West Ham United Paper View (h)

King ensures Watford make a point before the sterner tests

NEWSPAPER cuttings predicting relegation have been pinned around Watford's training ground, but the writing is far from on the wall. It probably bothers Adrian Boothroyd more that some pundits have forecast that his Watford team will stay up.

In keeping with their dynamic manager last night, they produced a feisty display to earn their first point of the season against West Ham United.

After taking the lead through Marlon King's excellent curled strike in the 63rd minute, Watford were deprived of victory by a naivety in defence that might be exposed further by Manchester United on Saturday. The Times

West Ham share the spoils as Zamora makes his point

Bobby Zamora took West Ham to the top of the Premiership at Vicarage Road last night and in so doing became the early leading scorer in the competition.

After scoring twice against Charlton on Saturday he gave watching England coach Steve McClaren something to consider with an impressive strike just two minutes after Watford had taken the lead with a wonderful goal from Marlon King.

Having selected Dean Ashton for his first squad, who subsequently broke an ankle in training, McClaren saw a player who has overcome adversity to claim another valuable goal. The arrival of Ashton last season and Carlton Cole in the summer does not appear to have deterred Zamora's determination. West Ham manager Alan Pardew said: "We're top? I'll take that, even if it is only for 24 hours. Bobby is a natural goalscorer on top of his game and so are we."

Pardew admitted that Watford deserved three points and warned the rest of the Premiership that the newly-promoted side will prove problematic for plenty of teams.

"If I was neutral, I would have to say Watford deserved to win, with their endeavour and pressure," Pardew said. "They unlocked us with a goal of the highest order and made it very difficult for us. Daily Telegraph

Hammers on top of table as Zamora makes point

In football, one man's tragedy is another's opportunity. So it has been for Bobby Zamora.

Until Dean Ashton's ankle gave way at Old Trafford last week, on the eve of his England debut, Zamora was looking at a season on the bench. Instead, this morning he is the embryonic Premiership's leading scorer with three goals in two matches.

His goal last night denied Watford a deserved first victory over the Hammers in 21 matches dating back to 1985 and left them with one point from six on their return to the Premiership. Two matches into last season, Watford had one point but finished it with promotion, so Aidy Boothroyd was not disheartened after worrying the FA Cup finalists for much of this slow-burner of a game. The Independent