A goal in either half from Ikechi Anya and Nathaniel Chalobah saw Watford to a 2-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. The impressive visitors had already struck the bar via Jonathan Hogg before Anya’s well-worked 18th minute goal. Town gradually came more into it but the Hornets sealed the victory through 18-year-old Chelsea loanee Chalobah with 18 minutes remaining.

Michael Chopra started only his third game under Mick McCarthy against his former loan club Watford, having netted the winner against Blackpool on Saturday.

Daryl Murphy dropped to the bench with Lee Martin back at left midfield after his hamstring injury. Another ex-Hornet, Scott Loach, returned to the squad but was on the bench with Stephen Henderson keeping his place in goal.

Watford boss Gianfranco Zola made three changes with Joel Ekstrand, Jonathan Hogg and Fernando Forestieri coming into the side for Daniel Pudil, who is ill, Christian Battocchio and Matej Vydra.

There was an early scare for the Blues when Troy Deeney cut the ball back across the area from the right but either behind or in front of all of his team-mates.

The visitors were starting much the stronger and in the fourth minute Jonathan Hogg seized on a loose ball in space 30 yards out and unleashed a powerful strike which beat Henderson but crashed against the top of the bar.

The pressure continued with Almen Abdi finding Deeney inside the area but his shot at goal struck a defender and went wide with 18-year-old Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah close to adding a touch before it went out.

Chopra screwed Town’s first shot at goal wide in the eighth minute but home attacks were rare in the opening minutes with the Blues unable to keep hold of the ball against a confident Watford side moving the ball around quickly.

On 11 Guirane N’Daw made the most of an error by Nyron Nosworthy but David McGoldrick’s shot was too high after good work from Chopra.

However, Town were finding Watford’s quick passing in and around the box difficult to cope with and in the 19th minute the visitors went in front. Hogg cut inside from the right and found Deeney, who fed Ikechi Anya, who curled the ball past Henderson and beyond the despairing Aaron Cresswell.

Within a minute, Stearman made what appeared to be an important challenge as Anya went through, colliding with Henderson, however the linesman’s flag was raised. The Blues defender appeared to injure his hand in the clash with his keeper.

Fernando Foriestieri was through in the 24th minute with the Hornets looking like they might score another at any moment. Henderson was out quickly but hit Luke Chambers with his clearance, the ball cannoning out to the Town right and to relative safety.

The Blues felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 29th minute when Martin cut in from the left and looked to be tripped as he ran past Hogg, but referee Roger East waved away the protests.

Town were more in it but without particularly threatening, while the Hornets, the best passing side to visit Portman Road by some distance this season, were always a danger when Town surrendered possession. On 34 Chopra over-hit a pass which would have seen skipper Carlos Edwards through on goal.

Soon after, McGoldrick shot low from 20 yards but failed to seriously Manuel Almunia in goal for Watford. Town weren’t far from getting on terms in the 44th minute when Edwards returned a corner from deep, McGoldrick headed it down but the ball bounced over Stearman as he looked to head home.

As the half moved into injury time, Tommy Smith was booked for a foul on Forestieri. From the freekick, Chalobah eventually shot straight at Henderson.

Just before the break, Stearman crossed from the right and Chopra pulled off a superb overhead kick but too close to Almunia. Any distance either side of the former Arsenal man and it would have been a goal.

Town ended the half on the attack but overall the visitors were good for their lead, having begun the game very strongly. On another day they might have found themselves substantially more than the single goal in front with chances both before and after going in front.

The Blues, who were very much given the run around in the early stages, might well have had a penalty when Martin was fouled and could have got back on terms late on with Chopra and Stearman both going close.

Town started the second half on the front foot and Martin sent across a dangerous ball early on but Nosworthy slammed it behind for a corner.

The Blues continued to push and in the 52nd minute Edwards's cross from the right was just taken out of McGoldrick’s reach by Nosworthy’s flicked header. The loose ball ran to Martin, whose strike was blocked. The former Manchester United winger made way for Aaron Mclean in the 54th minute.

