The exhilaration of the play-offs commences as an early disallowed goal sparks life into the Tigers, for whom Hull-born old boys Barmby and Windass pot first half goals to establish a commanding first leg lead to bring back to the KC.

Report by James Lockwood.

Seven years after City’s first venture in the play-offs, City return against Watford. Back then a line-up including Musslewhite, Edwards, Whittle, Goodison, Whitney, Matthews, Greaves, Brabin, Holt, Francis and Rowe took a first leg win over an Orient side looking to gain promotion from the bottom division, City took to the field to face a Watford side, with the victors looking to Wembley and the promises of massive amounts of money in the marketing dream that is the Premier League.

With Pedersen not fit enough to return, and an a Marney injury during the week, City lined up

Myhill
Ricketts Turner Brown Dawson
Garcia Hughes Ashbee Barmby
Windass Campbell

The pre-match build up showed a tremendous City noise, to which our Home Counties opponents responded by waving their little flags.

Watford took much of the early running in the game. Firstly with a corner that was hit deep for Doyley to hit wide, then from a further corner, Shittu burst into our 6 yard box to head home, but only after a fellow defender had knocked Turner to the floor and the referee to rule the goal out.

From that free kick, Myhill plays the ball up field which is flicked on by Campbell. With the home keeper having collected the ball, Windass goes in late on the keeper to receive a lengthy talking to by the referee

On eight minutes, City take the lead somewhat against the early run of play. A Watford throw in by the corner flag is knocked back down the line by Ricketts. Shittu makes a hash of heading the ball back to his keeper, allowing Campbell to nip in and gain possession. His low pass back finds Barmby bursting into the area to drive low past a home defender and past the dive of keeper Lee.

Following the goal, City start to take the initiative, and start playing the ball along the ground, whereas the home side continue to play the ball up in the air. An Ashbee ball releases Barmby up the left wing, with his cross into the area deflected for a corner. The Dawson corner is headed back to him before his return cross is cleared. More pressure with a long ball up to Campbell challenging the centre-back and the keeper. Having got free, Shittu manages to get the ball back to his keeper.

At the other end of the pitch, Ricketts struggled during the afternoon with the Watford left winger McAnuff. His first warning to our Welshman saw McAnuff turn him well on the left side of our area, but his loss cross is met by Ellington putting his shot wide.

On 20, Windass does down in the centre circle after a challenge by Eustace. The long ball to Garcia sees Sadler giving him a shove, but despite appeals, no penalty is given.

With a quiet home crowd, a gentle drum beat starts from the home end. God I’m glad we don’t go in for such gimmicks at the KC. Maybe inspired by the bear, Ainsworth bears down the left, before step over’s give him space to cross, before Turner to head clear

On 22, City extend their lead. A long ball up field is headed out for a throw in by the home keeper. From the throw, the ball is played across to Barmby who in turn releases Dawson. His cross is headed onto the bar by Campbell before Windass heads into the back of the empty net.

Watford aerial threat is still much in evidence. A period of head tennis between a selection of the Watford forward line and the City defence eventually is headed across the area by Dawson, allowing Ricketts to clear.

City continue to keep the pressure on the home side. A ball up from the right finds Campbell on the edge of the area. He flicks the ball to Barmby who superbly spun past his defender, but is unable to get anything on the ball allowing Lee to collect.

McAnuff still poses a threat, on 29 he crosses low to the back post where Dawson is left with two Horns surrounding him. Dawson however does very well to get the challenge in for a corner. The result of which sees Hughes clear.

City get another chance on 28 to further stretch the lead. Campbell races clear of his defender, before passing to Windass. Deano, however, dithers a bit too long on the ball allowing home defenders to get back, so his resulting shot is easily saved.

From another Watford long ball, Turner slips to allow McAnuff to get a header in, but Myhill does well to respond and collect the ball

After a lengthy water break, Ashbee is fouled in the centre circle by Eustace, which may set the scene for later in the game.

McAnuff continues to show his threat. With Ricketts in attendance, the Watford winger cuts in from the left wing, allowing him to drive at goal from the edge of the area. However his met by a fine save from Boaz. After the corner is headed wide by Smith, the keeper is warned by the referee about taking too long on taking his goal kicks.

By this time Watford are starting to play the ball along the ground with much greater purpose. Firstly Smith is released up the left before seeing his cross cleared by Brown, and soon after another Smith Cross finds Sadler who blast the ball well over.

As the first half ticks towards the close, Campbell receives a daft booking. After a small clash between him and Doyley sees Watford gain a free kick. With the ball next to Campbell, he refuses to pass the ball back to the keeper and is booked for his troubles.

A break up the wing by Garcia before he attempts to play in Campbell. However Fraizer checks the linesman’s flag before seeing he’s on-side, but by the time he reaches the ball the keeper collects. At the other end Smith advances to the edge of the area before his shot is tipped over by Myhill.

