Hull City 1-0 Watford: Ozan Tufan penalty ends Watford's play-off hopes

Hull celebrate Ozan Tufan's winner from the spot

Ozan Tufan's penalty ensured Hull ended Watford's Championship play-off hopes.

City had won one of their previous eight games but the recalled Tufan converted from the spot on 24 minutes.

Tigers keeper Karl Darlow then produced a superb late save to deny Ismaila Sarr and ensure a seventh clean sheet in eight in front of their own fans.

The Hornets are winless in eight on the road and, having sat third on 20 January, slipped into the bottom half three points ahead of the Tigers.

In a low-key start Joao Pedro fired a loose ball over the City bar after seven minutes, while at the other end Callum Elder headed over a good chance at the far post from Jean Michael Seri's cross.

The hosts were awarded a penalty when a backheel from teenager Harry Vaughan, making his home debut, freed Regan Slater in the area, only for the midfielder to be fouled by Ryan Andrews.

Tufan - recalled by boss Liam Rosenior in place of Dimitrios Pelkas - coolly sent the keeper the wrong way and found the bottom corner from the spot for his eighth goal of the season.

Chris Wilder's side sought a response and Joao Pedro lobbed on to the roof of the net just before the half hour and, after being found by Imran Louza, saw a low shot saved by Darlow before the break.

After the turnaround Joao Pedro again glanced a header over from a Louza free-kick and saw appeals for a penalty for handball dismissed while sub Keinan Davis saw an effort blocked by Sean McLoughlin from Ken Sema's cross.

In the dying moments Sarr latched on to a Davis flick but saw his lob clawed wide by the fingertips of Darlow as the Hornets made it three consecutive games without scoring against Hull, winning just two of their past 11 encounters.

Hull manager Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Humberside: "In the Championship to be successful you have to win in different ways. We had to show a different side to our game today, and we did. We have had seven clean sheets in eight at home.

"What I'm trying to build is a team that can be consistent for a season. Today I am so pleased with their mentality to defend and to press. In the second half Ozan Tufan ran 90 yards back into his own box to head one clear - that is the spirit and mentality you need, on top of playing good, exciting football and scoring goals. The players are starting to understand that and I'm really proud of them today."

Watford manager Chris Wilder told BBC Three Counties Radio: "It was a typical Championship game. In the first half there was not a lot in it, but they punished our mistakes. I thought our players gave it a right go and deserved something from the game.

"It is disappointing. I have watched a lot of games in the Championship and that's a typical one, judged and decided by fine moments and unfortunately we have not taken the big chances that we had.

"We have just got to go into these last two games and see what we can get out of them."