Town had the ball in the net on 56 after Almunia had parried a cross from Edwards which Chopra had sought to help on into the net. Smith was first to the rebound into the net but with the linesman’s flag raised.

Deeney backheeled wide for Watford, but the Blues had been the more threatening side in the first quarter hour of the second period. On 59 Deeney was booked for a late tackle on Stearman.

Smith headed over in the 65th minute before Frank Nouble replaced McGoldrick up front. A minute later Forestieri was booked for time-wasting after being flagged offside.

Watford might have gone two in front in the 68th minute when Smith cleared to Deeney, who found Forestieri. The Argentinian tricked his way into space in the area but lashed well wide. Not long after, Stearman and Abdi both picked up yellow cards for fouls in separate incidents.

Forestieri scuffed a shot on the turn through to Henderson in the 71st minute with Watford starting to get back on top again.

And a minute later, they increased their lead via another well-worked goal. Chalobah, who had started the move, was superbly played in by Hogg and had no trouble playing the ball across Henderson and into the net from just inside the area.

Sub Nouble shot wide on 76, then N’Daw lashed a freekick into the Watford wall in the 81st minute with Town continuing to push but without creating too much which tested Almunia.

Mclean scuffed a spectacular-looking overhead kick well wide with three minutes of normal time remaining, then headed Cresswell’s cross to Almunia’s left, the keeper getting down well to save.

As the game moved into injury time, Almunia saved Cresswell’s freekick down to his left and in the dying moments sub Craig Forsyth got ahead of Chambers at the far post as a cross flew in from the right.

But Almunia was never really seriously tested and soon after referee Roger East’s whistle signalled full-time and a deserved victory to the Hertfordshire side, who are now undefeated in Suffolk since March 2004.

Town didn’t play particularly poorly, they just met a better side. Watford started very strongly and could have had the game settled before the Blues came more into it late on in the first half.

A few months ago the Blues might have collapsed, as they did at Crystal Palace and Leicester, but since Mick McCarthy took over they aren’t anything like as vulnerable after going behind and being put under pressure.

The second period was more even, but the visitors still looked more dangerous going forward and sealed it with the excellent Chalobah’s goal.

Town kept huffing and puffing in the final minutes but never really looked like getting back into the game.

Town: Henderson, Stearman, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards (c), Hyam, N’Daw, Martin (Mclean 54), Chopra, McGoldrick (Nouble 65). Unused: Loach, Hewitt, Kisnorbo, Drury, Murphy.

Watford: Almunia (c), Doyley, Ekstrand, Nosworthy, Cassetti, Hogg, Chalobah, Abdi, Anya (Forsyth 78), Forestieri (Geijo 72), Deeney (Yeates 87). Unused: Bond, Murray, Vydra, Battocchio. Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire). Att: 16,821 (Watford: 954).

Photo: Action Images

bluemikey100 added 22:07 - Feb 19 mmm squeeky bottom time sat gotta win at huddersfield no rhodes thank god
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runningout added 22:14 - Feb 19 cant afford to have squeaky bottoms... got to be clinical in all areas, and play like professionals, not part-timers like we have too often... no team in this league to be concerned of for sure
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NoCanariesAllowed added 22:19 - Feb 19 A loss to anybody feels bad when you're near the bottom, but we do have to remember who we lost to tonight. (And I don't mean Udinese. ;) ) Watford do have one of the best away records in the Championship and are well worth their current position based on the way they play and the number of goals they score. But it says a lot for us that the top scorers in the division only put two past us when other teams were putting 5 and 6 past us earlier in the campaign. In fact, not counting the heavy defeats at Leicester and Palace (which I feel were still the defensive after-effects of the Jewell reign), we've only conceded 16 goals in 16 league games under McCarthy... compared to 26 in the 13 league matches before he arrived.

