On Tuesday, in the English Premier League, there was a match between Watford and Blackburn, postponed from November 25 due to Blackburn's participation in the UEFA Cup tournament. The Premier League underdogs Watford, who have only earned 3 points in their last 11 matches, finally celebrated their second victory and somewhat revived their hopes of staying in the league.
2 - 1
12‘ [1 - 0] Brett Emerton (own goal)
45+2‘ [1 - 1] Benni McCarthy
70‘ [2 - 1] Jay DeMiret
The hosts were without defender Ashley Young, who moved to Aston Villa for £8 million, while the guests celebrated Norwegian defender Morten Gamst Pedersen's 100th match. The match started very actively. In the 8th minute, after a pass from the Norwegian Morten Gamst Pedersen in his 100th match for the Rovers, Aaron Mokoena dangerously headed the ball slightly over the crossbar.
In the 12th minute, the hosts took the lead. Tommy Smith passed the ball into the penalty area, where the guest's defender Brett Emerton, attempting to clear the ball with his head, accidentally directed it into his own goal - 1-0. The goal ended Watford's dry spell of 349 minutes without scoring.
Later the game was evenly matched, and in the final minute of the first half, Blackburn managed to equalize – South African Benni McCarthy scored with a precise header after a pass from David Bentley.
After the break, the teams played even more open football, and both Watford's goalkeeper Ben Foster and his opponent Brad Friedel were kept busy. The hosts scored a goal with 20 minutes left to play. Jay DeMerit, receiving a short pass from Hameur Bouazza, scored from a few meters away.
In the 75th minute, Jordan Stewart missed a great opportunity to increase the lead, and a few moments later Matt Derbyshire missed a chance to equalize, shooting over the crossbar from 5 meters.
Watford held on and secured 3 important points, which still did not lift them from the bottom of the table. Meanwhile, Blackburn remains in tenth place.