Malky Mackay’s Watford turned on the style to beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 tonight to make it seven points in seven days for the Hornets.
Big Malky’s boys showed a touch of class with some great passing football mixed with a cutting edge in front of goal which the visitors had no answer to.
Loan signings Tom Cleverley from Manchester United and Arsenal’s Henri Lansbury used the visit of the Sky Sports cameras to the maximum as they displayed the ability that suggests that they are destined for the big time.
Lansbury and Adrian Mariappa put Watford in command early on but a goal on the stroke of half-time from Marcus Tudgay gave Mckay something to think over in his team-talk but his side responded to the set-back with Lansbury and Jon Harley putting the homeside 4-1 up on the hour mark.
PARACHUTE
After a near miss with relegation last season and the withdrawal of their parachute payments from the Premiership Malky has had to call on all his Championship experience and pull in a few favours to put a side together.
Tonight’s win puts them within touching distance of a play-off place but the former Celtic and Queens Park defender is too experienced, even as a 37-year-old in his first managerial job, to go making any rash predictions.
He said: “I want this team to be competitive, if they can be competitive in every game then they have a chance.
“This is a really hard league, there are a lot of games in a short space of time with a lot of tough places to go, I’ve been in this for a long time.
“Every week there is a result that surprises you but not if you are involved in the league. We know that there are tough places to go to, teams go on a winning run that makes it difficult for others.
INVENTION
“The group that I have did themselves proud tonight. In large parts of the game we showed some real invention, the fourth goal in particular. They showed confidence in the second half to get on the ball and I was delighted.
“To lose a goal just on half-time was really disappointing, I knew that Sheffield Wednesday would come out in the second half and really commit us.
“The challenge to us was to match that and go beyond that, I think that they did that in the second half, they showed courage to get on the ball and a resilience at the back.”
Watford were unable to pay out a single transfer fee during the close season as they lost their highest earners to Championship rivals with Tommy Smith and Mike Williamson also moving on to Portsmouth.
PROMOTING
Malky had to bring in players like striker Danny Graham from Carlisle and Scott Severin from Aberdeen while promoting the best of Watford’s own kids from the reserve and youth sides.
Putting together a team with the transfer window still open couldn’t have been easy for a selling club but Malky stuck to the task, held firm to his beliefs and quickly established a system and side that is growing in belief game by game.
Bringing in Cleverley and Lansbury has added a touch of quality to the team but it’s a two way street with Arsenal and Manchester United finding out how their prospects can cope with the heavy demands of football in the Championship.
Asked about extending the players loan deals beyond January Malky replied: “It’s up to their parent clubs to decide whether they want them to stay with us or to go back to their own club, I’ve spoken to both boys, they are enjoying being here and playing Championship football.
“Both of them are young reserves who want to make their way at their own clubs eventually, they need experience and that’s what they are getting here at the moment in a really tough league.”
Next up from the Championship of interest to Celtic supporters is Readings home match with Leicester in front of the Sky cameras giving fans a chance to see how Darren O’Dea is coping with regular first team football.
CELTIC v HAMBURG matc report
Watford played well, glad a had a wee punt on them.