Professional Hornets see off Terriers

Watford secured back to back wins in the Championship as Huddersfield were swept aside in a confident display at Vicarage Road.

Gianfranco Zola made just one change to the side that won last week at Middlesbrough, with the surprise inclusion of Craig Forsyth for his first league appearance of the season in place of Daniel Pudil, unavailable through a family illness.

Both teams struggled in the first half to create the kind of tempo to warm the 12,000 inside Vicarage Road. Watford did create the first good opportunity when Almen Abdi and Matej Vydra combined to put Troy Deeney through on goal but after taking the ball round Alex Smithies in the Huddersfield goal, shot wide from a tight angle.

At the other end Sean Scannell came close to opening the scoring for Huddersfield when he broke onto a loose ball on the edge of the box but put his shot narrowly past the post.

Huddersfield were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men towards the end of the first half when James Vaughan, who had already escaped a certain booking for a poor tackle on Nathaniel Chalobah, then clattered Manuel Almunia long after the Spaniard had cleared the ball. Vaughan was fortunate to escape with just a booking for that foul alone.

Watford came close again to taking the lead towards the end of the half following a goalmouth scramble. Troy Deeney picked the ball up on the edge of the box and curled an effort against the bar, a scramble then ensued as Watford were denied on the line by a Huddersfield defender.

Watford did take the lead from the penalty spot right at the end of the first half through Troy Deeney. A Watford break saw Vydra break into the box before being brought down by Callum Woods. The decision itself was debatable as the defender appeared to get a touch on the ball and the incident was close to being outside the box. Nevertheless Deeney stepped up to dispatch the kick and send the Hornets in ahead.

Half Time: 1-0

Watford produced a dominant second half display which saw them add another three goals to their tally to consolidate their playoff position.

They doubled their lead after 57 minutes when a passing move found Marco Cassetti in space and his deep cross was turned in by the outstretched leg of Matej Vydra who just beat Alex Smithies in goal.

One bright moment for Huddersfield came when they nearly halved the deficit on the hour mark when Jermaine Beckford met a Callum Woods cross but he was denied by a brilliant save by Manuel Almunia.

Watford continued to exert their authority in the game and came close to scoring a third when Cristian Battocchio shot just wide. Matej Vydra then did add his second and Watford's third after 73 minutes when he ran onto a Troy Deeney through ball and slotted ball under Alex Smithies.

Watford then added the icing to the cake with a spectacular fourth goal which rounded off the afternoon. A flowing passing move involving Battocchio, Cassetti and substitute Fernando Forestieri found Cassetti free on the right and his cross was touched in by Battocchio for his first goal for the club.

That concluded a thoroughly professional afternoon for Watford who consolidated their play-off place ahead of away fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Bristol City.

Watford: Almunia (c), Doyley, Nosworthy, Ekstrand, Cassetti, Forsyth, Battocchio, Chalobah (Eustace), Abdi, Deeney (Geijo), Vydra (Forestieri)

Subs Not Used: Bond (GK), Hall, Yeates & Mujangi Bia

Huddersfield Town: Smithies, Woods, Clarke, Gerrard, Dixon, Hunt, Clayton (Southern), Danns, Scannell (Arfield), Vaughan (Novak), Beckford

Subs Not Used: Bennett (GK), Wallace, Norwood & Lee

Attendance: 12, 522

Referee: Mr S Duncan

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