Top flight* League fixture
*Then known as Division One

Notts County 3     Watford 5
Harkouk 3                                              Hunt (og) 14
Christie (pen) 9, 53                                 Callaghan 28, 43
                                                              Reilly 46
                                                              Johnston 83
 

Attendance :- 8,070
Referee:-  David Richardson (Great Harwood)
 

Notts County
Colours:- White shirts with black dual pinstripes, Black shorts, White socks
League Position:- before match 20th/22, after match 21st/22
Manager:- Larry Lloyd

1.   Seamus McDonagh
2.   Tristan Benjamin
3.   David Clarke
4.   Pedro Richards
5.   Brian Kilcline
6.   David Hunt
7.   Ian McParland
8.   Iain McCulloch
9.   Trevor Christie
10. Rachid Harkouk
11. John Chiedozie

Sub not used: Mark Jones

Watford
Colours:- Yellow shirts, Red shorts, Red socks
League Position:- before match 13th/22, after match 11th/22
Manager:- Graham Taylor

1.   Steve Sherwood
2.   David Bardsley
3.   Wilf Rostron
4.   Les Taylor
5.   Steve Terry
6.   Paul Franklin
7.   Nigel Callaghan
8.   Mo Johnston
9.   George Reilly
10. Kenny Jacket
11. John Barnes *

Sub: Worrell Sterling *
 

Video of the match:- BBC cameras recorded this fixture for extended "Match of the day" highlights. See Notts on the box - The 1980's.

No reports available

Up the Maggies footnote:
Following the 5-2 home defeat to Leicester, Notts had earned a creditable 1-1 draw at Arsenal and made it through to the 5th round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Huddersfield Town, but we then crashed 4-1 at Everton. Wearing sponsored shirts for the first time ever in this match v. Watford, County took the lead when Harkouk headed in McCulloch's cross from the right, 1-0. John Terry then shoved Christie out of the way in the area as he tried to get on the end of a long ball, the ref gave Notts a penalty which Christie converted for 2-0. A fluke goal allowed Watford back into the match when a free-kick found its' way to Kenny Jackett, McDonagh pushed his effort away but it ricocheted off David Hunt into the net, 2-1. A cross from the left led to Watford's equaliser, the ball found its' way to Callaghan on the right who guided a low shot into the far side of the net for 2-2. Mo Johnston then found Callaghan again on the right and his audacious drive flew past McDonagh just inside the far post, 2-3. A disastrous start to the 2nd half saw Notts fall further behind, a volleyed cross was headed against the crossbar by John Barnes, George Reilly was first to the rebound and was able to force it through McDonagh for 2-4. At this point in the televised highlights commentator John Motson pointed out that the crowd were barracking Jim McDonagh "but I can hardly see why", Motson obviously hadn't seen McDonagh's recent performances at Meadow Lane, he was only in the side today because Mick Leonard had Chicken Pox and there were now ironic cheers from County fans everytime McDonagh picked the ball up. Notts were back in the game when McParland did well to get in a cross from the right, McCulloch lobbed it on to the far post where Christie was waiting to head downwards into the goal, 3-4. Watford killed the game off after Notts had chances to clear an attack, McDonagh then miss-timed a dive to the feet of Les Taylor who got in a cross for Johnston's diving header into the empty net, 3-5. The defeat saw Notts drop to 2nd bottom - their lowest position yet. McDonagh wouldn't be picked to play again all season. Watford's no.11 went on to become a household name in the summer after scoring a sensational solo goal for England in a 2-0 friendly win against Brazil in Rio. Watford's manager Graham Taylor would later manage England in an unsuccessful spell in the early 1990's.

Notts County Season 1983/84
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