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TimmyH added 22:20 - Feb 19 Would have been happy with a point tonight but sounds like that was beyond us...relegation battle coming up now against Huddersfield. Again Peterboro with one of their unpredictable results tonight 5-1 thrashing of Millwall!! and Barnsley continue their good form and don't forget most teams around us have a game in hand.
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neillrumsey added 22:28 - Feb 19 The gulf in class was clear for all to see. We worked hard to keep the score down but that's the only positive. Ref was possibly the worst this season. MM should have left Lee Martin on as we capitulated once he left the field. I expect it was done for good reason as he has missed a couple of games. Edwards excellent second half. This is how he needs to play each and every game. Time to rest N'Daw as too many poor games of late. Drury to start at the weekend please and JET on the bench for Nouble..

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daniel9624 added 22:40 - Feb 19 I can handle losing to a clearly better side atm. But on Saturday we play Huddersfield who are not a better side, so 3 pts is a must
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algarvefan added 22:42 - Feb 19 To be honest a while ago we would have folded like a pack of cards against a good side like Watford, I think they will win the Championship. We know we are still a long way off from where we want to be, heads down for the big bosh gangbang and lets move on and concentrate on ensuring we are playing Championship football again next season. 3 points Saturday please!!!!

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itfcjc added 22:42 - Feb 19 Give Udinese credit they placed well We on the other hand were crap Lead by Edwards, Chopra and N'DAWFUL must win on Saturday
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Notts_tractor added 22:43 - Feb 19 It's all well and good saying it's Ok because we were beaten by a better side - WHY are they a better side? They've always been a load of dirty long ball merchants (although always capable of beating us), but now suddenly they're Barcelona! The Udinese link obviously helps, but the progress they've made is astonishing and is in stark contrast to the awful stagnation that has enveloped Ipswich Town in the last 8 years. I've never particularly liked Mick McCarthy, but I do think he has a knack of building decent teams. If we stay up - I think we will, but it'll go down to the wire- I think he has to start virtually from scratch and get rid of a lot of the current crop. There's too many Keane/Jewell flops still hanging around. He might even build a team in the mould of Joe Royle's side of 2003-5, based on shrewd signings and homegrown talent. Right now that seems like the Promised Land.

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bluefeast added 23:00 - Feb 19 They were far better than us ,quicker , more mobile ,great touch ,movement control ,creativity , goal threat ,defence , ie everything. We huffed and puffed in the 3nd half . Our weaknes is our 2 defensive minded midfield players. Thats the problem. Its going to be a big ask to do anything other than work hard this season ,lets hope its enough.
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ElephantBlue added 23:10 - Feb 19 Notts_tractor Watford have made leaps and bounds as they basically are a totally different team this season than last. They have 11 loan players and 7 are international meaning they can actually play all of them at once if they want. Yes we haven't gone forward under the last few managers however any team in the championship that has that much quality inserted would look like Watford do now.

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Notts_tractor added 23:25 - Feb 19 Elephant, take your point, but we are the loanee -team par example, yet we don't seem to be able to find the same quality.
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ElephantBlue added 23:29 - Feb 19 If Marcus owned a team in spain and Italy we may :)
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mattraisin added 01:37 - Feb 20 Chopra was a ray of light in a shocking display. Can't keep the ball but more importantly, we created next to nothing. Excellent and hard working display from Chops unlucky not to score from an audacious overhead. Start him every game. N'daw is just not creative enough for the amount of passes he tried to make. Desperately need a brain in midfield. Hyam is young enough to be coached in this direction but somebody in the squad needs to show him what real midfield class is. I remember the Bullard loan spell, could pick a pass before the forwards even new they were going to be on the end if it. Hope Wordsworth will be this man next season, but emergency loan for a creative CM would be my priority.

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Tufty added 07:00 - Feb 20 If Watford owned their own team things might be different - ridiculous rules
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village_blue added 07:04 - Feb 20 After last nights display we have got to drop N'Daw as he once again was woeful. He hardly found a blue shirt with a pass all night, the only use he has to team is that he is akward to get past.
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Elizabeth added 07:55 - Feb 20 I was at the game last night and quite honestly we were out played in all departments. We seemed to lack shape, organisation and ideas about how to play against a team of this calibre . We should have had a penalty and I suspect when the referee watches the replay he will be embarrassed by his decision. We have to get some kind of result on Saturday because I fear that when we meet Peterborough they will have the grit and determination to beat us! At the beginning of this season , I didn't for one minute think that we would be in a relegation dog fight. We need to stay in this division of football and I just hope that at the end of the day we have the players to achieve this.

