Malky Mackay Watford
Malky Mackay outsmarted Sven Goran Eriksson today to help Watford to a 3-2 win over Leicester City.
Everything seemed to be going to plan for the Watford boss as his side raced into a two goal lead with goals from John Eustace and Will Buckley midway through the first half.
Leicester hit back in the second half with a double from former Scotland internationalist Paul Gallagher.
Five minutes from time top scorer Danny Graham popped up with a winner with former Celt Mackay have to share the credit with his mystery spy.
“Our opposition analyst went and had a good look at them,” the Watford boss explained.
“They had been on a great run – five out of seven wins – and we knew there was an experienced manager coming here with experienced players, so we had to match their formation and then go and play off that and I felt there were going to be areas to expose.
“I think to show the courage to be in a winning position, to be pegged back and then win it again, shows great character in the team.
“As the game wore on and they got back to 2-2, you probably either try and hold on for your point or you go and try to win it, and I just had a feeling we could go and win it.
“Every time we were in their half we looked dangerous. Troy Deeney had a chance at 2-2, Don Cowie had one, Marvin (Sordell) had one. I’m really delighted for the team.”
The win lifts Watford into tenth place but with just 12 points between the play-off spots and relegation zone every point is vital.
Eriksson is expected to deliver a play-off spot but was bitterly disappointed by his side’s display.
The former England boss said: “We need to go on working, hopefully making less mistakes, and we are lucky that there are a lot of games still to be played and I still think we have the possibility to be rather higher in the table.
“I’m saying that because I feel we are playing football better and better, and I thought we were very good in the second half again.
“I’m still very optimistic because I like the way we play football, maybe not all 90 minutes, but in the second half I think we showed a lot of character and we created many chances as well to score.”
Elsewhere in The Championship it was another disappointing day for Tony Mowbray as Middlesbrough lost 1-0 away to Coventry with Leroy Lita missing a first half penalty.
Ipswich suffered their fifth consecutive league defeat with Swansea winning 3-1 at Portman Road with Craig Beattie scoring twice against Darren O’Dea’s side.
There was better news for Paul Lambert with Norwich winning 2-1 away to Derby to keep the Canaries in a play-off place just four points behind second placed Cardiff.
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