Foster blunder confirms Watford´s relegation

AFP - 21 April 2007 19:37

Watford´s keeper Ben Foster is seen during a March 2007 match. Watford were relegated back to the Championship after being held to a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Saturday.

WATFORD, England (AFP) - Watford were relegated back to the Championship after being held to a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Saturday.

Adrian Boothroyd's side knew they needed a win at Vicarage Road to retain any survival hopes, but Ben Foster's error that gifted a goal to Darius Vassell early in the second half made their task even harder and, although Tamas Priskin equalised, it was not enough to keep them up.

The Hornets can have few complaints about their fate as they have won just four Premiership matches, while this was the rock bottom side's 20th defeat of the season.

It isn't all doom and gloom for Watford though. They were never short of passion and held their own against clubs with far bigger budgets so a promotion campaign next season is a distinct possibility.

Watford were quick to take the game to Stuart Pearce's side as they faced their last opportunity to retain their top-flight status.

If Gavin Mahon had kept a cooler head he could have given the Hornets an ideal start. City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson weakly punched Hameur Bouazza's corner to Mahon, but the midfielder seemed to startled by the chance and could only push his header wide.

Marlon King was making his first start since October after recovering from a knee injury, but the Watford striker was understandably rusty early on and he headed wide after Bouazza nodded on Foster's long clearance.

Isaksson looked far from convincing and Watford, scenting a weakness, bombarded the penalty area. The Swede nearly gifted Boothroyd's men a goal when he pushed King's cross towards Mahon, but Nedum Onuoha cleared the danger.

Bouazza has been Watford's main goal threat this season but the Algeria striker was left red-faced when he blasted wastefully over being picked out by Douglas Rinaldi.

City, with little to play for, were content to stroll through the first half but they almost snatched the lead in the 52nd minute. China midfielder Sun Jihai worked a shooting opportunity, but was just off-target with his thudding effort.

Pearce's side didn't have to wait long for the breakthrough. Just a minute later Foster, on-loan from Manchester United, miscued a pass intended for Chris Powell to Vassell and the City striker looped his shot back into the net from 25 yards.

Priskin came on for Steve Kabba and the Hungarian striker made an instant impact in the 75th minute.

Rinaldi's pass gave Priskin a sight of goal and he steered his strike past Isaksson to give Watford a glimmer of hope.

King almost postponed the last rites of Watford's season but he was just unable to convert at the far post after Danny Shittu had flicked on Bouazza's cross.