Canaries stung by Hornets

Smith nets winner after Croft had cancelled out an earlier Priskin goal

Last updated: 10th December 2008

Canaries stung by Hornets

Smith: Scored winner

Related links

Teams

Also see

Watford boss Brendan Rodgers secured his first win as the Hornets defeated fellow Championship strugglers Norwich 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

Captain Tommy Smith netted the winner on 64 minutes after the visitors' Lee Croft had cancelled out an earlier Tamas Priskin effort.

The win saw the Hornets leapfrog the Canaries into 19th place in the table and pull five points clear from the drop zone.

The home side had won just once in their last 11 games going into this fixture, and they were under the cosh in the early stages as Norwich, buoyed by their derby win over Ipswich at the weekend, started brightly.

Leroy Lita was afforded a free header in the third minute which bounced just wide and Matty Pattison tested keeper Scott Loach with a curled effort.

Norwich then had the ball in the net in the 12th minute but it was ruled out for a push on Loach, and four minutes later Watford took the lead with their first attempt on goal.

Priskin goal

Liam Bridcutt stooped to head a poor clearance from keeper David Marshall into the path of Priskin, who raced clear on the right and tucked a low shot in at the far post.

The goal instilled confidence in the hosts, who began to pass the ball more fluidly, and they could have had a second had Jon Harley's shot not been blocked well by Jon Otsemobor.

Thereafter though, Norwich were in the ascendancy, with Otsemobor just off target with a glancing header and Lee Croft forcing Loach to tip over with a fierce shot from the right of the box.

Darel Russell, who replaced Wes Hoolahan in Norwich's only change, headed inches wide shortly before the break, and Watford had to defend a series of corners on the stroke of half-time to preserve their lead.

Second-half

The second half began in similar fashion, with Doherty forcing a diving head over the bar and Sammy Clingan blasting over from distance.

The pressure finally told on 61 minutes when Croft, unmarked in the box, met David Bell's cross from the left and planted a firm downward header past a helpless Loach.

Three minutes later, however, Watford regained their lead. Smith collected the ball on the left edge of the area, jinked his way into space and fired a low shot in off the inside of the far post.

Chances were at a premium for the remainder of the game and although Norwich pressed for an equaliser, they failed to create anything of note.