Mackay: Pleased with easy win
Watford manager Malky Mackay was delighted after his side comfortably beat Scunthorpe 3-0.
The Hornets claimed their third successive home win to continue their good run of form thanks to a quickfire first-half brace from Heidar Helguson, who made it five goals in just four loan appearances.
Danny Graham's strike early in the second half sealed the win and the victory propelled Watford to eighth in the table, with just goal difference keeping them out of the play-off places.
Mackay was pleased with the display at Vicarage Road, especially the form of his front two.
He said: "It certainly was a (good day). To score three goals, keep a clean sheet, and another three points is certainly very pleasing.
"Coming back after a two-week international break you always hope that you have done the right thing in terms of the time you have given off, the training you have done, the fitness work you do and just the boys being away from each other for a couple of days.
"To end up with a performance like that I was very, very pleased."
Asked about the contribution of Helguson, he said: "I know that he's going to cause problems for the centre-half and the partnership with him and Danny Graham, certainly today caused people problems.
"I am delighted that Danny Graham got his goal because he's been working so hard every day in training and he worked so hard in games."
Scunthorpe have now conceded 12 goals in four league games and boss Nigel Adkins was upset with the Iron's defending.
"Obviously the goals they gave away I am very disappointed with," he said.
"We knew that Watford were a good side, very lively and industrious in the centre of the park and having Henri Lansbury with us last year, we knew that.
"I thought the three of them in their (midfield) were superb and the front two did very well, and the front five I thought they were excellent.
"We've come away from home to try and nullify that as best as possible to give ourselves an opportunity to go forward and score, and we did create chances, but if we can't defend a simple cross into the middle of the six-yard box then we're not going to win games of football, it's as simple as that."
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Championship Round up - 7th February
McPhail makes his return
Hughton taking nothing for granted
Doncaster 1-2 Reading - Highlights
Ipswich 1-1 Middlesbrough - Highlights
Swansea 2-0 Preston - Highlights
Sheff Utd 1-1 Derby - Highlights
Soccerette - 49ers
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 13th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 12:45 | Swansea vs Newcastle |
| 13:00 | Preston vs Blackpool |
| 15:00 | Barnsley vs Plymouth |
| 15:00 | Coventry vs QPR |
| 15:00 | Doncaster vs Nottm Forest |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Scunthorpe |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Peterborough |
| 15:00 | Sheff Utd vs Bristol City |
| Tuesday 16th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Blackpool vs Middlesbrough |
| 19:45 | Bristol City vs Leicester |
| 19:45 | Cardiff vs West Brom |
| 19:45 | Derby vs Preston |
| 19:45 | Nottm Forest vs Sheff Utd |
| 19:45 | Peterborough vs Ipswich |
| 19:45 | Plymouth vs Swansea |
| 19:45 | Scunthorpe vs Barnsley |
| 19:45 | Sheff Wed vs Doncaster |
| 20:00 | QPR vs Watford |
| Wednesday 17th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Coventry |
| 20:00 | Crystal Palace vs Reading |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Scunthorpe | |
| Leicester 0 - 0 Doncaster | |
| Derby 3 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Coventry 1 - 0 Nottm Forest | |
| Preston 2 - 1 Sheff Utd | |
| Sheff Wed 2 - 0 Blackpool | |
| Cardiff 2 - 0 Peterborough | |
| Watford 2 - 0 Bristol City | |
| QPR 1 - 2 Ipswich | |
| Crystal Palace 0 - 1 Swansea | |
| Reading 2 - 1 Plymouth | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Barnsley | |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Swansea 2 - 0 Preston | |
| Barnsley 1 - 0 Watford | |
| Blackpool 1 - 2 Leicester | |
| Ipswich 1 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Nottm Forest 2 - 1 Sheff Wed | |
| Scunthorpe 1 - 2 Crystal Palace | |
| Peterborough 1 - 0 QPR | |
| Bristol City 1 - 1 Coventry | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Bromwich Albion | 30 | 59 |
| 2 | Newcastle United | 29 | 59 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 30 | 55 |
| 4 | Cardiff City | 29 | 48 |
| 5 | Swansea City | 29 | 48 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 28 | 43 |
| 7 | Sheffield United | 30 | 42 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 30 | 41 |
| 9 | Blackpool | 30 | 40 |
| 10 | Barnsley | 29 | 39 |
| 11 | Watford | 29 | 38 |
| 12 | Preston North End | 29 | 38 |
| 13 | Bristol City | 29 | 37 |
| 14 | Coventry City | 30 | 37 |
| 15 | Derby County | 30 | 36 |
| 16 | Doncaster Rovers | 28 | 34 |
| 17 | Queens Park Rangers | 29 | 34 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 30 | 34 |
| 19 | Crystal Palace | 29 | 33 |
| 20 | Ipswich Town | 29 | 33 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 29 | 33 |
| 22 | Reading | 29 | 32 |
| 23 | Plymouth Argyle | 28 | 24 |
| 24 | Peterborough United | 30 | 21 |
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