Foley scores as Watford win

Watford 2, Walsall 0 (result)

It took a shrewd substitution by Watford boss Ray Lewington to secure the points at Vicarage Road after visitors Walsall had looked certain to record at least a Division One draw.

Lewington brought on teenage winger Anthony McNamee and he turned the game Watford’s way.

With his very first run and cross he set up Tommy Smith but his shot was deflected by a defender wide of the goal.

Then, after 71 minutes, McNamee broke forward and curled a superb cross into the path of Smith who grabbed the lead.

Walsall’s hopes of a revival were dashed when Danny Sonner was sent off after 85 minutes after throwing Smith to the ground.

“That was diabolical. I will not accept that sort of behaviour and I’ve already told him that I will fine him the maximum possible” said angry Walsall boss Colin Lee.

“I thought we were in control for much of the match but any hope of getting back into the game was lost by Sonner’s unnecessary incident.”

Watford added to their score two minutes from time when they caught Walsall pressing forward and hit them on the break.

Smith sent Cork native Dominic Foley away unchallenged through the middle and Foley ran 35 yards before clipping the ball low beyond James Walker.

Walsall had started the brighter of the two teams and should have been ahead when Zigor Aranalde’s cross was headed down by Jorge Leitao but Sonner failed to get hold of the ball.

Although he succeeded in prodding it goalwards, Alec Chamberlain was able to turn and drop on the ball on the line.

Darren Wrack went close for Walsall before Watford finally woke up and started to contest things in midfield.

By the end of the first half Neil Cox had gone close with a glancing header to a corner and Neil Ardley had forced Walker into a fine save with a 30-yard shot.

Early in the second half Smith chipped just beyond the far post but Watford found themselves on the back foot, with former hornet Darren Bazeley making some effective runs down the right.

Bazeley had an angled shot blocked and another charged down before Watford boss Lewington brought on McNamee and forced the visitors to change their system.