Duff on the mark as Chelsea win
Tuesday, 5 August 2003 22:18Chelsea ripped Watford apart at Vicarage Road tonight with Damien Duff scoring his first for the club to make it 4-1. A decent 18,629 crowd at Vicarage Road saw Abramovich's first four signings - Glen Johnson, Geremi, Wayne Bridge and Duff- all feature.
Forssell who, after somewhat fortunate control, fired into the bottom corner from 16 yards for Chelsea's first. Then Gronkjaer surged past Paul Robinson, the Watford man chopped the Blues winger down for a penalty and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink stroked home from the spot.
Number three came seven minutes later through unlucky Hornets defender Neil Ardley. Geremi's effort hit the post and the ball rebounded to Forssell's feet. Ardley slid in to tackle the Finn but only succeeded in poking the ball into his own net.
Watford goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain restored some pride by saving smartly from firm Forssell and Hasselbaink headers. And Ray Lewington's men surprisingly reduced the deficit to 3-1 just after the half-hour when Heidar Helguson nodded home Ardley's cross.
Duff was on hand though to restore the visitors' three-goal cushion as the hour mark neared, tucking home Chamberlain's parry from Eidur Gudjohnsen's shot.
Filed by Johnny Proby
