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Chances Galore Yet Goal-Less!

Date: 29-10-2006
Wrote: EP's editor Islam Isa

It was an exciting game at Vicarage Road, but neither Watford nor Spurs managed to get a goal. Watford made some unbelievable misses, while their keeper kept the visitors out. Hossam Ghaly played most of the game and though he only appeared periodically, he was very effective.

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EP Ratings:

Watford: Foster 8, Doyley 7, DeMerit 7, Shittu 7, Stewart 6, Smith 6, Mahon 6, Francis 6, Bouazza 6, Henderson 5, Young 7.

Tottenham: Robinson 6, Chimbonda 4, King 6, Dawson 8, Assou-Ekotto 5, Lennon 8, Jenas 5, Huddlestone 7, Ghaly 8 (Murphy 67' 5), Keane 5 (Defoe 76' 5), Berbatov 6.

It was a good sign to see Hossam Ghaly in the line-up despite Aaron Lennon's return. Martin Jol decided to keep Ghaly at right midfield, and put Lennon onto the left, leaving Edgar Davids and Danny Murphy on the bench. Mido, however, was rested, and though he made the small trip across London, he was not even among the substitutes. Dimitar Berbatov was never too big a threat, and Mido's presence will be welcome next game.

Ghaly himself played wonderfully on occasions, but he was unfortunately 'in and out' of the game; his input came in spurts. It started off with a few sloppy passes evened out by some simple passes into the centre. Ghaly started to get heavily involved in Spurs' moves, and found Berbatov well early on, but his cross was parried away. Ghaly himself started to provide crosses, into the area, with a very decent looking one towards Berbatov headed away by the defence at the final moment.

But it was Watford who came closer to scoring in the opening stages. and they would have done so within seconds had it not been for a miraculous clearance from Michael Dawson to deny Darius Henderson from tapping the ball into an empty goal. The pressure continued from the following corner but Robinson was able to save Danny Shittu's rather central header. Spurs also got lucky as Watford - who haven't won yet this season - provided the miss of the season. A ball from the right was played in for a completely free Tommy Smith who was just yards out, but somehow he hit the ball over the bar.


Spurs got back into the game, partly via Ghaly's mentioned involvements. Robbie Keane found Aaron Lennon too, but the youngster started his misses for the day. Ghaly began to use his pace on the wing and was victim to a very harsh foul while sprinting forward. A run into the centre minutes later from the Egyptian created one of the chances of the day, as he put the ball square for Lennon, who cut in past the defence but was denied by Foster once more. The communication between Ghaly and Lennon was encouraging to say the least, and was evident when the former Feyenoord player played a perfect long-ball from the centre of his defence to Lennon during the first half.

Tottenham were lucky to go in level at half time, as Young's clearly onside goal was flagged up by the referee's assistant. Bouazza's through pass was good, and Young, who was level with the defence, ran onto the pass and tucked it through Robinson's legs, only for it do be disallowed.

Soon after the break, Ghaly's chipped ball for Keane put the striker through on goal. He rounded the keeper and shot, only for the ball to be cleared off the line in style by De Merit, with Berbatov lurking to make sure the ball would have gone in.

Ghaly clearly had instructions to stick back at corner kicks, which he was obeying exactly. He even denied a Watford counter-attack, making a great challenge as the hosts tried to move on the break, before putting the ball dangerously into the area. And later, Ghaly won a long ball and made a pass to the left which gave Keane a shooting opportunity, only for Foster to produce another save.

Aaron Lennon had a chance to give Spurs three points late on, but again Foster - on loan from Manchester United - made a good save. Ghaly went off for Murphy in the 67th minute, and the game somehow ended goal-less despite the chances. Both teams may have felt a little disheartened as they left the pitch, though a draw was perhaps the fair outcome.

EgyptianPlayers.com will keep you updated on the duo in England...