Hornets Bounce Back To Victory At The Vic

Watford responded after back to back away defeats with a deserved victory over Leicester City at Vicarage Road in an entertaining game.

Gianfranco Zola`s side offered three changes from last weekends game at Blackburn with Daniel Pudil and Nathaniel Chalobah returning after suspension and Almen Abdi back after injury.

Watford produced an excellent first 30 minutes of football and created a number of opportunities as Leicester struggled to get into the game. Troy Deeney had an early effort which cleared the crossbar and Kasper Schmeichel had to be alert to dangerous crosses from Pudil and Cassetti.

Deeney came very close to opening the scoring for Watford when he was on the end of a good passing move and fired his effort from 20 years out just over the angle between bar and post.

Watford did take the lead after 14 minutes. A good passing move found Fernando Forestieri in space and he played the ball through to Abdi who broke clear of the defence and finished under Schmeichel.

Watford continued to dominate and forced Schmeichel into other saves from Forestieri and Pudil.

Leicester gradually fought their way back into the game towards the end of the first half and Almunia had to be on his toes to deny Anthony Knockaert from close ranger. Leicester came even closer to an equaliser moments later when Zak Whitbread met a corner but was denied on the line by Jonathan Hogg.

Half Time 1-1

The second half struggled to live up to the first for most of the opening twenty minutes with Leicester struggling to get back into the game and Watford not able to capitalize on their possession.

Watford double their lead midway through the second half through Fernando Forestieri. Good build up down Watford`s right saw Troy Deeney, in space, fire towards goal wards. His effort was blocked and ball broke to Daniel Pudil whose fierce drive was brilliantly saved by Schmeichel but Forestieri was on hand to tap the ball in.

Leicester got themselves back into the game immediately with a goal from David Nugent. A deep ball into the box by Paul Konchesky was taken down by Nugent as the ball evaded Pudil, and he cut inside and fired into the far corner.

From then on Leicester pushed for the equaliser and Watford wasted a number of chances to hit Leicester on the break as they struggled to find the decisive pass.

Leicester were reduced to ten men with just five minutes remaining. Zak Whitbread already booked for pulling down Troy Deeney tripped substitute Matej Vydra has he attempted to break away, and received a second yellow card.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Leicester threw caution to the wind and continued pumping long balls into the box with Lloyd Doyley defending particularly well against man mountain Marko Futacs.

Watford saw the game out to win back to back home matches for the first time this season and cost Leicester their place in the top two.

Watford: Almunia (c); Doyley, Hall (Anya), Hoban; Cassetti, Hogg, Abdi (Smith), Chalobah, Pudil; Forestieri (Vydra) & Deeney

Subs Not Used: Bond (GK), Yeates, Battocchio, Geijo

Leicester City: Schmeichel; Moore, Morgan (c), Whitbread, Konchesky; Marshall (Waghorn), King, Drinkwater (Dyer), Jams, Knockaert (Futacs); Nugent

Subs not used:Logan (GK), Danns, Dyer, Gallagher & Schlupp.

Attendance: 12,954

Referee: Mr A D`Urso.

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