Finally Hornets have something to savour!
A 50th minute goal by Heidar Helguson secured Watford a crucial 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, and helped them edge away from the relegation zone.
The Hornets had picked up valuable draws away at Preston and against high flying West Brom at Vicarage Road last Monday, but losses to relegation rivals Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace in the space of a month had left the club a matter of goal difference away from the drop-zone.
However, Malky Mackay's men could little afford to suffer the same kind of setback against the second from bottom Pilgrims, and a second half goal from Helguson was enough to give his team all three points in a scrappy affair at the Vic.
The long-awaited victory was also supplemented by defeats for Palace, Wednesday and Scunthorpe elsewhere, giving the relegation picture more clarity.
Although safety is by no means a certainty for the Hornets, the weekend's results have seen them rise to 19th in the Championship table.
With Saturday's loss all but confirming Plymouth's demotion, it seems as though it is a four way battle beween Watford, Palace, Scunthorpe and Wednesday to avoid the third and final relegation place.
Significantly both Watford and Scunthorpe hold a game in hand over their rivals, with the Hornets also benefiting from a much better goal difference than both Wednesday and the Irons.
Mackay's troops entered Saturday's six pointer plagued with injuries and suspensions, including the news that Tom Cleverley would play no further part in the Hornets' season following an injury sustained against West Brom five days earlier.
Suspensions to Jon Harley, Henri Lansbury and injuries to Lloyd Doyley, Will Buckley and Martin Taylor meant Mackay's men lined up with much of the team that finished Monday's game.
Helguson was back in action for Watford, but it was the unlikely foot of Ross Jenkins that had the first chance in a sloppy first half, but his shot sailed over David Stockdale's bar.
The Hornets fashioned two more half chances before Plymouth had their first real effort, only for Yala Bolasie's header to miss the target by some distance.
After netting from a wonderful strike several days earlier, Danny Graham almost gave the hosts the lead soon after with a miscued volley that looped over Stockdale onto the post.
Don Cowie could not squeeze in a cross from Helguson as the teams went in level at half time.
The second period picked up where the first ended, with Watford looking the more likely to score despite a lack of quality from both teams.
Stockdale saved from Eustace before Helguson missed a glorious chance, the forward putting the ball over with the goal at his mercy.
However the Icelandic forward made amends soon after as he stabbed in a loose ball following another Stockdale save from John Eustace.
Having finally got the elusive goal, the Hornets moved to a more defensive stance with the central defensive pairing of Dale Bennett and Jay DeMerit once again impressive in the team's stronghold.
Fully aware of the cost of defeat, Argyle came forward with intent in the closing stages, but their lack of potency in the final third truly reflected a team seemingly condemned to relegation.
Manager Mackay congratulated his team and showed no concern regarding the possibility of relegation:
"They have deserved that victory for the last few weeks.
"I think we got our just rewards today in the way they stuck at it, their character, togetherness and energy.
"As far as we're concerned, we've been playing and performing well recently and if we keep doing that we will get the points we need, I have no doubt about that.
"I've no fears about the group we have and the character they have showed when they go to any ground."
The Hornets face a tricky trip to promotion seeking Leicester City on Saturday well aware that there is still work to do.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
