Watford 4-1 Preston North End: Hornets thrash struggling Lilywhites
- Published
Nathaniel Chalobah netted his first goal for six years to put Watford in control
Watford moved up to third in the Championship with a thumping victory against struggling Preston North End.
Domingo Quina smashed Ismaila Sarr's cross past Declan Rudd on the volley before Joao Pedro's tap-in from Troy Deeney's cross was ruled out for offside.
The lead was doubled when Deeney smashed a penalty through Rudd's hands after Sarr went down under Jordan Storey's challenge before Tom Barkhuizen's heavily deflected shot halved the deficit.
But Nathaniel Chalobah quickly restored the Hornets' two-goal lead with a fine half-volley after a one-two with Deeney, and Pedro plundered a fourth via James Garner's corner and Craig Cathcart's flick-on.
Watford made it 19 points from a possible 21 at Vicarage Road this season, but had to overcome a side which boasted the second-best away record in the division, with all but three of their 16-point total earned on the road.
Ben Foster had to tip over Sean Maguire's fierce shot from the edge of the box and then had to be out quickly to save from Patrick Bauer after a mix-up at the back.
But the hosts bossed the first half and almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Rudd made a fine save to tip over Sarr's fierce drive.
Deeney had a big impact after being recalled to the starting XI, despite seeing striking partner Andre Gray limp off midway through the first half, and could have added to his penalty, but headed over unmarked from six yards.
Preston are the only Championship team to have scored in every away game this season and did threaten a second-half comeback through Barkhuizen, but it was quickly snuffed out as Vladimir Ilic's side stepped up and made it 14 goals in their last five home matches.
And while Watford extended their unbeaten run to five matches, the Lilywhites' fifth defeat in seven matches dropped them to 18th.
Watford boss Vladimir Ivic told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We started today like we want to start every game, but today a lot of things were positive.
"Troy (Deeney) is captain of this club; all of us know he is one of the most experienced players and we don't need to speak about his quality - everyone knows that. His mentality can help us, his quality, his assists, his goals.
"After a long period being injured we must be smart now how we use him because we see what has happened today with Andre Gray - he has one injury, stay out two months, play two games and again injured."
Preston manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"We don't have a fit full-back, or even cover for a full-back available, so we felt it best to go with a back five and put our quickest players in there to counter their threat out wide.
"To be honest, I thought it was a good, competitive match for about 60 minutes and then we just don't defend some basic stuff in our box well enough, and when you give Watford goals quite cheaply then you find it doubly difficult to get into the game.
"We then have a penalty shout which I was too far away to see, but if we do get it, it potentially goes to 3-2 and we're back in the match, but as soon as the fourth goal goes in really the game's over."