The journey to Birmingham was made a little more complicated due to the engineering works on the line from Euston to Milton Keynes. So, on arrival at Euston, I had to head for Euston Square to get the tube to Baker Street and then a short walk to Marylebone for the train to Moor Street. The train was busy, but I took one look at the carriage full of mini-hoolies and chose the one next door, which was much quieter, and the journey was rather pleasant. On arrival in Birmingham, I walked to the designated pre-match pub and found Jacque and Stuart already there. I was quite shocked at the price of the beer. Birmingham prices appear to be even steeper than those in London.
We headed to Snow Hill to get the train to the Hawthorns and were grateful that they kept the train in the station to allow stragglers to board, so that we just caught it. We arrived in Smethwick to blazing sunshine. There was a bit of a scrum at the turnstiles, but we were finally directed to the one female steward. She seemed reluctant to look in my bag and when she proposed a body search and I asked if it was really necessary, she waved me through. My memory of past encounters with West Brom stewards is that they have been some of the most unpleasant in the country, so that was a nice surprise.
Team news was that Cleverley had made two changes from the Leeds game with Hoedt and Koné in for Pollock and Asprilla. So, the starting XI was Bachmann; Hoedt, Sierralta, Porteous; Lewis, Dele-Bashiru, Kayembe, Andrews; Dennis, Koné, Bayo.
The visitors were nearly gifted an early goal when a mistake from Sierralta allowed Thomas-Asante to gain possession and find himself one-on-one with Bachmann who made a great save, the ball came out to Johnston whose shot was blocked by Porteous. The resultant corner was met by the head of Bartley whose effort flew over the bar. The Hornets had their first chance of the game soon after as Andrews played a square ball for Kayembe whose shot from distance was straight at Palmer in the West Brom goal. Bachmann was then in action again with a great save to keep out a header from Thomas-Asante. The hosts were on top at this point and Thomas-Asante got on the end of a cross from Townsend but this time his effort was over the bar. The next chance for the Hornets was a shot from Bayo that was deflected wide of the target. There was then a break in the game as Bayo went down holding his head. There was a bit of afters and Dennis was booked for mouthing off at the referee. The hosts won a free kick in a dangerous position, but the delivery from Swift was dreadful and drifted wide of the far post. There was a minute of added time during which Fellows crossed for Thomas-Asante whose header flew wide of the target. It had been a fairly uneventful half, although the hosts had started really well, and we were grateful to Bachmann for a couple of great saves that thwarted the impressive Thomas-Asante.
The Hornets took the lead early in the second half as a Dele-Bashiru corner was headed out to Kayembe who walloped it past Palmer to send the travelling Hornets wild. Cleverley made a double change soon after bringing Rajović and Asprilla on in place of Bayo and Koné. Yáser was serenaded onto the pitch with his song so gave an appreciative wave to the away crowd. The Hornets had a great chance to increase their lead with a powerful shot from Dele-Bashiru that was stopped by a great save from Palmer, the ball then fell to Dennis who skipped along the byline before hitting a shot that rebounded off the post. The Hornets scored a second after 66 minutes when Asprilla played a lovely ball out to Lewis on the left, he crossed for Rajović who turned it in at the far post. West Brom responded by making a triple substitution replacing Mowatt, Swift and Yokuslu with Reach, Diangana and M’Vila. The Hornets had a decent chance to score a third when Dennis played the ball back to Rajović but the shot was soft and straight at the keeper. Then Asprilla broke down the left and put in a cross that was just too far in front of Dennis. Sadly, it was the home side who scored next as Thomas-Asante latched onto a through ball and beat Bachmann at the near post. The hosts made a further change at this point as Fellows made way for Wallace. The West Brom scorer had a great chance to score a second as he ran onto a through ball and was stopped by a brilliant tackle from Hoedt, although I have to admit that I held my breath fearing that the referee would point to the spot. Cleverley then made another change bringing Martins on in place of Dennis.
The Hornets threatened again from an Asprilla free kick, Hoedt played the ball back across goal, but it was put behind by a defender. From the resultant corner, Asprilla’s delivery was punched clear. Then a lovely ball released Martins who broke forward and crossed for Asprilla whose shot was straight at the keeper. The Hornets had a chance to reprise the first goal when a cross from Asprilla was headed out to Kayembe, but this time he couldn’t keep the shot down and it flew well over the bar. The Hornets then won a free kick in a dangerous position, but the delivery from Martins was straight into the arms of Palmer. The final change for the home side saw lovely Andi Weimann coming on in place of Johnston. The Hornets had another great chance for a third when Lewis delivered a lovely cross for Andrews, but the shot was easily gathered by Palmer. Cleverley made a late change bringing Livermore on in place of Kayembe. There was five minutes of added time and a number of home fans had already left when Furlong got the ball on the edge of the box and powered it in off the post to break hearts in the away end. There was one last chance for the Hornets to regain the lead through Andrews, but his shot from a tight angle landed on the roof of the net. At the other end, Weimann broke into the box and had a great chance to score a winner for the hosts, but Sierralta was on hand to block the shot. The resultant corner was very poor, and the final whistle went on another 2-2 draw.
After the final whistle, Hoedt led the players over to applaud us while ruefully shaking his head. The travelling faithful gave the players a really good reception and Cleverley was greeted with a loud chorus of his name.
We left the ground and headed back to the station. The platform at the Hawthorns was full of mini-hoolies goading those on the opposite platform. I was relieved to get on the train and head back to the city for a post-match pint. It had been another impressive performance against difficult opponents. The home side had dominated the first half, but the Hornets had much the better of the second half and could feel a little unfortunate to only come away with a point. This was another solid showing from the lads who are playing as a team and appear to be enjoying their football as much as we are enjoying watching it. While it was disappointing to concede late goals in both of the games over the Easter weekend, if you had told me a couple of weeks ago that we would watch two spirited draws, I would have been delighted. I am thoroughly enjoying the Cleverley era so far. Long may that continue.
Fran's Watford Blog 
Nice to see some positive attacking football and goal!
Shame we couldn’t hold but encouraging signs