David Nugent and Paul McKenna added further momentum to Preston's promotion charge with the goals that beat Watford at Vicarage Road.

Richard Cresswell hit the crossbar in the first half but two strikes in the space of 11 second half minutes meant Billy Davies' side extended their Coca-Cola Championship run to just one defeat in 16 matches with a three-point haul.

Nugent, one of the finds of the season following his £100,000 switch from Bury in January, struck from close range on the hour, before McKenna doubled the lead with a shot from Graham Alexander's passed free-kick.

The Hornets are now without a win in seven matches and this defeat will add to their relegation worries.

They did have the first chance when Heidar Helguson nodded over from Neal Ardley's corner but North End created the better openings from that point on.

McKenna, instrumental in North End's climb up the table, had been struggling with a gash in his ankle that prevented him from training at the end of the week.

But the 27-year-old started the match and was the architect of three early chances for North End, with two corners.

Firstly he found Alexander, whose drilled effort was only kept out by Gavin Mahon's timely block, before he picked out Chris Lucketti, who headed over from close range.

McKenna then quickly took a free-kick, putting Cresswell into space only for the striker's volley to come back off the woodwork.

Cresswell had another opportunity with a volley from distance that was saved by Richard Lee before Lloyd Doyley did well to get in the way of a long-range shot from Chris Sedgwick.

Helguson was off target again with a close-range volley before Nugent laid on a golden chance for Eddie Lewis, but the American winger volleyed past the right post from six yards.

The start of the second half was in sharp contrast to the flurry of chances that came just before the break with neither defence giving anything away.

But when the first chance after half-time finally came, Nugent took it and gave the visitors the lead in the 60th minute.

Brian O'Neil, who has been recalled to the Scotland squad after a five-year absence, forced the ball through to the young striker and Nugent made no mistake with a simple finish to give North End a precious advantage.

Eleven minutes later, McKenna gave them a solid cushion, lashing home from outside the area after Alexander squared a free-kick to him.

Davies threw on Patrick Agyemang for Nugent, who has scored four goals in eight matches, before Helguson squandered another opening at the other end when he shot wide from the edge of the box.

Agyemang did stretch the Hornets defence on one occasion but Callum Davidson headed his cross over the bar but once they were ahead, North End were never in trouble.

Teams

Watford Lee, Ardley (Eagles 67), Doyley, Cox, Smith (McNamee 67), Chambers, Gunnarsson, Mahon, Jackson, Webber (Dyer 73), Helguson.

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Bouazza.

Booked: Jackson.

Preston Day, Alexander, Mawene, Lucketti, Davidson, Sedgwick (Davis 80), McKenna, O'Neil, Lewis (Hill 64), Cresswell, Nugent (Agyemang 74).

Subs Not Used: Ward, Folly.

Booked: McKenna, Davidson.

Goals: Nugent 60, McKenna 71.

Att: 19,649

Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).