Blues manager Paul Jewell felt Watford had no answer to midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas during Saturday’s first half with some aspects of the youngster’s game even resembling his former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry. The Town boss is delighted with the form the 21-year-old is showing with opposition teams deputing two and even three players to deal with his threat.
Grant Leadbitter will return to the Town midfield for tonight’s restaging of the Middlesbrough home game which was abandoned in February due to a frozen section of pitch (KO 7.45pm). The 26-year-old, back after a one-game ban for his red card against Burnley, looks set to come into Paul Jewell’s side for veteran Lee Bowyer.
Town’s Watford hoodoo stretched to 15 games as the Hornets came from behind to beat the Blues 2-1 at Vicarage Road. Paul Jewell’s men should have been more than Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’s goal in front at half-time, Michael Chopra having missed a sitter, but were second best after the break with goals from Sean Murray and Troy Deeney – the latter after a Carlos Edwards error - seeing the home side to victory.
Town boss Paul Jewell looks set to name an unchanged side for this evening’s game against Championship leaders Southampton at St Mary’s. The Blues will be looking to avenge the Saints’ 5-2 victory at Portman Road earlier in the season.
Jason Scotland’s late deflected goal secured the Blues a deserved 1-1 draw at Southampton. The Saints went ahead in the 74th minute via top scorer Rickie Lambert but Scotland’s goal five minutes from the end claimed the point for Town.