Watford FC returned to winning ways last night with a victory over bottom of the table Wycombe Wanderers, thanks to a brace from Andre Gray.
A goal each half for Gray saw Watford cruise to victory at Vicarage Road, with a result that keeps them in touching distance of the automatic promotion spots.
Head coach Xisco Munoz named three changes to the side who fell short against Bournemouth on the weekend, bringing in William Troost-Ekong, Philip Zinckernagel and Gray to the starting 11.
Just before kick-off, a minute silence was well-observed following the passing of former Hornets boss Glenn Roeder on Sunday.
Watford took the lead on the 14th minute after Kiko Femenia found Gray with a fantastic ball, and the striker finished well to get just his second goal of the season, and more importantly gave the Hornets the early goal they would have wanted.
The Chairboys were looking mostly dangerous from set-pieces, with Joe Jacobson’s free kick narrowly avoiding the head of Ikpeazu just before the half hour mark.
Five minutes later, Ismaila Sarr almost doubled the Hornets’ advantage with a curling effort, but it went just wide of the post.
Their best chance to get a second before half time fell to Ken Sema after Sarr’s cross was spilt by the goalkeeper, but the Swedish international couldn’t find the net with his weak-foot.
Just before the hour mark, the Hornets got the breathing space they needed when Zinckernagel slipped the ball through brilliantly to Gray, who made no mistake with this finish to get his and Watford’s second of the evening.
Watford saw the rest of the game out comfortably, with the visitors unable to create many clear-cut chances.
The result keeps Watford in third place, but allowed them to be level on points with second placed Brentford, who dropped points against league leaders Norwich City a few hours earlier.
Fourth placed Swansea City managed to steal all three points against Stoke City thanks to a controversial last minute penalty, putting them just a point behind Watford with two games in hand.
Next up for the Hornets is another game at Vicarage Road, this time welcoming Nottingham Forest.
Picture credit Watford FC
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