Crewe produced a smash-and-grab raid at Vicarage Road to help ease their relegation fears.

Striker Dean Ashton scored the only goal of the game after 73 minutes as Dario Gradi's side recorded their first win in six games.

It was Ashton's eighth goal of the campaign but Watford boss Gianluca Vialli will wonder how his side lost after having the bulk of possession and carving out a number of clear goalscoring opportunities.

Watford were forced to make an early change with injured Australian international midfielder Paul Okon replaced by Jamie Hand after nine minutes.

But the Hornets threatened to open the scoring seconds later when Neil Cox met an inswinging corner from Stephen Glass but headed wide.

Micah Hyde drilled a right-foot shot over the crossbar from 25 yards as the hosts continued to press.

Striker Marcus Gayle, on the transfer list at Vicarage Road, was booked after 16 minutes for deliberate handball and Watford again threatened when Hand volleyed a right-foot shot wide.

Crewe strikers Ashton and Rob Hulse, who caused problems for the Everton defence in the FA Cup replay defeat in midweek, were making little impression as the visitors struggled to get out of their own half.

Gayle threatened just before the half-hour but his rasping volley was parried by Crewe goalkeeper Clayton Ince who signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with the Railwaymen in midweek.

The visitors finally created an opportunity just before the interval but David Wright's right-foot volley went wide.

The second half began with Watford again on the attack, Allan Neilsen twice going close in quick succession with long-range shots.

Gayle had a shot blocked by Dave Walton before Neil Sorvel's right-foot volley at the other end was comfortably gathered by Alec Chamberlain.

Glass and the ineffective Tommy Smith were replaced by Lee Cook and Heidar Helguson just after the hour before Crewe's Ben Rix was taken off and replaced by Colin Little.

Neilsen hammered another shot just wide before Ashton had an effort blocked by veteran Italian defender Filippo Galli at the other end.

The visitors were beginning to come into the game and Hulse headed the ball over the crossbar from six yards before they took the lead with 17 minutes remaining.

Kenny Lunt supplied Ashton and the 18-year-old rifled the ball home with a right-foot shot from the edge of the area.

Cook had a 25-yard strike comfortably saved by Ince as Watford looked for an instant reply before Cox curled another effort wide.

Hyde and Wayne Brown also went close in the final stages but Crewe held on for a much-needed victory.

Teams:

Watford Chamberlain, Cox, Galli, Brown, Robinson, Nielsen, Okon (Hand 10), Hyde, Glass (Cook 62), Smith (Helguson 62), Gayle.

Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Doyley.

Booked: Gayle, Robinson.

Crewe Ince, Wright, Sodje, Walton, Smith, Lunt, Collins, Sorvel, Rix (Little 63), Hulse, Ashton.

Subs Not Used: Bankole, Tait, Street, Walker.

Goals: Ashton 73.

Att: 15,199

Ref: K Hill (Royston).