Manchester City enjoyed the stroke of good fortune which seems to attach itself to promotion-chasing sides when they were gifted the lead and ultimately two extra points by Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday night.

Kevin Keegan's side had mustered only one second-half goal attempt but found themselves in the lead after 79 minutes when Icelander Heidar Helguson, attempting to turn the ball back to Alec Chamberlain, instead poked it wide of his goalkeeper and into the corner of his own net.

Helguson, a striker having to play in midfield in Gianluca Vialli's injury-hit side, was in strange territory - but Watford appeared to be in no danger when he cut out Ali Benarbia's pass.

City should have wrapped the points up in the first 20 minutes, the only stage in the game when they showed their pedigree. Chamberlain did well to stop shots from Danny Tiatto and Kevin Horlock.

The Watford goalkeeper was only able to block the drives in greasy conditions, but Watford managed to scramble clear on both occasions.

The best chance during a dominant City spell fell to Shaun Goater, who moved in on a dropping ball from Stuart Pearce's corner but managed to miss the target from three yards out.

City had cause to regret the miss when, with their first shot of the game, Watford took the lead after 26 minutes.

Micah Hyde sent the ball through for Helguson, who squared it for Tommy Smith to drill the chance into the net from just outside the area.

City replied within three minutes when Goater headed down a Tiatto cross and Paulo Wanchope swept the ball home.

Both sides went close before the interval, but Watford built up a head of steam in the second half.

Carlo Nash made fine saves to deny fierce shots by Stephen Glass and Paul Okon.

But his best save came when he deflected a shot from Jermaine Pennant after Allan Nielsen had sent the striker clear.

Teams

Watford: Chamberlain, Cox (Helguson 16), Galli (Noble 87), Vega, Doyley, Okon, Hyde, Nielsen, Glass (Noel-Williams 89), Pennant, Smith.

Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Hand.

Booked: Glass.

Goals: Smith 26.

Man City: Nash, Dunne, Wright-Phillips, Wiekens, Pearce, Tiatto, Berkovic, Horlock, Benarbia (Jensen 82), Goater (Huckerby 89), Wanchope.

Subs Not Used: Weaver, Ritchie, Killen.

Booked: Horlock.

Goals: Wanchope 30, Helguson 80 og.

Att: 17,074

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).