WATFORD v LEICESTER So, judgement day arrives tomorrow. Well, if you take football that seriously. Watford host Leicester. We need to win and win well to go through to the play off final at Wembley. For those of you who missed the first leg, and I suspect that is not many, well we have a 1-0 deficit to overturn. Deeney and FF likely to return I feel. What is the away goals rule on this one? Anyone know? TEAM NEWS FROM ESPN: Watford striker Alex Geijo has called for positivity from players and fans alike ahead of Sunday's npower Championship play-off semi-final second leg clash with Leicester. David Nugent's first goal in 17 games consigned Gianfranco Zola's men to a 1-0 defeat in Thursday's first leg but Geijo believes a ``dream'' Wembley final is still well within Watford's grasp. The on-loan Udinese forward admitted Leicester made life very difficult for his side in the first leg but insists the Hornets have every chance of turning the tie around at Vicarage Road. Geijo told the club's official website: `We knew it was going to be a difficult game, it was a semi-final. They made it difficult for us in the way they played. They pressed us hard, and put pressure on us, so it's difficult for the defence to cope for 90 minutes. Sometimes, when you're under pressure, you have to go more direct, and their defenders are big, and strong, and made things difficult. It was hard, but you have to play these games too. It's not always easy. It wasn't the best result because we lost, but it's only 1-0. We need to win at home, and why can't we?' Meanwhile, David Nugent hopes Vicarage Road continues to be a happy hunting ground as he aims to fire Leicester into the npower Championship play-off final. Nugent's late goal on Thursday night has given the Foxes the edge heading into the second leg of the semi-final. The striker has a good goalscoring record against the Hornets, especially on their patch. He has netted both home and away against Watford in each of the past two seasons for Leicester and also has goals at Vicarage Road on his record during his spells with Portsmouth and Preston.`I've got a good record against Watford, particularly down there, so I hope it can carry on,' Nugent said.`They seem to be a team that I always score against, so I'm quite pleased that we've got Watford in the next game. I've scored there for Preston, I've scored there for Portsmouth and I've scored there for Leicester in the last few seasons so hopefully I can carry it on and that will be the case again on Sunday. It would be great if I could do it again and help get the club to Wembley.'' Pearson reported no injury problems following Thursday night's encounter and he could name an unchanged starting line up for the third straight match. Paul Konchesky returned from a minor hernia operation and was on the bench for the first leg. A possible change could see him recalled at left-back at the expense of Jeff Schlupp.
I'm going for a massive improvement from Thursday night, a 2-0 win with a goal in each half. Anything else is just guesswork!!
I am not sure about this game, we havn't done as well at home and seemed to have struggled on many ocassions. Also it does not suit us to be chasing a game as it leaves us vunrable at the back when we do. However if we treat it as a seperate game and be patient of course there is a good chance we could win it and then who knows depending on scoreline etc. I suspect City will try and keep it tight play men behind the ball and break on us, if they score then i think we are in trouble as we would really have to refind our form big time. If we were to get through then i think the two weeks rest of match play and Wembleys big pitch would serve us very well in the final My City friends are crowing they have NEVER lost an away play off match and have lost only once by two goals all season... Barnsley away, but this is the Championship and as we all know anything does happen. I really can't call this one :-(
I am not sure about this game, we havn't done as well at home and seemed to have struggled on many ocassions. Also it does not suit us to be chasing a game as it leaves us vunrable at the back when we do. However if we treat it as a seperate game and be patient of course there is a good chance we could win it and then who knows depending on scoreline etc. I suspect City will try and keep it tight play men behind the ball and break on us, if they score then i think we are in trouble as we would really have to refind our form big time. If we were to get through then i think the two weeks rest of match play and Wembleys big pitch would serve us very well in the final My City friends are crowing they have NEVER lost an away play off match and have lost only once by two goals all season... Barnsley away, but this is the Championship and as we all know anything does happen. I really can't call this one :-(
Heart says 2-0 head (all be it a rather pessimistic glass half empty head) says 1-1. Stomach says please no extra time or penalties
There is no away goal rule. In our last campaign we lost the first HOME leg 0-1 to Cardiff and beat them 3-2 in the second AWAY leg. We went to ET and lost on penalties.
There use to be - in our first play-off campaign in 1989, we drew 0-0 away and 1-1 at home against Blackburn - going out on the away goal rule. Wonder when the rule was changed?
Well the under dogs have won at Wembley today, let the under dogs win at the Vic tomorrow and let it be a succesful weekend for teams in yellow and black
Off topic I know but Vincent Kompany really is a class act - his interview was so gracious. No excuses and full of congratulations for Wigan. For all the criticism City get for the huge spending of money and unsettling transfer targets etc. they have a great ambassador as their skipper.
