Williamson latest to leave Hornets
Malky Mackay will undoubtedly be hoping to retain some stability amongst his squad in the coming weeks following a hectic few days at Watford.
With the transfer window finally closing just before The Gazette went to press on Tuesday night, the Hornets boss will be looking to pick up the pieces after a recent wave of transfer activity that has been largely detrimental to his team.
Mackay's men were a whisker away from claiming a big win at Swansea on Saturday, but an eventual 1-1 draw represented a brave
effort from his players given the events which preceded the game.
The departure of Tamas Priskin to Ipswich Town at the start of the month was followed by the disappointing, albeit inevitable sale
of Tommy Smith on Thursday, the forward joining Portsmouth for 1.8m.
Following months of speculation regarding the player's future, Smith was finally set to join Reading last Wednesday having passed a medical with Brendan Rodgers' team.
However a late bid from Pompey left the Berkshire club caught in the cold as Smith opted to join the Premiership outfit, with top-flight football and wages being likely factors in his decision.
The same day saw Jobi McAnuff join the Royals for an undisclosed fee, leaving Mackay even shorter on attacking options.
After a successful season with the Hornets last year, forward Grzegorz Rasiak was touted to replace Smith, only for Rodgers to lure the Pole to the Madejski Stadium with McAnuff.
If losing some of his best forwards had got Mackay's head spinning, a transfer request from defender Mike Williamson the same afternoon may well have given the Scot a full blown headache.
The club had rejected a bid for the centre-back's services from Portsmouth following the completion of the Smith deal, only for Williamson to ask for a transfer.
The club immediately knocked back the players' request, an action which had disappointing consequences with the former Wycombe man declaring himself unfit to travel to Swansea on Saturday.
On Tuesday afternoon the club finally announced that the centre back is in fact on his way to Portsmouth, with an initial fee of 2m being paid. This could rise to 3m.
The recent loans of youngsters Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury from Manchester United and Arsenal respectively will provide some hope for Hornets fans, but no further acquisitions were announced in the aftermath of Tuesday's 5pm transfer deadline.
Back on the pitch, a 66th minute strike from Danny Graham gave Watford the lead at the Liberty Stadium, only for his team to concede an injury time equaliser.
Fielding a team ravished from the week's activity, Mackay relied on a host of youngsters including Cleverly, Lansbury and Marvin Sordell.
After a strong start from the Hornets, the hosts had the best opening opportunity as Mark Gower rattled the woodwork. Following his first senior goal in midweek, Sordell looked lively up front and gave the Swansea backline some trouble.
A quick pass from Cleverley provided Graham with the opportunity to drill the ball beyond the Swansea keeper Dorus de Vries with 24 minutes left.
Despite a solid performance from Jay DeMerit and his defence, a 92nd minute header from Swansea captain Alan Tate earned his team a point.
Mackay praised his young team for their effort after the game and also commented on transfer activity.
"The fact the boys came here today and played the way they did and to lose the goal so late into injury time, it means that they're very disappointed," he said.
"We're trying to get people in, a lot of hard work is being put in by our recruitment department behind the scenes."
The draw came after a 2-1 extra time defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road in the Carling Cup 2nd Round.
The hosts took a first half lead through Robert Snodgrass, only for Marvin Sordell to grab a late equaliser for the Hornets.
A second for Snodgrass sealed the win in extra-time.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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