DANNY GRAHAM, who missed a vital equalising goal for Watford at QPR in midweek, came good with a double that kept his team in the Championship for another year.
Sunday People
02:31, 11 Feb 2013Updated 03:44, 11 Feb 2013
DANNY GRAHAM, who missed a vital equalising goal for Watford at QPR in midweek, came good with a double that kept his team in the Championship for another year.
Graham struck in the 29th and 55th minutes, sandwiching Heidar Helguson’s 12th goal of the season, to leave Reading well beaten and Watford on the magical 51-point survival mark.
Graham was mortified in midweek when he came in for Helguson and missed an easy header that could have brought at least a point.
All that was forgotten after he took charge of this tense clash to calm the nerves and send the home fans into ecstasy.
Watford made the breakthrough from right-back Lee Hodson’s long throw from the right. Helguson backheaded the ball to the far post and Graham swooped to squeeze in his header.
Boosted
Reading had hardly threatened apart from two Ryan Bertrand free-kicks, but Watford needed to start the second half strongly.
The fans were boosted at the interval by the player of the season award being presented to Tom Cleverley, who hobbled on crutches after the cruciate ligament injury which will send him back to Manchester United with his loan spell ended prematurely.
The crowd were inspired by the presentation and so were Watford. Within two minutes of the restart the tireless Tom Cowie centred from the right and Helguson turned sharply to whip the ball into the corner of the net.
Watford weren’t holding back and went on to kill off the game. This time it was through an uncharacteristic error from Reading right-back Andy Griffin, who was slow in clearing and caught in possession by Graham.
The Scottish front man nipped into the area and left the Royals flat-footed as he stroked the ball into the far corner.
The delirious Watford fans chanted ‘We are staying up’ while erstwhile promotion hopefuls Reading had nothing left in their locker.
Simon Church did have a one-on-one with Watford keeper Scott Loach but pushed the ball wide. Reading still haven’t recovered from missing the play-offs.