Robson draws comfort as Blades make their point

It came after Nathan Ellington, who played under Robson at West Bromwich, created another cauldron of anxiety for the manager with Watford's opener.

Ellington's 21st-minute goal, only his second for Watford, threatened to shatter the fragile truce offered to Robson by fans who have pilloried him for failing to inspire the expected promotion challenge following relegation last season.

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The fact that Watford have delivered a challenge after their own drop from the Barclays Premier League pushed up the stakes for the Blades boss as his side — humbled by neighbours Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in their last league outing — struggled to show any authority in the first half.

The pressure on Robson may have been marginally relieved by United's FA Cup triumph over Manchester City two days earlier — and the prospect of facing his former club Middlesbrough in the next round — but he was in no doubt that his job security had depended on a revival of league form.

Chairman Kevin McCabe referred pointedly last week to the need for 'wins rather than draws' and described Watford's visit as 'critical' to any lingering hopes of a play-off push.

Normally, any sort of return against Aidy Boothroyd's side, who beat the Blades by a solitary goal at Vicarage Road in August, would be regarded as reasonable.

However, the long-time Championship leaders had won only one of their five previous games to slip three points adrift of West Bromwich and Bristol City.

At the outset, restless home supporters continued to respond to McCabe's plea for his manager to be given an even break, but anger with the performance began to surface as half-time approached.

Only Gary Speed, seconds from the interval, forced Watford goalkeeper Richard Lee into serious action. Otherwise, a Rob Hulse header which just cleared the bar was United's only threat.

By contrast, Watford were a mounting menace on the break and it was hardly likely to improve the humour of Blades fans that the club's former striker Steve Kabba triggered the breakthrough goal.

Kabba, making a rare appearance because of an injury to Darius Henderson, withstood a fierce challenge to keep the ball in play on the right touchline and release Lee Williamson into space for a low, early cross.

Ellington, on the edge of the area, had the option of finding Jobi McAnuff unmarked on the other side of the area but found the space to squeeze a left-foot shot inside Paddy Kenny's right-hand upright.

Later, McAnuff broke on the left and crossed just behind Ellington, who was closing in for the kill. It was a ragged game dictated by a poor pitch and, most of all, Watford's pragmatic style.

But it is certainly effective and Ugo Ehiogu had some difficult moments on his United debut after signing from Rangers.

United looked a touch more dangerous after the break. Stephen Quinn had a goalbound, 25-yard shot deflected for a corner before Carney — on for Lee Hendrie — and Hulse set up a good chance for Luton Shelton. But his finish from an angle was too close to Lee.

Watford's McAnuff and Williamson were booked for challenges, as was Shelton, with the game becoming even more of a dogfight.

A long throw-in from Speed finally produced the equaliser for United.

It was flicked on by Chris Morgan for Hulse to fire a shot from a seemingly impossible angle. But it struck Carney, who claimed the goal as the ball deflected in at Watford's near post.