Heidar Hornets Hero

Watford secured their place in The Championship with a 1-0 win at Stoke.

Heidar Helguson has been the bright spot in Watford's season and his 19th goal of the campaign shortly after the break proved decisive.

Stoke held sway early on, with Chris Greenacre and David Brammer firing in efforts from long range.

The Hornets almost snatched the lead against the run of play on 24 minutes, but Michael Duberry did well to deflect Bruce Dyer's shot wide of goal.

Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen earned his wages moments before the break when saving well from Dominic Blizzard and Helguson, but he could do nothing to prevent the latter breaking the deadlock on 51 minutes.

Helguson found space in the box and turned his shot in from close range.

Stoke failed to fashion a response and Watford were able to claim the spoils with a degree of ease.

Hornet lose but Demerit sent off!

Leeds United heaped more misery on Watford with a 2-1 win at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets are in real trouble just above the relegation spots and they succumbed to a second-half goal from Clarke Carlisle.

Watford started well and Heidar Helguson was stunned to see Neil Sullivan make a fine save to deny the home side the head.

Leeds rode their luck and took the lead on 28 minutes when Rob Hulse stole in front of his marker to head home from Gary Kelly's cross.

Watford rallied and Sullivan made a fine save from a Chris Eagles shot, but the keeper could do nothing to deny Helguson who pounced to level the scores with a fine headeron 41 minutes.

Watford saw Jay DeMerit sent off just into the second half and they were made to pay the price when Carlisle headed home a Matthew Kilgallon cross on 67 minutes.

The home side could have snatched a point, but Helguson saw Sullivan make a fine save and Ashley Young hit the woodwork as Leeds held on.

Hornets stung at Plymouth

Watford are just a point off the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle.

Hungarian Akos Buzsaky - on loan from Porto - struck the only goal of the game to give The Pilgrims a crucial win, which lifts them above The Hornets into 16th - but still just four points off the bottom three.

The match was always going to be a tense affair at Home Park, but Plymouth went ahead with one of the first chances of the game after just ten minutes.

Northern Irish star Tony Capaldi created the danger as he crossed into the area for Buzsaky to convert.

Hasney Aljofree and Capaldi both went close as Plymouth pressed, but Watford still had their chances and both Heidar Helguson and Bruce Dyer had good chances to level.

Watford came out in the second period looking for an immediate response and pressurised the home goal - but to no avail as the nerves seem to get to both sides.

Both Anthony McNamee and Hameur Bouazza were thrown on by new Hornets chief Adrian Boothroyd - but in vain as Plymouth held on.

Boothroyd is still looking for his first win since taking charge at Vicarage Road last month.

Hornets lose Again

Watford remain in danger of relegation after Adrian Boothroyd's first match in charge ended with a 3-1 defeat at Burnley.

The Hornets have slipped into the battle for survival after five defeats in six games and Boothroyd, a 34-year-old coach with Leeds United, was brought in this week to ensure their Championship status after Ray Lewington was surprisingly sacked.

His reign, however, is off to an inauspicious start and he must lift his players after they moved to within two points of the bottom three.

Two defensive errors in the first half meant they were always chasing the game as goals by Dean Bowditch and James O'Connor gave Burnley a two-goal cushion by the break.

Bowditch, on loan from Ipswich and scorer of a hat-trick against Watford last season, was afforded acres of space to score the first, as he chased a hopeful long ball and beat Richard Lee with a fine finish.

O'Connor then went unchallenged as he beat Lee with a drive from the edge of the area two minutes before half time.

Boothroyd sent on three substitutes in an effort to turn the tide in the second half and two of them combined to bring Watford back into the game on 77 minutes, Dominic Blizzard heading in from Anthony McNamee's corner.

However, Burnley wrapped up the points in the dying seconds when Valois turned the ball past Lee from a tight angle.

helooo