Town’s Watford hoodoo stretched to 15 games as the Hornets came from behind to beat the Blues 2-1 at Vicarage Road. Paul Jewell’s men should have been more than Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’s goal in front at half-time, Michael Chopra having missed a sitter, but were second best after the break with goals from Sean Murray and Troy Deeney — the latter after a Carlos Edwards error - seeing the home side to victory.
As expected, Town boss Paul Jewell recalled Andy Drury in place of the suspended Grant Leadbitter with the starting XI otherwise unchanged. Luke Hyam was called on to the bench.
On a bumpy Vicarage Road surface, Emmanuel-Thomas struck the first shot of the game in the second minute after cutting in from the right but the ball struck an offside Chopra, who was back at the club where he spent a loan spell in 2003.
The home side should have gone in front a minute later when Carl Dickinson sent Joe Garner away in space down the left with the Town defence asleep. The former Forest man squared to Troy Deeney but the advancing Alex McCarthy superbly blocked with his feet.
In a frenetic start it was Town’s turn to threaten next, and on several occasions. First a break involving Lee Martin and Chopra allowed Murphy a shot at goal, a defender blocking. The ball came out to Aaron Cresswell, who found Emmanuel-Thomas at the far post, Hornets keeper Tomasz Kuszczak pushing around the post.
Town came close again from the corner, the ball running loose to Murphy but Lloyd Doyley blocked. From that corner, Delaney hit a shot which deflected over.
Murphy was again near to opening the scoring from the subsequent flagkick, Drury and Martin exchanging passes and the latter sending in a ball to the far post, which the Irishman flicked just wide.
The on-loan Celtic man came close yet again in the 10th minute when Drury whipped across a freekick and another header just missed the target, although without too much power.
Two minutes later, the Waterford-born wide player or frontman had a go from distance after a strong Emmanuel-Thomas from deep, but his strike flew over Kuszczak’s goal.
The Blues finally got the goal their early chances deserved in the 18th minute. After a throw, Drury sent the ball across the edge of the six-yard area from the left but too far ahead of his team-mates.
The danger seemed to have gone until a lack of communication between Kuszczak and Dickinson gifted Emmanuel-Thomas a chance. The ex-Stoke man allowed the ball to run across his body into the path of the Blues midfielder, who gratefully played it back across the keeper and into the net for his sixth goal of the season.
Town should have increased their lead in the 34th minute when Michael Chopra missed a golden opportunity. The one-time Watford loanee found Emmanuel-Thomas with a cross-field pass, the ex-Arsenal man tricking his way past Dickinson before sending a ball across the six-yard box to the far post. Chopra seemed destined to tap home but somehow missed the target and the ball bounced out off the stanchion.
Two minutes later, the Blues failed to clear their lines and Deeney hit a low shot which the impressive McCarthy claimed down to his right.
At the other end, Kuszczak somewhat uncertainly pushed away a Delaney header from an Emmanuel-Thomas corner on the right.
As the half moved into its final three minutes, Murphy scuffed another shot wide from 25 yards with the Blues continuing to look the more likely scorers.
There was a scare for Town just as the game moved into injury time at the end of the first period. Delaney lost his footing on the poor surface, allowing Garner a shot at goal. Fortunately for the Blues, Smith got across to block.
Premier League referee Peter Walton blew the whistle soon after to end the half with Town deservedly in the lead.
The 1-0 scoreline flattered the home side with Town having had plenty of opportunities to add to their lead, Murphy in number and Chopra in quality.
Overall, despite a pitch on which passing football wasn’t easy, the Blues had played the better football and looked a threat on the break whenever Watford attacks broke down with Emmanuel-Thomas giving Dickinson and Dean Murray a torrid time down Town’s left flank.
The home side switched Prince Buaben for Jonathan Hogg at the break. The period’s first serious penalty area action seeing McCarthy dive at Alex Kacaniklic’s feet after Deeney had made a strong run following a Drury error on halfway.
Chris Iwelumo replaced Garner and soon after created an opening for Deeney with a flicked header. McCarthy pushed the ball away from the former Walsall striker then was caught in the head and left prone by the Watford frontman after blocking his second effort. Deeney would have had an open goal had referee Walton not signalled a freekick and waved on the Town physio. McCarthy was fine to carry on after treatment.
Kuszczak dropped Emmanuel-Thomas’s freekick on the hour but fortunately for the home side the on-loan Manchester United keeper was able to claim at the second attempt. Watford had started the second period more strongly with the Blues having been unable to threaten as often as in the opening period.
Iwelumo clattered into McCarthy Nat Lofthouse-style in the 69th minute as a cross wafted in from the left. Referee Peter Walton surprisingly decided against showing a yellow card.
The Hornets got back on terms in the 71st minute. Delaney initially dispossess Deeney as he broke into the area from Buaben’s pass but the ball ran loose to the Watford striker. Cresswell made a second challenge but it broke to Murray, who shot home from the edge of the area.
On the balance of the first half, Town should have been well in front, but the Hornets had been on top since the break — with the physical presence of Iwelumo and Deeney causing problems - and continued to threaten after their goal. To try and redress the balance, Town boss Paul Jewell swapped Luke Hyam and Ryan Stevenson for Bowyer and Chopra, the ex-Hearts man taking up the lone striking role.
Watford went in front in the 82nd minute after a catastrophic error from skipper Carlos Edwards. The Trinidadian played the ball back to McCarthy but too weakly allowing Deeney to intercept. The striker beat the Town keeper to the ball, then turned a chipped over Cresswell on the line and into the net.
Carson took over from Martin for the final seven minutes. The Blues were close to an equaliser in the 88th minute when sub Stevenson headed a high ball goalwards only for an outstretched Nyron Nosworthy leg to divert it over.
Town huffed and puffed in the closing stages but never really looked like getting back into a game they should have had won at half-time.
Before the break, the Blues should have got themselves more than just the single goal in front — with Chopra’s miss proving costly - and were made to pay for it with Watford, taking a more direct approach once Iwelumo was introduced, the stronger side in the second.
Town boss Paul Jewell will be furious with the goals which were a return to the mistakes seen all too often earlier in the season and which he hoped had been eradicated during the recent good run of form.
The Blues have the chance to get back on track when Middlesbrough visit Portman Road on Tuesday, with Barnsley following them on the Saturday.
Watford: Kuszczak, Doyley, Nosworthy, Taylor, Dickinson, Murray, Hogg (Buaben 46), Eustace (c), Kacaniklic, Deeney, Garner (Iwelumo 54). Unused: Loach, Bennett, Assombalonga.
Town: McCarthy, Edwards (c), Smith, Delaney, Cresswell, Bowyer (Hyam 77), Drury, Emmanuel-Thomas, Martin (Carson 83), Murphy, Chopra (Stevenson 78). Unused: Lee-Barrett, Sonko. Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire). Att: 12,757 (Town: 1,785).