Late sting for the Hornets

Andy Munro watches Blues go down one-nil to Watford.

Blues’ game with Watford looked a nailed-on draw until a combination of Kristian Pedersen’s clumsiness and a referee’s harsh and debatable interpretation oF his challenge led to a penalty being put away by that child of Chelmsley, Troy Deeney.(I did hope that Mr. Deeney would deliberately miss given his allegiances but the call of the pay packet won).

Yet again Aitor Karanka rang the changes both in players and formation when perhaps all he needed to do was replace the suspended Harlee Dean. The result was a return to a safe but generally uninspiring display. However, this meant that one goal was always likely to win it for either side and Watford’s penalty was the difference.

We may be sixteenth in the table but points-wise we are dead centre, equally the same number away from the relegation spots as the play-off places. In fairness, that is a position we would all have probably taken at the start of the season but it’s still a bit disappointing given the quality we have in our squad, albeit concentrated in certain positions.

Cardiff are next up and hopefully we can revert to Karanka’s front foot formation of 4-2-3-1.