Why do we bother? Every season it is the same. We take a large away following and we lose.

I could roll off many examples such as Fulham and Charlton last season but we never learn and once again we failed to learn today. We turned up in our thousands to see the lads in action despite not really having much chance of winning and were still all shocked when it went wrong.

Much like Fulham last season, we had our allocation extended to around 6,000 tickets but this time the end was not filled and I'd estimate that we had around 5,000 this time but the result was just the same. The team was announced (over the loudest tannoy I have heard in years) and left me a little surprised. Richard Langley returned from suspension but with Chris Kiwomya out injured we went with George Kulscar making up a three in midfield.

Christer Warren started the game as a centre half with Mark Perry at wing back, a decision that seemed to be based more on height that the player's abilities in those positions.

So the game started and for 30 seconds we looked quite good. A nice run by Crouch down the right and his cross was cleared. Watford broke and a long ball into the box was headed out for a corner by Carlisle. Now when you play against the top teams you need to start well and against a Graham Taylor team you definitely need to defend set pieces very well. Sadly we did neither and a corner from Robinson was headed in by the unmarked Neil Cox.

A look of shock filled the away end but it was all too real and as we watched the replay on the big screen and listened to that Smile song play out it all looked over before we had started. Still being the crazy optimist I am, my mind went back to last season. A trip to Ipswich and we go one down within minutes but fought back to win 4-1 and that changed our season. I could just se it now, we were going to do the same today.

Well the next 30 minutes rid me of those thoughts as we were totally outplayed in every department as we made Watford look like Brazil. They passed through our midfield as if it wasn't there (and it wasn't really), and it was down to Clarke Carlisle to save us on several occasions.

Nordin Wooter was having fun on the right showing off his tricks and skills and causing all sorts of problems, whilst Mica Hyde was too strong for Wardley and Kulscar to cope with so it was left up to Langley to hold the midfield together. A job that one man just can't do against Watford in this form.

We did manage a couple of breaks. Sammy Koejoe looked dangerous at times and fired a shot over and was also brought down for a free kick which Richard Langley curled just over the bar. Don't let those two attacks fool you though as we were truly awful in that spell and seemed to be playing with nine men such was Kulscar and Wardleys influence.

Christer Warren looked like a wing back playing out of position whilst Mark Perry looked like a centre half playing out of position, wonder why that was? Twenty minutes into the half and another goal identical to the first. A long ball into the box was headed out by Warren and the corner was met by an unmarked Cox again for number two. It was all too easy and Watford did not really need us to give them a two goal start.

Watford were playing some good stuff and one glorious move, which must have included around 30 passes, ended with Wooter hitting a wonderful shot against the bar. To be fair we did just stand off and admire them for the entire move but the difference in the two sides was shown here. Watford had the ability to hold on to the ball and knock it around and show some invention around the penalty area. Of course they still lump it into the box when required but the mixture of the two styles will see them promoted easily along with Fulham this season.

Thirty five minutes into the game and a tactical change. It had to happen and George Kulscar was taken off to be replaced by fit again Gavin Peacock and Mark Perry off for Karl Connolly. I felt a little sorry for Perry as I would have taken off the woeful Morrow and swapped Warren and Perry but I am not the manager so what do I know.

We switched to a 4-3-3 but Watford still dominated and were unlucky not go into half time with more than a two goal lead. The team were booed off the field by our supporters and it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon. Still another 45 minutes to go but I had given up hope and I am sure I was not alone.

We started the second half a completely different team. We started to win 50/50 tackles, we got balls into the box and the match was played up the Watford end for a while. A couple of corners were earned and Peter Crouch, Sammy Koejoe and Clarke Carlisle all had half chances to score. It was much better and the support behind the goal began to get louder and louder.

Finally a breakthrough and a cross in by Warren was met by Crouch and Karl Connolly stooped in to head home his first for the club. The Rangers end exploded into life and fans ran onto the pitch. It was sheer joy and a real sense of hope that this game was there for the taking and it was.

Sammy Koejoe had the beating of Cox on the left and Gavin Peacock was having a bigger influence in midfield. It was looking good and Watford looked worried for a while. Mica Hyde and Wooter resorted to some bad tackles (which did not see any cards given) and one foul right on the edge of the box almost led to a goal. Well it might have if we had David Beckham but Langleys shot hit the wall.

Despite the improvement Watford had plenty left and began to take the game over again in midfield. At 2-1 it was set up for a big finish but a mistake by Clarke Carlisle let in Gifton Noel Williams who scored with a good shot into the top corner. Game over, we huffed and puffed a bit after that and Crouch was causing a few problems but we never looked like scoring again as a few heads went down in the side.

In the end we had Lee Harper to thank as he made several good saves as Watford threatened to make the scoreline very embarrassing. A blatant penalty was turned down by the referee in the dying seconds. Harper brought down Williams in the box but as the game was dead the ref ended it. I think if the game had been a bit closer he would have given it.

Another defeat then our third of the season. Pre season hope of the playoffs looks a distant dream already and many supporters are starting to take a nervous look at the bottom three rather than the top three. Finally a quick word on Watford. They look very good and I was very impressed with Darren Ward who seems to have settled back into the Watford side well. He did a very good job for us last season and I hope he makes a name for himself as he is defiantly a quality player.

Man of the Match : Clarke Carlisle

13. Lee Harper : Made some good saves in the second half and had no chance with the goal. He needs to communicate with his defence a little better though. 6/10

22. Jermaine Darlington : Not at his best today.. He looked good going forward but was given the run around by Wooter and his final ball into the box is pretty poor. 6/10

24. Mark Perry : Played out of position again and against a good side he tends to struggle out wide. Was unlucky to be taken off and didn't look too happy with the manager. 6/10

19. Christer Warren : Did better when moved to full back. He put in some decent crosses for Crouch but was caught out defensively as he pushed forward in the second half. 6/10

4. Steve Morrow : He is the most experience player in defence and was woeful. Looked all over the place and I have no idea how he stayed on the pitch. 4/10

18. Clarke Carlisle : Once again our best defender, gave everything he had to get us back in the game and looked gutted when he was turned for the third goal. 7/10

21. Richard Langley : Was forced to do three men's work until peacock came on. In the second half he came into the game more and had a tough battle with Hyde but his passing was not up to his very high standard today. 6/10

15. George Kulscar : waste of time 3/10

27. Stuart Wardley : Had another nightmare game, needs to be dropped for his own good he looks like a little boy lost at times,. 4/10

28. Peter Crouch : He's starting to improve in the air (as he should do considering he is a giant) and he did very well today against a good defence. 7/10

31. Sammy Koejoe : Was asked to play wide in the second half and he did well against Neil Cox but just couldn't produce the killer pass or cross his approach play deserved. He can play a lot better than this but he is improving despite all the stick he was getting from the away end. 6/10

8. Gavin Peacock : Best he's played all season, we have missed him in midfield and we looked a much better side when he came on. 7/10

10. Karl Connolly : Once again he did well as a sub, he is busy and is a useful sub to have. 7/10