Boothroyd blast for faltering Hornets

ADRIAN BOOTHROYD was fiercely critical of his Watford side, despite seeing them move to within a point of second-placed Stoke with a 2-1 win over Coventry on Saturday.

Echoing the sentiments of Gary Johnson, whose table-topping Bristol City side lost 2-0 at Southampton, Boothroyd is demanding more.

“I thought it was a terrific start – and I thought we got gradually worse,” he said.

“It was important that we did get the win today, and I said to the players at the end ‘well done on the win, but we all know that’s not good enough for us — for what we’ve come to expect’.”

Johnson, meanwhile, branded the Robins’ defeat at St Mary’s their worst performance of the season.

Goals from Stern John and Jason Euell went unanswered and Johnson said: “It was a tough afternoon, a poor game on our part and not what we planned.”

Stoke could take advantage of City’s slip when they meet play-off hopefuls Crystal Palace tonight.

Alan Pardew was delighted after 10-man Charlton revived their play-off bid with a 2-1 win at Plymouth, thanks to Leroy Lita’s two second-half goals.

Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was sent off in only the third minute, but Charlton dug in and had enough left even after Jermaine Easter had given the hosts the lead on the hour.

“It was a simple scenario – we had to win. We took a few gambles and for the first time in a long time we got a break for the second goal,” said Pardew.

Bottom side Colchester beat Ipswich 2-0 at Layer Road, where both goals came from Scott Vernon.

Gareth Ainsworth inspired Queens Park Rangers’ comeback in the 2-2 draw at home to Preston, while Sheffield Wednesday secured a fifth consecutive draw at fellow strugglers Scunthorpe, thanks to Ben Sahar’s equaliser shortly after half-time. Sheffield United beat struggling Leicester 3-0, with a seven-minute hat-trick from James Beattie, while Burnley lost 2-0 at Norwich.