The buffett food was excellent and we settled down and watched the Liverpool v Man Utd game on the big screen. Its a very different world doing this hospitality lark, not sure I would want to do it regularly.
At just before 3pm we took up our seats in row A of block M. The view was better than expected and as it was my first proper game in the North Stand interesting to compare the experiance.
The South Stand looks quite big and the noise coming from it actually quite loud! The atmopshere comes accross so much better in the North, but the people in the North stand are so so so quiet. Brush was that you snoozing in P block, red wine in your hip flask, large cigar burning quietly by your seat? Perhaps they should provide tables with the seats and waiter service??
The game, well for 44 minutes we outplayed Watford, played some great passing football. Carole smashed a shot against the bar and the keeper saved well from late replacement CKR (on the original team sheet Carpenter was in and CKR on the bench).
Watford looked lethargic and totally against the run of play scored just on half time.
Henderson came out of his box and headed out, then advanced to clear his own header only for the ball to fall to Chris Eagles who brilliantly struck the ball 45+ yards and into the net, beating 2 defenders running back!
ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGhhhhhhhhhh not fair.
Half time and we had our free cup of coffee, bumped into various listees including the West Country seagulls and Brush.
2nd half and sadly the players didn't live up to the first half. Harty had a close header near the end, but Watford were defending in numbers. We deserved at least 1 if not 3 points.
Henderson - 8 some great saves late in the 2nd half, but not sure about the goal
Hart - 7 gave 100% at right back, then right midfield
El-abd - 5 caught out once or twice, nearly gifted them a goal second half by missing a through ball
McShane - 7 towering game, looked back at his best
Butters - 6 solid game alongside McShane
Frutos - 6 battled hard again
Carole - 6 unlucky to hit the bar, creative but ran out of puff
Hammond - 6 solid more defensive role
Mayo - 7 won lots of tackles and some good attacking through balls
CKR - 4 LEARN THE OFFSIDE RULE and STOP COMPLAINING AT EVERY DECISION AGAINST YOU!
Gatting - 5 not really in the game for long periods
Reid - 5 dropped in at right back
Robinson - 5 on for Gatting, ran hard but no scoring chances
Bad news was a pathetic crowd of under 6,700 (Watford sold out the away stand) so nearly 700 empty seats for Albion fans. The non die hards are voting with there feet at the moment.
Second bit of bad news is that McShane picked up booking number 10 and is out of the next 2 crucial games.
Mark "doesnt mix tooo well with the hoity toity" R