SATURDAY 11th AUGUST: MANCHESTER CITY 3 - 0 WATFORD, MAINE ROAD

Kevin Keegan and Gianluca Vialli went head to head as the high profile managers of the division kicked off the new 2001/2002 season.

The atmosphere was electric as 2000 Watford fans, singing at the tops of their voices, were outsung by 32000 City followers. Watford kicked off and under the bright lights from the roof of the ground and the new style Hornets began a new era.

With new signings Patrick Blondeau, Ramon Vega, Stephen Hughes, Markus Gayle and captain Fillipo Galli all on show, Watford started well with former Marseille full back Patrick Blondeau going close with a 25-yard effort sailing just over the bar. However, it was Espen Baardsen who really shone through for the Hornets in the first half as he kept Watford in the game with two or three magnificant saves, and followed that with much of the same in the second half. The work of new goalkeeper coach Kevin Hitchkock seems to be paying off as Baardsen seemed so much more confident at comanding his area, catching crosses and saving shots that he wasn't up to last season. The Norweigan keeper made two clear cut saves, one in each half and superbly tipped over an inch perfect chip from Eyal Berkovic, just getting enough on the ball with his out-stretched fingers to turn it around the post.

However, in the second half you could see the Watford players tire, the referee dish out the cards and decision in favour of the home side and Man City step it up a gear. Just after the hour City's persistance paid off and after striking the post and the bar and seeing Espen pull of another couple of great saves, Shaun Goater finally broke the deadlock as he headed home a Lauren Charvet cross to give City the lead.

Shortly after, man of the match Eyal Berkovic finished a lovely move, similar to which he had been threatening for all of the match. This put City 2-0 up and they were really crusing after this as Watford's front line of Smith and Gayle never really got the service to pose any threat to the City defence.

So at 2-0 down, this simply got worse for Vialli's men as left back Paul Robinson was given his marching orders as Mr. Riley gave the youngster his second yellow card. Robinson, who does have a tendancy to get himself in the bad books with referees for late challenges, seemed to have played the ball before the man, however the referee decided enough was enough and Robinson will now face a one match ban, probably in the meeting with Wolves or Walsall.

So if you thought the action was over there, you would be sadly mistaken. With just a few minutes left on the clock Stuart Pearce fired home one of his trademark free-kicks to round off the evening at 3-0.

So, not the best start for Vialli and with a very small minority of Watford ''fans'' singing racist songs to spoil the day for many, it certainly wasn't the best of starts. But we must remain optomistic and remember that first games of the season tell us just as much as pre-season friendlies and that once the new players settle down and the team gels together, we could be looking at a much stronger Watford side who will be amoung the best in the league this season.

Reporter: John (Optomistic) Salomon