28-11-2020, 19:43
Watford moved up to third in the Championship with a thumping victory against struggling Preston North End.
Domingo Quina smashed Ismaila Sarr's cross past Declan Rudd on the volley before Joao Pedro's tap-in from Troy Deeney's cross was ruled out for offside.
The lead was doubled when Deeney smashed a penalty through Rudd's hands after Sarr went down under Jordan Storey's challenge before Tom Barkhuizen's heavily deflected shot halved the deficit.
But Nathaniel Chalobah quickly restored the Hornets' two-goal lead with a fine half-volley after a one-two with Deeney, and Pedro plundered a fourth via James Garner's corner and Craig Cathcart's flick-on.
Watford made it 19 points from a possible 21 at Vicarage Road this season, but had to overcome a side which boasted the second-best away record in the division, with all but three of their 16-point total earned on the road.
Ben Foster had to tip over Sean Maguire's fierce shot from the edge of the box and then had to be out quickly to save from Patrick Bauer after a mix-up at the back.
But the hosts bossed the first half and almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Rudd made a fine save to tip over Sarr's fierce drive.
Deeney had a big impact after being recalled to the starting XI, despite seeing strike partner Andre Gray limp off midway through the first half, and could have added to his penalty, but headed over unmarked from six yards.
Preston are the only Championship team to have scored in every away game this season and did threaten a second-half comeback through Barkhuizen, but it was quickly snuffed out as Vladimir Ilic's side stepped up and made it 14 goals in their last five home matches.
And while Watford extended their unbeaten run to five matches, the Lilywhites' fifth defeat in seven matches dropped them to 18th.
Domingo Quina smashed Ismaila Sarr's cross past Declan Rudd on the volley before Joao Pedro's tap-in from Troy Deeney's cross was ruled out for offside.
The lead was doubled when Deeney smashed a penalty through Rudd's hands after Sarr went down under Jordan Storey's challenge before Tom Barkhuizen's heavily deflected shot halved the deficit.
But Nathaniel Chalobah quickly restored the Hornets' two-goal lead with a fine half-volley after a one-two with Deeney, and Pedro plundered a fourth via James Garner's corner and Craig Cathcart's flick-on.
Watford made it 19 points from a possible 21 at Vicarage Road this season, but had to overcome a side which boasted the second-best away record in the division, with all but three of their 16-point total earned on the road.
Ben Foster had to tip over Sean Maguire's fierce shot from the edge of the box and then had to be out quickly to save from Patrick Bauer after a mix-up at the back.
But the hosts bossed the first half and almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Rudd made a fine save to tip over Sarr's fierce drive.
Deeney had a big impact after being recalled to the starting XI, despite seeing strike partner Andre Gray limp off midway through the first half, and could have added to his penalty, but headed over unmarked from six yards.
Preston are the only Championship team to have scored in every away game this season and did threaten a second-half comeback through Barkhuizen, but it was quickly snuffed out as Vladimir Ilic's side stepped up and made it 14 goals in their last five home matches.
And while Watford extended their unbeaten run to five matches, the Lilywhites' fifth defeat in seven matches dropped them to 18th.
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