Revenge against Watford

ROVERS boss Graeme Souness exacted his revenge last night as fate turned full circle on an evening of high drama at Vicarage Road.

Back in September a flabbergasted Souness felt his team had been mugged by the match officials as Watford escaped from Ewood with a controversial 4-3 victory.

Last night, however, it was Graham Taylor who felt like kicking a cat after this tense promotion battle suddenly exploded into life during an astonishing climax to an incident-packed first half.

Referee Rob Styles lit the blue touch paper when he dished out red cards to Watford duo Robert Page and Heidar Helguson in the space of five frenetic minutes - a double-whammy which sent Taylor's blood pressure soaring through the roof.

But Souness was in no mood to offer tea and sympathy after Marcus Bent's priceless 72nd minute winner ensured Rovers turned up the heat on second-placed Bolton ahead of Friday night's showdown at the Reebok.

"As a manager, you always choose to look at the picture in the way you want to see it and I'm sure that's how Graham wants to see it tonight," said Souness.

"But, from where I was sitting, it was definitely a foul on Marcus Bent.

"And, as for the second one, it looked an aggressive challenge.

"The two sendings off spoilt the game as a spectacle.

"But Watford were still a difficult side to play against - even with nine men.

"They dug in, worked hard and made it difficult for us to play.

"But we felt it was only a matter of time before we got one and that's how it worked out.

"So we're happy with the points and it now makes Friday night's match a monster game."

Taylor's rantings as England manager made captivating viewing in that famous Channel Four documentary.

And his agitation was equally visible last night as he threatened to blow a gasket in the technical area as he paced up and down in front of the dug-outs.

Yet, for all the Hornets' deep sense of injustice, Rovers were ultimately rewarded for some bold approach play within the pressure-cooker atmosphere of this promotion six-pointer.

And had Matt Jansen brought his shooting boots Watford could have been dead and buried before the red mist descended.

Knowing a win was imperative with Bolton threatening to pull clear in the race for second spot, Souness was cavalier in his team selection, dropping Eyal Berkovic and Martin Taylor to the bench and drafting in Keith Gillespie for his first start since September.

But there was a fluency to Rovers' slick passing game and they could have struck twice in the opening five minutes.

Jansen launched himself at a left-wing centre from Bent in the fourth minute but his diving header flashed inches wide of Espen Baardsen's far post.

Then sixty seconds later the livewire striker spun on a sixpence inside the area but his instant snapshot came back off the base of the upright.

But, as the game settled down, Watford upped the tempo, bombarding the box with crosses and pushing wide men Tommy Mooney and Allan Nielsen forward at every opportunity.

Mooney - in particular - posed a real threat from the left and he was denied twice in the space of a minute by Brad Friedel who brilliantly palmed away a deflected freekick before topping that with a reflex stop to tip over a fierce angled drive.

However, disaster suddenly struck for the home side in the 39th minute when Bent raced on to Paul Robinson's sloppy back pass and Page sent him tumbling as he bore down on goal.

Referee Styles rather harshly reached for his top pocket, sending off the defender for the second time this season after dishing out a similar punishment in the FA Cup.

And worse was to follow five minutes later when Helguson - quite rightly - received a second yellow for a crude lunge at John Curtis.

Watford shut up shop after the break in a bid to limit the damage and Rovers struggled to find a way through.

Baardsen denied Jansen twice, a David Dunn curler whistled just past a post and Bent fired into the advertising boards as the visitors turned the screw.

But the pressure finally told with 18 minutes left.

Curtis was the orchestrator, picking out substitute Berkovic's carefully timed run with a peach of pass down the right channel and the little Israeli darted forward before rolling a low centre into the path of Bent who couldn't miss from six yards.

Jansen then had the chance to gift-wrap the points but, to cap a night of personal frustration, Baardsen beat aside his dipping thunderbolt.

It didn't matter, though, as Bent's strike ultimately proved decisive on a night which could yet have a massive bearing on the promotion race.

"It was great to score," said Rovers' goal-hero.

"Eyal did brilliantly for the goal. I thought he was going to be offside but he did well to stay onside and it was a great ball in.

"But as long as the team wins, we get three points, and the club get back into the Premiership then that's all that matters to me.

"This is a massive result for us and it sets it all up for Friday now."