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Michael11 added 10:18 - Feb 20 Although it's never nice to lose, it's not the teams like Watford that we'll need to beat to stay up. More importantly we have teams like Huddersfield (now with a worse goal difference than us) and Peterborough to play which are really big games where we do need to take the points!
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MattR added 10:34 - Feb 20 Couple of things re our loans... That they are internationals is neither here nor there, misinformation in a Sky piece last week that has been widely re-reported. There is technically no such thing as an international loan - all such deals are effectively permanent transfers with return clauses. So none of our loans count towards the loan limit except Chalobah. It's not "unfair" since it's within the rules. I'm not sure it's even unethical really... nobody objects to millionaire takeovers, we have merely been taken over by someone with experience of running football clubs, a scouting system and a huge pool of young players. Should the rules be changed, the players will simply move on permanent deals (as Forestieri already has). Give me this over building up unsustainable debt in chasing the dream, with EPPP changes making our hand ever weaker any day of the week. As for last night... from the away end it didn't feel as comfortable as your accounts make it sound. Sure, we were the better side but it helped an awful lot that we took that early lead. There's enough resilience about you that you ought to stay up.

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BroskiBeen added 11:06 - Feb 20 They have 9 players on loan from the same team, how is that fair? Also they signed a player from them but if the owner owns both clubs (udinese and Watford) then who paid who, he paid himself so thechinally they signed the player on a free , the FA need to sort this out
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MattR added 11:31 - Feb 20 How is it unfair? How is it any less fair than a millionaire investor suddenly allowing us to go crazy in the transfer market? Pozzo hasn't got that money, but he's been building Udinese for 25 years and has a vast pool of young players. A different kind of asset. Not quite sure what you're wanting the FA to sort out...
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BroskiBeen added 11:45 - Feb 20 That's it he sorted out udinese for 25 years NOT WATFORD and Watford benefit, should Marcus get an affiliation with barca and loan their youngsters?
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BroskiBeen added 11:47 - Feb 20 but also if there is a limit on the amount of domestic loans why are foreign loans any different, in fact it should be the other way round
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MattR added 12:12 - Feb 20 If you can get that link with Barca, good luck to you. It suits Pozzo and Udinese to have a wider school of clubs to bring their recruits into. They have, by reputation, the largest scouting network in the world and bring in a LOT of young players. Some will be better suited to English football, some Italian, some Spanish. Some will develop into top players and be sold on (eg Alexis Sanchez, the list of Udinese big sales is extraordinary). So it suits Udinese to have more clubs in the school, more places where the players can be brought on. Watford are part of that group now, as are Granada in Spain. The alternative, for a club like Watford, would be to spend money we haven't got in pursuit of success (like many others, inc ourselves in the past). Or to keep trying to build steadily, based on youth development. Thing is, the latter has been all but screwed by EPPP... we can now only sign kids that the big clubs haven't bothered with. So we are essentially told to stay in our box. This is kinda evolution, and I'm enjoying it. Especially if it annoys muppets like Holloway - fair play to McCarthy for his refusal to join in the catterwaulling. I do think it's different internationally vs nationally, clubs can distort competitions to their advantage by loaning domestically (eg Man United, say could loan their reserve side to Reading, who could then strengthen their hand against everyone but United, against whom they'd be ineligible). That's not the same internationally - Watford and Udinese wouldn't be able to compete in the same European comp, for example, should it ever come to that. But as above that's beside the point. If the loan loophole is closed, the players will be transferred for free instead.

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runningout added 12:32 - Feb 20 Watford are going well, and would beat over half the teams in the prem at the mo.. Well done to them.. Our squad has the same ability when we pull our fingers out : )
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