington saw his strike on goal deflected over shortly after his arrival before another effort went begging as time ran out, the striker bending the ball over the crossbar having beaten his man.
"Score three goals, keep a clean sheet and have three points, certainly very pleasing" said Mackay after the encounter.
Despite the ease in which recent games have been won at the Vic, the manager remains cautious, claiming:
"You ask every manager in this league and he'll tell you he is striving for consistency, and we're no different."
Watford moved up to eighth position following a third consecutive home win, only three point off Leicester who sit in third place.
The Hornets make the short journey to Selhurst Park where they face Crystal Palace on Saturday.
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Weather for Tring
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
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