: Original text from Official Site : Translated by webmaster

	2001.11.25
	WATFORD 3 POMPEY 0 - A FULL REPORT
	FIRST HALF On a very wet Sunday night at Vicarage Road the big news pre-match was that Robert Prosinecki would miss the match due to a slight back strain. Graham Rix explained his absence by saying that with two home matches due up they did not want to risk the mercurial midfielder. So Jamie Vincent came in as the only change. Pompey lined up as follows: Kawaguchi, Crowe, Hiley, Zamperini, Vincent, Harper, O'Neil, Barrett, Pitt, Crouch and Bradbury, with subs Tardif, Quashie, Waterman, Lovell and Tiler. The first chance went to Pompey after two minutes when a great ball in from Vincent was headed down by Crouch and was met by a left foot volley by Pitt that flew a foot wide. Seconds later good work by Watford's Tommy Smith found Micah who amazingly headed against the bar from two yards out in what was a real let-off for Pompey. Then on seven minutes Crouch had an excellent chance when Vega slipped up and let him in. Only a great reaction save from keeper Chamberlain denied Pompey's leading scorer. Then Gayle got in front of Scott Hiley to get in a long range header which Kawguchi watched fly wide of the goal. Glass tripped Harper on the edge of the Watford area on thirteen minutes but it was a disappointing delivery by O'Neil. It had been a lively opening by both sides on a wet and slippery surface which clearly troubled the respective defences. On the twenty minute point in torrential rain a fine run from Harper took him to the byline, his cross picked out Crouch whose header back in was grabbed by keeper Chamberlain before Bradbury could knock the ball in. Two minutes later Neil Barrett got in a fine clearance to deny Tommy Smith but seconds later Watford went ahead with a thumping left foot volley from Robinson. In truth it was a poor clearing header by Crouch back in defence in his own penalty area that set up Robinson in space to score. Yet again Pompey faced the task of coming from behind and this time against a Watford side who on the half hour mark looked sharper having been boosted by that opening goal. Barrett was working hard to win the ball in midfield but Pompey were finding it hard to open up the Hornets defence after the early inroads they had made. Pompey were finding it hard to get their game together and make progress in the last third, as Watford battled hard and closed people down. Crowe had to give away a corner a minute before half time to stop the dangerous Smith and from Glass's corner Neil Cox climbed highest and headed in unchallenged from eight yards for Watford's second. Two defenders had got the vital goals and Pompey faced an uphill task in the second half. SECOND HALF Pompey came out with renewed vigour and soon both Pitt and Harper were making penetrating runs down the wings without being able to get in effective crosses. One such run from Pitt led to a wicked cross in which evaded the oncoming Pompey strikers. On 63 minutes Nigel Quashie came on to replace Neil Barrett in midfield as the Blues desperately looked to get back into the game. But only a wonderful interception by Scott Hiley and then a great tackle from the same player saved Pompey from going three down. On 66 minutes Crouch beat the keeper with a fine leaping header, after a fine cross in from Vincent, but the ball drifted past the post and every Blues supporter held their heads in disbelief. Watford were defending in some depth, now conceding possession, and relying on catching Pompey on the break but the Blues desperately needed a goal with 20 minutes left. Rix then put a third attacker on when Steve Lovell replaced Gary O'Neil, but it was Hyde who shot wide for Watford a minute later. The Pompey fans tried to raise their side on 75 minutes with renewed support and a great ball to Pitt from Quashie led to an early ball in from the little winger. There was no Pompey striker there to take advantage however. Then Crouch got in a fine shot, after a fine piece of skill had brought him some space in the penalty area, but Chamberlain dived to save. A minute later Crouch appeared to be pulled back by Vega but the referee ignored the claims for a penalty. It was a disappointing display from Pompey who played with plenty of spirit and determination but without the necessary quality of delivery to penetrate the Watford defence. The Blues defence had also been found wanting for the goals so far. When Zamperini limped off on 84 minutes Carl Tiler came on for his first taste of the first team action this season at the back. Then Watford's Issa got the third on 86 minutes to complete a miserable night for Pompey. A free kick was swung in and another defender was there to get in front of everybody to head past Kawaguchi who had no choice with any of the goals. It was a scoreline that flattered Watford, although they had taken their goals well and defended resolutely throughout. Graham Rix's heaviest defeat as Pompey manager had been inflicted by his best friend Gianluca Vialli.(Portsmouth FC Official Site)