FOOTBALL
CLEVER LOAN SIGNINGS GET HORNETS BUZZING
Watford celebrate their win
By Hector Nunns
WATFORD’S Tom Cleverley was the star turn for Malky Mackay’s blue-chip borrowed army as the Hornets easily saw off Preston to surge into play-off contention.
The England Under-21 midfielder is on loan in Hertfordshire from Manchester United, along with team-mate Craig Cathcart.
And he may just have given Sir Alex Ferguson something to mull over when Cleverley’s Vicarage road spell comes up for renewal in January.
Throw in the equally impressive Henri Lansbury from Arsenal and prodigal son Heidar Helguson, and Mackay has a quartet to savour.
Mackay said: “We are very pleased with that performance. After the 5-0 at West Brom it was very important to respond. We kept a clean sheet, and created a lot of chances against an experienced Championship team.
“I know you will all probably write about Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury, but there were other players out there who were exceptional – people like Don Cowie and John Eustace.
“Sir Alex and Arsene Wenger are updated monthly on the progress of their players, with reports and DVDs, and there are ongoing talks to keep these players longer than January.”
Iceland striker Helguson, 32, on his first start since a loan move back from QPR, and Cleverley got the goals that provided the Hornets with a fully deserved victory.
Preston boss Alan Irvine was left a bewildered figure on the touchline after a dismal showing from his supposed established Championship force.
This defeat means Preston have now won just one of their last seven matches – a damaging run in such a tight division.
A dejected Irvine said: “We were very poor. The first half was awful, the second half was better but it couldn’t have been worse. It was unacceptable and we didn’t do any of the things we needed to. We were second best all over the park.”
Mackay had urged his Hornets to show the perfect response after their 5-0 drubbing at West Bromwich Albion the previous week.
Preston changed half their outfield team from their last outing, which included a welcome return for captain Callum Davidson for a first appearance in two months after injury.
Also back into Irvine’s line-up were burly forward Jon ‘The Beast’ Parkin, and Macedonian midfielder Velice Sumulikoski.
But with just nine minutes on the clock Watford had broken the deadlock.
Cowie, proving a constant threat, delivered a fine cross and Helguson pulled away at the far post to plant a header back across Andy Lonergan and into the corner of the net.
A second goal was almost inevitable – and it arrived after 33 minutes. Lansbury ran at the Preston defence before releasing Cleverley, and he provided the slide-rule finish.
Parkin did muster an effort in stoppage-time that shaved the post, but it was a shell-shocked Preston who trooped off in misery at the break.
After a half-time rollicking from Irvine the visitors emerged with more fight and purpose.
And Chris Sedgwick briefly raised his side’s spirits with a turn and shot only to see the ball fly over the crossbar.
WATFORD 2
PRESTON 0
Helguson 9, Cleverley 33
