WATFORD were undone by their promotion chasing rivals at the KC Stadium today as an early sucker punch set the tone for much of the afternoon.

The Golden Boys found themselves one down against Hull City with less than a minute on the clock and that lead was then doubled before the break.

Despite trying to get a foothold back in the clash they were unable to break down a strong Hull side and then two crazy minutes in the second half saw them three down and then reduced to ten men.

All-in-all it was a bad afternoon for the Golden Boys as last ditch goals from their rivals meant they slipped down to fifth position in the Championship table.

The Hornets rolled into town as the clash at the KC Stadium was once again one of the Championship picks of the day. Third-placed Hull hosting Watford, both sides going into the game were level on points and they were separated only by goal difference.

Boss Aidy Boothroyd was forced into changing his starting line-up due firstly to suspension. John Eustace and Darius Henderson were banned so Lee Williamson continued in midfield while Nathan Ellington returned to attack.

Midfielder John-Joe O'Toole missed out so Al Bangura came into the heart of midfield to offer some protection to the defence. The captain's armband continues to be handed round the team with Dan Shittu taking over the role at the KC Stadium. Collins John dropped down to the bench with Steve Kabba partnering the Duke.

With a ferocious sold-out home crowd making for an intimidating atmosphere, the game started in the worst possible fashion for the Golden Boys as they conceded within 45 seconds - with the rain lashing down in east Yorkshire.

Leigh Bromby was adjudged to have committed a foul 25 yards out from goal by referee Uriah Rennie. Dean Marney took the resulting set piece and looped a ball into Michael Turner and the centre half headed past Richard Lee.

The Hornets won a corner immediately after but the home side dominated the early stages and looked to utlilise Fraizer Campbell's pace at every opportunity. Goalkeeper Lee was also being called upon to deal with plenty of back passes from his back four.

Smith surges forward on a rare 'Orns attack

With 12 minutes on the clock Phil Brown's side doubled their lead as Campbell rode his luck and deflected in Henrik's Pedersen's effort - the shot clipped his shins and flew in low past Lee.

The Tigers were strong going forward and along with the scorers, Pedersen, Marney and Dean Windass were all strong and looked to create chances whenever they could.

Mat Sadler was the first player to be shown a yellow card by Rennie as he was booked for tripping Campbell down Watford's left hand flank. It was more of the same from the Tigers with them putting the 'Orns under pressure then for the next ten minutes or so.

The game then became more of an even affair as the Golden Boys re-grouped, found their feet and started to restrict goal scoring opportunities for the Tigers. Now the battle was taking place in midfield with Bangura blocking and putting tackles in, in front of the back four.

Clear-cut chances were still few and far between for the visitors but Shittu did try a buccaneering run through the middle of the Hull defence and then Jobi McAnuff's strong shot was palmed away by Boaz Myhill.   

The Hornets trudged in at half time two nil down and with plenty of work to be done in the second half. City started the second period with defender Andy Dawson drilling a shot wide of Lee's goal. He originally took a corner kick and then won the ball off McAnuff and had his eye on glory when he tried his luck, but the strong wind took his effort well wide.

Watford's opening attacking opportunity of the second half came on 54 minutes when captain Shittu won a long throw on and flicked it on into the path of McAnuff who was lurking in the box. The Tigers cleared their lines and the Golden Boys earnt a corner in the process.  

Ellington attempts to control the ball in the Tigers' area

Boothroyd changed things around just moments later with Adrian Mariappa and Lionel Ainsworth entering the fray. This too meant a re-adjustment for the Golden Boys with Shittu moving up front while Mariappa moved to right back and Jay DeMerit switched to centre half.

Ainsworth started out on the right with Tommy Smith moving to centre midfield. That appeared to spark some life into the 'Orns with Mat Sadler getting forward, beating his man and finding Williamson in the box. Following an initial scuffle for the ball, the midfielder managed to get a shot in from six yards out, but Myhill pulled off a quick reaction save. 

Thankfully the Hornets weren't three down when an uncharacteristic mistake from Bromby wasn't punished. Pedersen picked up the ball but was challenged in the area and then moments later the home pressure continued as substitute Caleb Folan's powerful drive was parried by Lee.

The game fell apart for the Hornets in two deadly minutes as they conceded a third killer goal and saw themselves reduced to 10 men.

Williamson gets doubled-up on at the KC Stadium

Firstly substitute Folan finished the game, he picked up a neat hooked ball through the Watford defence, held off the challenge from Bromby and planted a shot past Lee.

With the Hornets still licking their wounds they saw Rennie handing a straight red to Kabba for an innocuous looking challenge near the touchline. The referee was straight on the scene and had no hesitation in showing the card to one of Watford's brighter performers of the day.

The introduction of Collins John saw Shittu return to his natural position and the big man had to deal with the continued danger of Campbell until he was replaced with a few minutes remaining.

There was precious little for the travelling Hornets to cheer about with Ainsworth having an effort saved and Mariappa's follow-up then blocked.

It was a day when little went right and as the Tigers celebrated at the final whistle the Championship took yet another turn. As we enter the final full month Watford are going to have to take full advantage of their four home games still remaining. 
 
HULL CITY (4-4-2): Myhill; Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Dawson; Garcia, Ashbee (c) (Hughes 89), Marney, Pedersen; Windass (Folan 59), Campbell (Fagan 86). Subs not used: Duke (gk), Walton.

WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee; DeMerit (John 78), Bromby, Shittu (c), Sadler; Smith, Bangura (Marippa 56), Williamson, McAnuff; Kabba, Ellington (Ainsworth 56). Subs not used: Poom (gk), Stewart.

BOOKINGS: HULL CITY; Campbell (professional foul 18), Brown (professional foul 37). WATFORD; Sadler (professional foul 16).  

SENDINGS OFF: HULL CITY; none. WATFORD; Kabba (74).

GOALS: HULL CITY; Turner (1), Campbell (12), Folan (72). WATFORD; none.

REFEREE: Mr U D Rennie.

ATTENDANCE: 23, 501 (1, 219 Watford supporters).

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