Milutin Osmajic's goals were his first two in the league for Preston this season
Milutin Osmajic, who is awaiting the outcome of a Football Association charge for biting an opponent, scored twice as Preston North End beat Watford in the Championship.
Montenegro forward Osmajic, who Preston director Peter Ridsdale said earlier this week had "accepted" the charge for biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck in their September meeting, slotted home twice in 12 minutes early in the second half.
Ali McCann then sealed the home side's second win of the season, finding the net with a hooked half-volley from a free-kick to settle the outcome with 15 minutes to go.
The defeat was Watford's third of the season, leaving them eighth in the table, while Paul Heckingbottom's Preston climbed out of the bottom three with their win at Deepdale.
Before Preston's second-half onslaught, the first period was a scrappy, tight affair with few chances.
The best opportunity arguably came in the first five minutes from the visitors as Moussa Sissoko sent midfielder Kwadwo Baah clear into the box, only for him to shoot straight at home goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Preston grew into the game, with deliveries from lively right wing-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Ben Whiteman causing problems.
One ball in by the latter was met by Osmajic but he was denied at close range by Hornets goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
The Lancashire club may have missed a ruthless edge in the first half, but certainly showed it in the second.
Osmajic tapped in another dangerous cross from Kesler-Hayden in the 53rd minute, his first goal of the season in the Championship, moments after Sissoko had an effort cleared off the line at the other end.
Centre-back Jordan Storey then proved to be an unlikely provider 12 minutes later with his deflected cross in the box, following a long throw, finding the unmarked Osmajic to add his second.
Midfielder McCann then drove home a first-time shot from a Whiteman free-kick to seal a much-needed success.
'We just want more from everyone - be fearless'
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I'm looking forward to watching that back [McCann's goal].
"Everyone knows what he is and he had another good game today, but I'm still challenging him on playing more forward passes, getting more goals, more assists and being in the box because he's certainly got the energy to do that.
"We just want more from everyone - be fearless. We're not bothered if that one flies over the bar - every now and again he'll get one of those."
Watford manager Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We simply aren't good enough to defend our box when we've only got two centre-halves playing.
"I don't think I can accuse everyone of not demanding the ball and not playing with as much confidence than they usually do, but [there were] too many off performances tonight.
"I'm just as disappointed with the first half as I am the second.
"We played within ourselves, we played like a mid-table team.
"It's my challenge and all the players' challenge - it's not what we are working towards. If we are going to have 4-3-3 as a back-up option, we need to defend our box better."
