Blackpool 3-1 Watford: Jerry Yates' double ends Tangerines' winless run
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Jerry Yates doubled his goal tally for the season with two goals in five minutes
Blackpool ended a four-match winless run as Jerry Yates' late double sunk Slaven Bilic's Watford at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool were ahead early on when Callum Connolly's header across the box found Gary Madine in acres of space to scramble in his first goal of the season.
Imran Louza curled a superb free-kick into the top corner to level as the Hornets responded strongly.
Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann made a string of second-half saves but was finally beaten by Yates' scuffed shot before the striker rifled in a second moments later.
The Seasiders had lost their previous three home matches 1-0, but led early through Madine's first goal of the season before Bachmann kept out Yates' curling effort in a strong start.
But Bilic's side responded well, Louza's superb first goal for the club sparing the blushes of Ismaila Sarr, who moments earlier had failed to connect when Hassane Kamara's pass handed him an open goal.
Watford ended the first half on top as Ken Sema slipped in Vakoun Bayo, whose low shot was saved by Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.
But the visitors could not maintain the momentum after the break and had Bachmann to thank for two saves in a minute, stopping Madine's powerful header and then parrying away Jordan Thorniley's headed effort.
Yates finally gave the hosts a deserved lead and then wrapped up a second win in six matches in style, driving into the box and selling a dummy before finishing for his fourth goal of the season.
A first home win since the opening day of the season lifts Blackpool to 19th, four points clear of the bottom three, while a second defeat in three for new boss Bilic leaves Watford in 12th.
Blackpool boss Michael Appleton told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I thought the first 20 minutes of the second half, we were great. We were aggressive, we were on the front foot, we were a lot braver, especially out of possession, and created numerous chances.
"If you weren't creating chances you would be a little bit concerned, but we have been. There's no reason for us to lose confidence.
"We are in most of the games we've played. I've only been disappointed once, I mean truly disappointed, when coming away from a game, and that was the Rotherham game.
"The first (Yates) goal was a really good, controlled finish, but the second goal was superb. The lads have just been joking, but if that's in the Premier League, they would be raving about it."
Watford boss Slaven Bilic told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"I feel almost embarrassed. It's not only disappointment, it's not only three points, it's the way we lost it.
"It's not easy to come back away, but we equalised and then we were much better in the first half.
"We wanted to raise our game, but in the second half we were simply not good enough on the ball.
"We had plenty of the ball, but almost every counter-attack was a major danger for us. If you give them enough opportunities they will score some."