After the half time break, Watford seem much stronger and City much more on the back foot.

Early on, Ainsworth gets down our left, but his cross is met by the dominant Brown to clear.

The referee then sets the tone for the remainder of the game giving the home side the first of a number of free-kicks after some rather soft challenges. Garcia advances up the right channel before passing to Ricketts. Sadler falls under a soft Ricketts challenge to give them a free-kick.

After a Ricketts push on McAnuff, the ball is played up to the City box. Smith plays the ball over to Ainsworth before Brown heading clear, despite claims of hand-ball. With the ball still not clear, Windass chases back well to claim the ball and clear.

With Watford playing Shittu up front in the second half, he gets up the left flank before crossing to Sadler whose shot is well tipped over by Myhill

After a heavy challenge from Ashbee in Shittu, the big Watford player appears to be struggling before going down for a lengthy spell of treatment.

After Garcia goes down under a challenge by Eustace, the players from both teams crowd around before Eustace pushed at Ashbee. A result of this sees Eustace sent off. Before replay starts, Watford are further disadvantaged as the injured Shittu is replaced by Demerit.

With the man advantage, City try to retake the initiative in the game. Dawson gets down the wing before crossing to Campbell at the back post. Fraizer flicks the ball up before his shot on the turn is hit over. Shortly after Fagan replaces Barmby on the left.

Garcia plays the ball up the middle to Campbell who breaks free. However his first touch lets him down, so mis-controlls it for a throw in.

Despite their disadvantage, Watford still pose a threat. The ball up the right sees them win a corner. This is hit to the back post where a shot is once again saved by our Welsh/English/American keeper.

On 69 Folan replaces Windass.

The ball up our left wins a throw in. Despite Fagan initially losing possession, he chases down Doyley, winning another throw-in. From that Fagan plays in Campbell who crosses to the back post to Folan. The ball is then played back to Garcia on the edge of the area. His initial shot is blocked but Campbell gets the loose ball, however handles it so gives away a free-kick.

Another long ball by Garcia on the half way line again releases Campbell. Having beaten the defence, he shoots straight at the home keeper.

Straight afterwards Watford have a double substitution with O’Toole and Priskin replacing Doyley and Ainsworth, whilst City replace Garcia with Doyle.

A long ball up field by Brown find Fagan well timed run, however his touch badly lets him down with his swinging leg failing to make contact with the ball.

Up the other end, Priskin out muscles Ricketts to reach the angle of the box, but his shot is once again palmed away by Myhill.

With Ashbee passing to Campbell, he cuts the ball back to Doyle who in turn cuts inside his defender before shooting straight at the keeper.

After Priskin gets his name taken after a foul on Doyle, Turner takes the free-kick to Fagan who heads back to Campbell. Passing back to Craig he stumbles on the ball to allow the defence to clear.

On 80, Fagan gets up the left wing before playing the ball across to Doyle. From 20 yards out he curls a shot onto the left hand upright, with the ball bouncing to Campbell. With Fraizer being taken unawares his return shot is well over.

Doyle then risks the wrath of the referee. After conceding a free-kick by backing into his defender, he reacts by pushing away, but escapes with a talking to from the ref.

As the match ticks away, a long ball up by Doyle is met by Folan. As the defender man-handles Folan, he gets the ball back to Campbell whose shot is then blocked.

Watford final chances of the game first see a corner by McAnuff to Ellington whose shot is blocked, and then finally a ball up to Priskin sees his shot go wide.

With the 4th official showing 4 minutes time added on, Folan gets up the left before playing into Hughes. With 2 players free on the edge of the box, Hughes elects to drive into the area, but is eventually blocked before the ball cleared.

In the third minute of time added on, Doyle gets the ball up to Campbell who manages to turn his defender before his shot is well saved by Lee.

So a 2-0 advantage to take into the home leg. Presumably Watford will be without their Captain Eustace due to his suspension and maybe also Shittu with his injury. Could we be ready for our first trip to Wembley?

HULL CITY (4-4-2): Myhill; Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Dawson; Garcia, Ashbee, Hughes, Barmby; Campbell, Windass.  Subs: Fagan (for Barmby, 64), Folan (for Windass, 68), Doyle (for Garcia, 73), Walton, Duke.

Goals: Barmby 8; Windass 23

Booked: Campbell

Sent Off: None

WATFORD: Lee, Doyley, Shittu, Bromby, Sadler, Ainsworth, Williamson, Eustace, McAnuff, Smith, Ellington.  Subs: DeMerit (for Shittu, 61), O'Toole (for Doyley, 73), Priskin (for Ainsworth, 73), Mariappa, Poom.

Goals: None

Booked: Priskin

Sent Off: Eustace

REFEREE:   K Friend

ATTENDANCE: 14,713