AFTER watching a disallowed goal for his side and seeing his captain sent off, Aidy Boothroyd is more determined than ever to take Watford to the play-off final and overturn a two-goal deficit at Hull on Wednesday.

An action packed sunny afternoon at Vicarage Road had wall-to-wall incidents, many which involved official Mr Friend. Never has a name been more undeserved.

With just a few minutes on the clock, he ruled out Dan Shittu's towering header for an alleged push by Leigh Bromby in the packed penalty area.

Clearly not happy with the decision, Boothroyd said: "I don't know why it's not been given. It takes balls to referee at this level and that was a big, big decision."

That early strike would have changed the complexion of the end-to-end affair, but it was the Tigers who drew first blood and then added a second with less than 25 minutes on the clock.

A series of excellent Boaz Myhill saves denied the Hornets as they tried to throw the game wide open again.

Boothroyd added: "I've just said to the players that it is half time, and that is all it is. We've come back from 2-0 before - many, many times and we've got to make sure that we go and give it a right good go because they think they've won.

"We're the best away team in the league and I was delighted with so many things today from the players.  I thought we played with freedom and we expressed ourselves, I thought we showed a lot of courage and bravery.

"They were two appalling goals to give away, we've created enough chances to score four or five today I felt, but we haven't taken them and Myhill was outstanding.

John Eustace's sending off midway through the second half makes the task even harder to complete without his drive from the centre of the park.

It's another decision that doesn't sit easy for the gaffer.

"For the John Eustace sending off both feet were on the floor so I don't know what he was sending him off for.

"It's a difficult job as we know, there is a respect issue and also there's a respect from the powers that be that we can get people who can cope. I'm not so sure that has happened today."

The manager now quickly turns his attentions to preparing his troops for the battle with Hull on Wednesday evening at the KC Stadium.

He commented: "We are disappointed, of course, but we've got to be smiling inside because we know if we get one goal up there in the first 10 minutes then the tie completely changes. We've got to go there and attack and that's what we intend to do."

The manager said he didn't yet know the extent of the injury which forced Dan Shittu from play and the giant centre half will have a scan on Monday to determined the seriousness of the knock. 

It isn't yet over and the Yorkshireman finally added: "I've still got a nice little feeling that we can do this."