Troy Deeney's second penalty of the week set Watford on their way to victory at Stoke
Troy Deeney scored one and made another in the space of four second-half minutes as Watford maintained their Championship promotion charge at Stoke City.
Deeney slammed home one of his trademark penalties to fire the Hornets ahead after Stoke goalkeeper Josef Bursik had brought down Joao Pedro.
He then turned architect with a superbly weighted pass into the path of Ismaila Sarr, who ran on to drill a low right-foot shot inside Bursik's right-hand upright.
Steven Fletcher scored from close range to give Stoke hope on 83 minutes, but the Potters never seriously threatened another as their poor league run stretched to one just one win in 10 league games.
- Relive Watford's win at Stoke
It was only Watford's third away league win of the campaign but it lifts Xisco Munoz's men above Brentford to third, level on points with second-placed Swansea City - and within seven points of leaders Norwich City.
Aside from a big first-half penalty shout when Rhys Norrington-Davies attempted to wrestle Adam Masina to the floor, the game had been incident free until Watford's next penalty appeal was this time answered. Cue Deeney.
The Watford skipper had also smashed home a penalty winner to beat Barnsley at Vicarage Road in midweek - and there was no mistake again as he scored his eighth goal of the season slightly up and to the right of the helpless Bursik.
That was his 139th goal for Watford in 412 appearances, taking him within three of Ross Jenkins, another Hornets legend, on the club's all-time list of scorers, led by Jenkins' old strike partner Luther Blissett (186).
But Deeney quickly showed he is not just about power and bluster, with a quality delivery down the inside-right channel for Sarr to hit the killer second.
Injury-hit Stoke, who have struggled for goals since losing both Lee Gregory and top scorer Tyrese Campbell with knee problems, did at least pull one back.
Fletcher's late strike, set up by Joe Allen, was only their sixth in their past eight home games. But boss Michael O'Neill was frustrated to see his side still five points adrift of the play-off places, with the prospect of an even bigger gap by the time is weekend is over.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsStoke
Formation 4-3-3
32Bursik37Collins36Souttar12Chester46Norrington-Davies4Allen13Obi22Clucas47Clarke25Powell11McClean
- 32Bursik37CollinsBooked at 81mins36Souttar12Chester46Norrington-DaviesSubstituted forMatondoat 77'minutes4Allen13Obi22ClucasSubstituted forFletcherat 71'minutes47ClarkeSubstituted forVokesat 82'minutes25Powell11McClean
Substitutes
- 1Gunn6Batth9Vokes14Smith18Brown21Fletcher24Cousins34Thompson49Matondo
Watford
Formation 4-4-2
26Bachmann21FemenÃa5Troost-Ekong31Sierralta11Masina8Cleverley19Hughes14Chalobah23Sarr9Deeney10João Pedro
- 26Bachmann21FemenÃaBooked at 34minsSubstituted forNgakiaat 74'minutes5Troost-Ekong31SierraltaBooked at 18minsSubstituted forCathcartat 74'minutes11Masina8CleverleySubstituted forWilmotat 90+1'minutes19HughesSubstituted forZinckernagelat 61'minutes14Chalobah23Sarr9Deeney10João PedroSubstituted forGrayat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Ngakia6Wilmot7Zinckernagel15Cathcart16Garner18Gray32Navarro35Parkes49Crichlow
Referee:Oliver LangfordMatch StatsHome TeamStokeAway TeamWatfordPossessionHome58%Away42%ShotsHome14Away7Shots on TargetHome3Away4CornersHome8Away4FoulsHome10Away15Live TextPost update
Match ends, Stoke City 1, Watford 2.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Stoke City 1, Watford 2.
90'+6'Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Souttar (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by James McClean with a cross.
90'+5'Post update
Joe Allen (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+5'Post update
Foul by Andre Gray (Watford).
90'+4'Post update
Offside, Stoke City. Nick Powell tries a through ball, but Steven Fletcher is caught offside.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt missed. Nick Powell (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Rabbi Matondo with a cross.
90'+1'Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Andre Gray replaces João Pedro.
90'+1'Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Ben Wilmot replaces Tom Cleverley.
88'Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Philip Zinckernagel.
87'Post update
Offside, Stoke City. Rabbi Matondo tries a through ball, but Sam Vokes is caught offside.
86'Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Adam Masina.
85'Post update
Foul by Nick Powell (Stoke City).
85'Post update
Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'goalGoal!
Goal! Stoke City 1, Watford 2. Steven Fletcher (Stoke City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joe Allen.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Sam Vokes replaces Jack Clarke.
81'Booking
Nathan Collins (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81'Post update
Foul by Nathan Collins (Stoke City).
81'Post update
Tom Cleverley (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80'Post update
Offside, Stoke City. John Obi Mikel tries a through ball, but Steven Fletcher is caught offside.
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Source: bbc.com