IT WASN'T pretty but it was the kind of win that Watford will need if they are going to maintain their promotion challenge as Chris Eagles' second half goal was enough to beat Stoke City 1-0 at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets celebrate Chris Eagles' goal

Played on a grey January afternoon, under rain that was at times heavy and on a pitch that cut up badly, the match was never going to be a classic but the Hornets dug in and did just enough to deserve their second straight league win of 2006.

Jay DeMerit made a return to the Watford starting line up, replacing the suspended Clarke Carlisle.  Matthew Spring was back from his ban and took his place in central midfield at the expense of Toumani Diagouraga.

Ashley Young was sitting out the second of his three match ban, so the forward pairing remained Marlon King and Darius Henderson.

Watford might have had a penalty on four minutes when Chris Eagles sidestepped Dave Brammer and was brought crashing down, only for the referee to wave play on.

It was a bright start  for the home side who moved the ball around nicely and seemed to be finding space in and around the Stoke penalty area.

On 12 minutes, McNamee swung in a dangerous free kick from the right which caused panic in the City defence before the managed to scramble clear.

The visitors' first moment of danger came on 25 minutes when Chadwick was set up by Sidibe who had nicked the ball from DeMerit. 

The former Manchester United winger cut inside in the box and looked to have a great shooting chance, only to be denied by a great tackle from Mahon who snuffed out the threat.

Watford got themselves into trouble on 31 minutes when they failed to clear, leaving Chadwick with only the keeper to beat.

However, a fantastic saving tackle from DeMerit got the Hornets out of jail.

Jay DeMerit challenges Mamady Sidibe in the air

They almost went straight down the other end and scored when King fashioned a shooting chance, forcing Simonsen to beat the ball round the post for a corner.

Half time: Watford 0 Stoke City 0

Two minutes after the break, Gallagher's through ball almost put Sidibe through but a combination of Mackay and Stewart was enough to rob the striker and allow Foster to claim the ball.

McNamee and Mahon combined on Watford's left to give the skipper a shooting opportunity but his well-struck effort was straight at Simonsen who saved without fuss.

A clever turn from Harper in the box gave him a shooting chance but he spooned it well wide on 51 minutes and Watford again responded by creating an opportunity of their own.

King fed Henderson who laid it back to Spring on the edge of the box.  Unfortunately, the midfielder's shot was blazed well wide.

However, the home fans didn't have to wait long to see their team take the lead.

On 54 minutes, Hoefkens miscued his clearance under pressure from Henderson and the ball broke to Eagles coming in from the right.

The on-loan winger planted his shot firmly beyond Simonsen and into the far corner to put the Hornets in front.

Aidy Boothroyd gives Eagles a pat on the back

Paul Gallagher flashed a 20-yard drive just past Foster's left-hand post after an unchallenged 40-yard run, giving Watford a scare on 57 minutes.

Stoke seemed to be growing in confidence and it needed a great save from Foster on 61 minutes to preserve the lead.  Harper and Chadwick played a neat one-two, giving the former Manchester United winger an opening, just 10 yards out.

Thankfully, the young Watford keeper dived low to his left to pull off a top-drawer stop against his former club.

On 68 minutes, Chadwick blazed wildly over from a promising position.  Duberry headed Brammer's free kick across goal and Chadwick looked a good bet to score, only to miscue horribly.

Aidy reacted by taking off McNamee and replacing him with Al Bangura, back from the ankle injury which ruled him out of the Bolton game last week.

The visitors clearly had the upper hand and continued to look dangerous.  Only a mis-control from Harper saved Watford after the winger found himself in the clear.  He couldn't gather the ball, allowing Foster to pick it off his toe before getting a shot off.

Former Hornet Bruce Dyer joined the action on 77 minutes when he came on to replace Kevin Harper.

The Stoke bench exploded on 79 minutes after Eagles brought down Luke Chadwick in front of them.  The referee had given a free-kick but Gerry Taggart, the City assistant coach, gave the fourth official an earful and was swiftly banished to the stands by referee Crossley.

Watford made their second substitution on 81 minutes when Hameur Bouazza, recently returned from his loan spell at Swindon, replaced the tiring Darius Henderson.

The three points were almost made safe a minute later with what would have been a freak goal.

Dave Brammer was in possession in his own box but Mahon's tackle on him saw the ball ricochet up and flew inches wide, clipping the stanchion on the way.

Eagles then had a glorious chance to ease home fans' nerves with just three minutes left on the clock.  Bouazza went round Henry on the Watford left and fired in a great cross.  The ball spun to the on-loan Manchester United winger ten yards out but a bobble saw him hit the ball with his shin, sending it miles over the bar.

As the visitors committed men forward, Watford were finding space to exploit and Spring almost capitalised a minute later.  Teed up by King's delayed pass, the midfielder tried to place his shot from 20 yards, allowing Simonsen time to get down low to his left to make the save.

In the clsing stages, Stoke were never able to threaten much, allowing the hosts to see out time and send the Vicarage Road faithful home happy.

Jay DeMerit and Hameur Bouazza celebrate the three points

Full Time: Watford 1 Stoke City 0

Line Ups

Watford: Foster; Doyley, DeMerit, Mackay, Stewart; Eagles, Mahon, Spring, McNamee (Bangura 69); King, Henderson (Bouazza 81). Subs not used: Chamberlain (GK), Chambers, Mariappa

Stoke: Simonsen; Henry, Hoefkens, Duberry, Broomes; Chadwick, Brammer, Junior, Harper (Dyer 77); Galagher, Sidibe. Subs not used: Sweeney, Kopteff, Dickinson, Duggan (GK)

Ref: Mr P. Crossley

Attendance: 12,247 (677 away fans)

By Iain Moody at Vicarage Road