GIANLUCA Vialli was given a lesson in football yesterday as his team struggled against a resurgent Preston North End.

The former Chelsea boss, now firmly ensconced at Vicarage Road, devoted part of matchday programme notes to discussing the fact his current lucky jumper - a nice green affair he had worn since the start of the season - was proving to be anything but at the moment.

By half-time, it was looking as though he would need to buyout Debenham's as his multinational squad left the pitch, 1-0 down, with some 18,000 fans booing.

But who needs luck when you are given the generosity of two of North End's most experienced players?

Sean Gregan and Michael Jackson ensured it was two points lost rather than one gained for the Lilywhites six minutes into the second half

Skipper Gregan, back from suspension, headed an already out-of-play-bound ball beyond the line for a needless corner.

Stephen Glass's ensuing corner was met by Jackson, who headed home one of the finest close-range goals of the year - into his own net.

Very rarely does one action change the course of a game so much. From dominating the game for the opening 45 minutes, and starting the second with the upper hand, North End found themselves on the backfoot for the rest of the game.

They had seem so in control and had rightly gone ahead on 22 minutes when Jackson spun a corner kick towards goal.

Keeper Espen Baardsen failed to hold the ball allowing Jon Macken in to push the ball over the line.

An audacious decision by Vialli to substitute three players at half time failed to light up Watford - they only ignited when North End handed them the match.

Then the visitors had to batten down the hatches, with Marcus Gayle and Gifton Noel Williams the most dangerous of subs.

North End managed to hold on - and could have grabbed a winner had David Healy not hit over just minutes from the final whistle.

It's hard to work out what was more desperate on the day - Watford's attempts to play passie-passie football, the attempts by 80s pop stars Right Said Fred to relaunch their careers before the match or ITV Digital's attempts to drum up more business by playing over the loudspeakers at least a dozen adverts before, at half time and after the game.

6.15pm on a Sunday is no time to be playing football - especially if you have a 300 mile trip back home afterwards. Think on!

RESULT: Watford 1

(Jackson, og)

PNE 1

(Macken)

TEAMS:

Watford: Baardsen, Cox, Galli, Robinson, Vernazza, Doyley, Fisken, Glass, Helguson, Smith, Wooter. Subs: Hughes, Chamberlain, Noel-Williams, Noble, Gayle.

Preston: Moilanen, Alexander, Jackson, Lucketti, Edwards, Gregan, Cartwright, Rankine, McKenna, Healy, Macken. Subs: Lucas, Murdock, Cresswell, Barry-Murphy,Anderson.

REF WATCH: U Rennie, from Sheffield, had a quiet game. Already unpopular with the home fans, he put in a good all round performance.