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Watford D'Urso angry
A last gasp John Eustace goal earned Watford a much needed away point at Bristol City on Monday.
The 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate gave Malky Mackay's men their first result on the road since October, but as with the team's fixture with Nottingham Forest two days earlier it was another case of 'what might have been'.
The Hornets were denied a late penalty in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Forest after referee Andy D'Urso missed Nicky Shorey's goal line handball with time running out.
While this outcome may have been a fair reflection of the game overall, Watford fans will undoubtedly have been left wondering how they did not take all three points against the Robins.
The Hornets could only muster two goals from 14 attempts on target, with the visitors also being reduced to 10 men with 18 minutes left on the clock.
City hadn't tasted victory at home since October but and that didn't look like changing as efforts from Henri Lansbury and Tom Cleverley went close.
Watford thought they had the lead as Heidar Helguson's header hit the net with 10 minutes left of the half, but the linesman signalled for offside.
Although Mackay's men looked to be in the ascendancy for much of the half, City took the lead on 38 minutes with Danny Haynes' shot beating Scott Loach.
However five minutes later Watford found themselves back in it as Cleverley reacted quickly to volley home from a poor Jamie McAllister clearance.
It was not to last however, as the Hornets criminally conceded again right before the interval.
The goal came courtesy of a 25-yard free kick from Paul Hartley – a wonderful strike by the City man - although Loach was somewhat caught out by the effort.
The hosts had a goal of their own disallowed after the break while home keeper Dean Gerken was forced to make a string of fantastic saves from Don Cowie, Danny Graham and Helguson as Watford began piling on the pressure.
City could have had a third on 62 minutes but for a fantastic save from Loach, before they were reduced to 10 after Lewin Nyatanga saw red with 20 minutes to go for a second bookable offence.
The Hornets were doing everything they could to find the elusive second and it eventually came.
Eustace bundled the ball home to earn his side a point in the third minute of injury time.
After a poor first half which saw the visitors have the greater share of possession, Watford rallied to within an inch of victory over Notts Forest on Saturday.
After weathering the storm against Billy Davies' form side, the Hornets began fashioning chances of their own which culminated in the handball controversy.
Tom Cleverley's powerful strike appeared to be heading for the net only for Shorey to palm the ball away.
With D'Urso remaining unmoved by the incident, the Watford players surrounded the ref with Mackay and his backroom staff clearly incensed by the decision.
The manager remained completely bemused by what had happened:
"I think myself, the fourth official, the bench, 15,000 people and the boy himself who admitted it to one of our players afterwards, saw the hand go down by his side to up near there.
"I've seen plenty of linesmen give penalty kicks but the referee and his linesmen were 'unsure'".
After enduring defeats on the road and at home, the two draws will come as some satisfaction to Mackay, particularly ahead of next weekend's FA Cup showdown at Stamford Bridge.
The Hornets take on Chelsea for a second consecutive year on Sunday, and will be looking to rumble the Premiership leaders who will be without stars Didier Drogba and Michael Essien.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
