IT was an unhappy coincidence that on the day when Robert Page returned to Vicarage Road, Watford's defence haemorrhaged as never before, and the Hornets slumped to their biggest home defeat of the season unanswered.

As fans welcomed back the former skipper with a heartfelt round of applause before the kick-off, they may have reflected that defensively things have not improved that significantly since Page's departure, despite the outlay of club record wages.

However, it should be said in all fairness, unless Watford completely throw in the towel in the final two matches, their defensive record will be marginally better this season. Whether they would have achieved a similar or better record by keeping Page is a matter of conjecture.

Personally, I believe the bottom line is that Watford could have fared no worse for the Welshman might have prospered by playing alongside Filippo Galli, as he tended to impress when partnering someone truly on his game, and so saved the club a million pounds or so. There may also have been a reduction in the gelling-time needed.

What cannot be argued is that with the men scheduled to replace Page, Darren Ward or James Panayi not selected, Watford's defence looked far more inept than United's on Saturday.

And, despite the full home debut of the determined and resourceful Danny Webber, the attack did not click, and it seems likely that Watford will finish with significantly fewer goals and points to their name than was the case in the last disappointing campaign.

One is left to wonder after witnessing the latest in a series of debacles, where has the application, determination and focus gone that were the features of displays against West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Coventry City?

This was an end-of-the-season performance from Watford whereas United looked hungrier, more penetrating and, at times, played the better football. Lacklustre Watford struggled for tempo and rhythm whereas the only real passion and enthusiasm came from Webber, Neil Cox, Paul Robinson and, later, Anthony McNamee.

There have been worse performances this season and duller matches, but the significance of this game was disquieting. You would have thought that with new players coming in, there would have been more playing like Webber, with a point to prove. Instead, it was United's youngsters who played as if the game meant something and finished up with a richly-deserved victory.

It would be easy to criticise Luca Vialli and his staff for failing to motivate the players to put on a passable performance for the paying public but it appears to be something of a trend. Graham Taylor's side, when going for a play-off place last season, managed to play without conviction as the end of the campaign approached.

The two campaigns have much in common, particularly in under-achievement, but at least last season held out the promise of promotion for half the year, whereas this season it has been a largely uphill struggle since Eyal Berkovic tore the defence to shreds in the opening game.

Saturday's display was poor, and for some fans just over an hour was enough for them to sample before they exited the stadium.

It is amazing the Hornets, after excelling at home to Coventry, could have put on such slip-shod displays over the next four games, during which they salvaged one point and have scored just one goal.

If Vialli is using the games to assess those he wants for next season, the message does not appear to have reached the dressing room. Much has been made of the lack of confidence in the squad, but should United's confidence and belief have been any greater having garnered just one more point than the Hornets this season?

They played with conviction and determination and Watford were pierced at regular intervals and were left treading water as United raced away to an unexpectedly easy success.

Watford did not look defensively sound from the outset. Gavin Mahon, drafted into the rearguard, had a shaky start before falling as the latest victim to what is becoming something of a weekly injury hoodoo.

By then Watford were two goals down.

The Hornets had approached with some enterprise but failed to deliver the final ball in the opening exchanges.

Lee Cook had a shot deflected wide of the goal with the keeper wrong-footed, and, after United had taken the lead, Patrick Blondeau ran onto a lay-off from Webber to send a speculative effort straight at the keeper.

Peter Ndlovu chipped just off target before Watford fell to a second goal.

The second-half was brighter if only because Webber led the line with the resolve to make a real impact, but when it came to overall passion and zeal, United had the edge.

Micah Hyde and Paul Okon had early shots before a great ball by Michael Tonge set up Steve Lovell, who then spooned it wide with the goal at his mercy.

Webber, at the far post, just failed to get to a cross by Blondeau before the striker produced a good solo run and finished with a shot the keeper saved well.

Back came United with Tonge setting up Jean-Phillipe Javary who stabbed somewhat hurriedly wide from a good position.

Then Weber provided a fine cross for Tommy Smith to meet at the near post, but he headed over the target.

United scored their third goal after that. Then Heidar Helguson crossed just too far in front of Weber, who, in the next attack, jinked an opening only to shoot wide.

From a corner by McNamee, Cox climbed well but he sent his header against the bar, and Webber hammered a shot against the post as Watford headed for their seventh home defeat, providing United with their seventh away victory.

April 12, 2002 11:30