Lee Crook turned from villain to hero as Watford picked up an important win
over fellow strugglers Crewe at Vicarage Road.
The Watford midfielder needlessly tripped substitute Steve Jones in the box,
with Dean Ashton equalising for Crewe from the spot.
But Cook was immediately involved at the other end, helping restore his side's
lead when he crossed for David Wright to divert the ball into his own net.
Midfielder Micah Hyde had opened the scoring on 31 minutes, volleying past
Crewe goalkeeper Ben Williams with his weaker left foot after his first effort
was blocked following a through-ball from striker Heidar Helguson.
Both sides have been dragged back into relegation problems, sharing
identically miserable records of just one win in their last six matches going
into the match.
The Hornets had the better of the early exchanges Sean Dyche crossing to give
goalkeeper Williams, who will spend the rest of the season on loan from
Manchester United, an early save to make.
But it was Dario Gradi's visitors who had the first effort on goal, star
striker Dean Ashton sending a header wide to the right with 13 minutes on the
clock before veteran goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain had to be alert to cut out
Stephen Foster's cross.
Foster was also making an important contribution at the other end, clearing
Chris Baird's dangerous cross after Wright had blocked Paul Mayo's goalbound
effort.
But just after the half-hour mark, Ray Lewington's home side took the lead
through Hyde, who had not scored in just over a year.
The home side came close to doubling their lead just a couple of minutes
later, Marcus Gayle hitting a free-kick just over the bar after Wright was
penalised for his tackle on Cook.
Helguson also saw his header sail wide to the left and Gradi saw fit to haul
off Vaughan seven minutes before half-time, replacing him with 16-goal
top-scorer Jones, who was quickly in the action, hitting a close-range shot wide
in first-half injury-time.
Lewington's side picked up where they left off after the break, Crewe defender
David Brammer doing well to clear a series of crosses.
The visitors slowly got a foothold in the game and twice came close to drawing
level with Chamberlain stopping shots from Neil Sorvel and Jones.
But Jones made a telling contribution on 61 minutes when he was unnecessarily
tripped in the box by Cook with Ashton getting his side back on terms from the
spot.
Their lead proved to be short-lived though with Watford re-taking the lead
just a minute later with Wright's own goal.
Craig Hignett forced a save from Chamberlain but Crewe were now reeling from
the blow of the Hornets' quick-fire reply and were struggling to create chances
and they now face a crucial game against Coventry on Monday as they aim to
guarantee their First Division status.
Teams
Watford: Chamberlain, Baird, Dyche, Gayle, Mayo, Devlin, Mahon,
Hyde, Cook, Helguson, Fitzgerald (Bouazza 68).
Subs Not Used: Ardley, Vernazza, Dyer, Pidgeley.
Booked: Helguson, Hyde.
Goals: Hyde 31, Wright 62 og.
Crewe: Williams, Wright, Moses, Foster, Billy Jones, Lunt,
Sorvel, Brammer (Cochrane 85), Vaughan (Steve Jones 39),
Ashton, Hignett (Symes 82).
Subs Not Used: Bankole, McCready.
Booked: Vaughan, Wright, Steve Jones.
Goals: Ashton 61 pen.
Att: 18,041
Ref: G Salisbury (Lancashire).
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