The only thing riding on this game is 5 pints that a poster on Popside.com bet with a mate on whether Derby or Watford would finish higher.

Watford V Derby County

Coca Cola Championship 

Sunday 3rd May, 2009

Vicarage Rd, Watford

Another season draws to a close and though we’ve improved on last season in that we haven’t finished the season as the worst team ever, most fans would still mark our report as; “could do better”.

The same is probably true of Watford. The Hornets currently lie 15th in the table, one place above the Rams, and it’s probably not good enough for the fans that saw there team fail in the play offs last season.

What’s gone wrong? Well Watford have had well documented financial troubles and had to release players in the summer – and judging by the fact that the ground redevelopment at Vicarage Rd is unfinished, the problems go on. Elton John and a host of other directors have left and rumours of trouble continue.

Watford came to Pride Park on the back of a 2-1 home victory over Coventry and they meet us this time on the back of a 3-2 away victory over the same opponent.

2-0 down before the hour mark, a Tommy Smith goal following up his saved penalty and a Grzegorz Rasiak header were followed up by a Tamas Priskin winner. Boss Brendan Rodgers;

I wasn't happy at half-time. We'd played not bad and some of our passing and moving was not bad and we looked like we could score goals. But we were not aggressive enough in our defending and needed to penetrate more offensively. We kicked on and showed how we've been since January and to come away with three points, I was delighted."

Two names Derby fans will be familiar with from the Watford Scorer are Tommy Smith & Grzegorz Rasiak.

Smith is the Hornets leading scorer this year with 17 (although he is the club penalty taker). Now 28, he seems to have revived his career at his first club and is highly thought of by the fans – as he still is at Derby

Grzegorz Rasiak is currently on loan from Southampton with a view to a permanent transfer. Its probable that neither club can afford to keep him however after an injury hit start with Watford; he’s back on form scoring goals.

One former ram who won’t feature is Mart Poom who has been released by the club. Although still only 37, the last few years of his career have been blighted by injury.

At the time of writing there is no Watford team news.

Watford Facts

The Rams

Well we’re over the finish line and will be playing Championship football again next season.

With the exception of the cup runs and our victory over Forest at their place, it’s been a fairly uninspiring season. The brash promises of Paul ‘hit the floor running’ Jewell gave many fans the impression that this would be a promotion pushing season and indeed if you look at the early season predictions of the bookies, the fans weren’t the only ones taken in.

It’s easy to be wise in retrospect but our shell shocked and patched up Premier League squad and a smattering of players didn’t ever look like challenging for anything. Indeed it too us until September to manage a win – a 1-0 home victory over Sheffield United. The euphoria of that win was almost as great as the victory at Wembley.

The goalscorer that day was Rob Hulse and without a doubt he has been the success story of the summer transfer activity. A deceptive player, he’s managed 18 goals with very little in the way of service and with little in the way of partners up front to take on the burden.

Many thought that Hulse would be finished after his horrific double fracture following his collision with Petr Cech. Many were surprised that Paul Jewell went for him and indeed his early performances did suggest he was worried about the possibility of a recurrence. Hulse himself said;

“I can say that I have proved to everybody that I'm back because there were a few doubters when I broke my leg.”

Hopefully Hulse will get the chance to add the two goals needed to get to the magic 20 mark however Nigel Clough has suggested he may want to blood a few younger players on Sunday; 

“You can't learn enough about them in one game but it's about giving them the experience and saying: 'This is where we want you to be in six months to two years and this is the level we want you to play at’. These are our brightest young ones, or at least we think they are, and it gives them a good incentive to come back raring to go in pre-season."

Mick’s team: Bywater, Beardsley, Nyatanga, Albrechtsen, Connolly, Teale, Savage, Pearson, Varney, Commons, Porter

What the bookies think

Watford are 11/10 favourites while the Rams are at 2/1. The draw is at 11/5.

Tommy Smith and Grzegorz Rasiak are at 7/4 and 15/8 to score against us while Rob Hulse is at 15/8 to score and 40/1 for a hat-trick. Chris Commons is at 10/3.

Information for travelling fans

Driving: its 110 miles to Vicarage Rd. Take the M1 to J5 5 and follow the A4008 into Watford. Follow the inner ring road and you will see the ground the left

Parking: There are private car parks near the ground including the Vicarage Rd Girls School and you can park in the town and walk to the ground easily enough

Drinking: Watford is relatively friendly and fans mix in most pubs. A good subject of conversation is to compare Nigel Callaghan with John Barnes. Footballgroundguide.com recommends the Odd Fellows in Fearnley St near the ground or the Moon Under Water – the local Weatherspoons outlet.

Mick’s Prediction

We’re safe and don’t need to do anything other than turn up. Watford are the same. A disappointing season for both clubs, the players won’t want to end up injured over the summer so I’d expect a damp squib of a draw.

I hope all Ramzoners and Rams have a good summer and hope to be back previewing next season’s games as usual. If anyone has any comments or suggestions on the format or what’s included, please let me know.

Mick McDermott

Photo: Action Images

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