Ngakia double gives Watford win against Oxford

Jeremy Ngakia's last goal came against Sheffield United in January last season

Jeremy Ngakia's quickfire double late in the first half earned Watford a comeback win over Oxford United at Vicarage Road.

The visitors led early on through Max Alleyne's sliced own goal, but Ngakia struck twice on the stroke of half-time to turn the game on its head.

Watford wasted chances to extend their lead in the second half through Rocco Vata and substitute Luca Kjerrumgaard, while struggling Oxford failed to find a response.

The victory lifts the Hornets into the top half of the table, having now taken seven points from their past three games.

Gary Rowett's Oxford have only won one of their nine Championship games and are in the drop zone.

Although it is still extremely tight in the early-season table with just four points between Watford and 20th-placed Derby - seeing themselves in the top half of the table after a spirited comeback victory will give manager Paolo Pezzolano some breathing space heading into the international break.

The Uruguayan made four changes from the side that drew at Portsmouth in midweek, with Kevin Keben, Ngakia, Vata and Nampalys Mendy all recalled to the starting XI.

Rowett also shuffled his pack, bringing in Greg Leigh, Siriki Dembele and Stanley Mills after the goalless stalemate with QPR.

The visitors made a dream start, going ahead inside three minutes when the unfortunate Alleyne put into his own net from a corner - the sixth straight game Watford have conceded first.

But after a nervy spell, the hosts grew into the game, with Vata and Vivaldo Semedo both going close before Ngakia struck twice in four minutes to send Watford into half-time jubilant.

His first, a close-range header from Imran Louza's delivery, brought parity, before his inswinging corner in the fourth minute of added time was clawed out too late by Jamie Cumming as it crossed the line.

Watford dominated the early stages of the second half, with Vata, and substitute forwards Kjerrumgaard and Nestory Irankunda all denied by the busy Cumming who kept the visitors in the game.

Oxford responded with a late spell of pressure - Przemyslaw Placheta twice forcing Egil Selvik into action before substitute Will Vaulks launched a series of menacing long throws into the box.

Pezzolano's triple substitution steadied the ship, with Edo Kayembe and Moussa Sissoko adding control in the final 20 minutes as the Hornets saw out the game confidently.

Watford return from the two-week international break with a visit to bottom side Sheffield United and Oxford host Derby County.

Watford manager Paolo Pezzolano told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"Seven points out of nine possible is great, but the most important thing is the performance and the growth of the team.

"I liked the team very much during the first half. We could have scored that third goal to wrap up the game a little bit, but it didn't come.

"Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance and the development of the team."

On conceding first again: "The good thing is that the team continues to show that character, continues to show that determination and attitude to turn things around to overcome difficult and negative situations."

Oxford United head coach Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:

"The start was excellent, and to get into that position. I don't think our performance overall today was energetic enough or good enough.

"Of course, we keep going, [it's] a tight game again, we still have opportunities, but if I'm being honest, I'm bored of saying we've conceded poor goals once more.

"I think that's a frustration since the start of the season. We need to cut out the mistakes. We did [that] on Wednesday and got a point away from home.

"If you look at both goals, the first was a ball in the box we've got to deal with—simple as that, that's our job. The second one, Jamie (Cumming) just gets a little nudge on him, but I think he'll be disappointed he doesn't deal with it himself as well, so two moments that were really disappointing."