Troy Deeney's winner keeps Walsall FC on course for £150,000 windfall
Troy Deeney kept alive Watford's hopes of the Premier League and Walsall's chances of bagging a £150,000 windfall with a stunning winner against Leicester City yesterday.
The former Saddlers striker scored seven minutes into injury time to earn the Hornets a 3-2 aggregate Championship play-off semi-final victory.
His goal came just seconds after Manuel Almunia had saved Anthony Knockaert's penalty which looked likely to send Leicester through.
Instead it was Watford who were celebrating, while there were no doubt a few smiles in the Walsall boardroom.
The terms of Deeney's 2010 transfer from the Banks's Stadium to Vicarage Road included a clause which will see the Saddlers receive the money should Watford win promotion.
Speaking after the game, Deeney said: "As soon as it happened I knew we would score.
"There was no way I was placing it, if the keeper had saved it he was ending up in the goal as well.
"Considering the start of the year I had, to score 20 goals and the winner is very satisfying. We fancy ourselves against anyone on our day."
The Hornets' promotion dream looked over when, with the teams tied at 2-2 on aggregate, Marco Cassetti nudged Anthony Knockaert in the area and referee Michael Oliver awarded Leicester a 95th-minute spot-kick.
But Almunia blocked Knockaerts' penalty, and the rebound, and moments later Deeney struck the knockout blow.
In scenes reminiscent of Doncaster's breakaway goal to win League One at Brentford a fortnight go – when the same referee gave the Bees a penalty – Watford charged upfield.
Fernando Forestieri swung in a cross from the right and Jonathan Hogg's header back across goal fell to Deeney, who thumped the ball home to spark wild celebrations.
Hornets boss Gianfranco Zola was sent tumbling to the turf as jubilant players, staff and fans charged onto the pitch.
Zola said: "I probably bruised something but I can't feel it now.
"I just lost it, I didn't know where I was going or who I was chasing. I said to myself I had to keep my composure but when it happens you can't control it.
"It was a soft penalty and it would have been unfair to lose on that.
"Then when I saw the ball travelling towards our strikers I immediately thought of Brentford – I had the movie in my mind.
"It was a good cross, a good header back and the finish from Troy was as good as it could be."
