Watford goes five in six

Watford claimed their fifth win in six games as they clinched victory with a 2-1 win over fellow relegation battlers Nottingham Forest.

Grzegorz Rasiak opened the scoring early on before Matt Thornhill struck back for Forest. It was however, Tamas Priskin’s twelfth goal of the season which saw Watford take the points at Vicarage Road.

The game started brightly and Rasiak headed in after just five minutes. It was not though, before Forest’s new loan signing Gary McSheffrey had tried with an extremely ambitious attempt from distance.

Rasiak’s goal was the next action of the game and his looped header came after Billy Davies’ men had failed to clear their lines from a Watford free-kick.

The entertainment continued as Jack Cork set up Don Cowie, however the Scotsman could only fire wide of the target.

Nottingham Forest weren’t looking likely to score, however in the 17th minute that’s exactly what they did. McSheffrey laid the ball back for Thornhill whose ferocious first time shot could not be stopped by Scott Loach.

Despite this setback Watford continued to dominate and Rasiak was almost presented with a goal after Guy Moussi had failed to collect the ball on the left wing.

Jobi McAnuff, who had been terrorizing the Forest defence all night, then won a corner. It was his ball in that Mike Williamson powered towards goal with his head, only for the ball to be stopped on the line.

Forest began to show signs of a goal when Thornhill hit a teasing ball across, only for it to be cleared by Lloyd Doyley.

Gareth McCleary then had a shot well saved by Loach before, moments later, the young ‘keeper got the deftest of touches to prevent any danger of a second Forest goal.

Watford came storming back though and were rewarded with a second goal just before half-time.

Doyley started the move with a ball up to Priskin. The Hungarian and Rasiak then exchanged passes before Priskin slotted the ball past Paul Smith.

The second half opened up much like the first and Priskin threatened a third however his shot was deflected over.

The resulting corner, taken by McAnuff, forced a top stop out of Smith in the Nottingham Forest goal.

Watford continued to pressure the Forest backline however could not find that elusive third goal.

This meant Forest could still get something out of the game, however the superb Loach ensured this was not the case as he saved McCleary’s goal bound effort.

Rasiak headed over ten minutes before the end. He then found himself being stretchered off in what was the last piece of notable action on a victorious night at Vicarage Road.