Heidar Helguson struck his 19th goal of the season shortly after the restart to hand Watford a precious victory which secures their Coca-Cola Championship status.

The highly-rated Iceland striker, who has been linked with a move away from Vicarage Road, was on hand to turn the ball into the net from close range to settle a drab encounter which takes the Hornets to 52 points.

The success also handed Adrian Boothroyd's in-form side their second win in three unbeaten matches after the young Watford manager had lost his first three games in charge.

Meanwhile, the defeat capped a miserable end to their home campaign for mid-table Stoke, who were this week told their Icelandic-based major shareholders were selling their stake in the club.

However, Tony Pulis' future at the club appears to be secure, with the Potters manager agreeing a 12-month rolling contract at the Britannia Stadium earlier this month.

Pulis has already set his sights on a sustained bid for a play-off spot next season, but Stoke will need to show a vast improvement from this kind of performance if they are to justify their manager's optimism next term.

However, Stoke nonetheless began brightly and striker Chris Greenacre cracked in a thumping right-footed effort from the edge of the box which was superbly blocked by Jay DeMerit.

Stoke began to dominate and David Brammer's vicious 30-yard shot flew into a wall of visiting players after Lewis Neal's free-kick rebounded back to him.

Brammer then shot wide from the edge of the box as Watford struggled to gain a foothold on the game.

Indeed, 24 minutes passed before they registered their first noteworthy effort on goal.

Bruce Dyer collected the ball on the edge of the box and hit a wicked goalbound effort which was deflected wide by Stoke defender Michael Duberry.

However, the Hornets were dealt a blow on the half-hour when midfielder Gavin Mahon was forced off through injury and replaced by Alhassan Bangura.

The Hornets almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time when Stoke goalkeeper Steve Simonsen saved well from both Dominic Blizzard and Helguson.

However, Helguson was not to be denied six minutes after the restart when he was on hand to sweep the ball home right-footed from six yards and hand the Hornets a precious advantage.

As Stoke looked to find a response, Pulis withdrew ineffective on-loan Southampton striker Kenwyne Jones and replaced him with Martin Paterson.

But Watford continued to hold firm and promising teenager Ashley Young almost extended the visitors' lead shortly after the hour mark when he saw his 20-yard shot fizz narrowly wide with Simonsen beaten.

Hornets keeper Alec Chamberlain was then forced to save from Brammer's header, but the veteran stopped remained largely untroubled as the Hornets held on for victory.

Teams

Stoke Simonsen, Henry, Duberry, Taggart, Clarke (Halls 67), Greenacre, Brammer, Russell, Neal (Ricketts 76), Noel-Williams, Jones (Paterson 56).

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Buxton.

Booked: Duberry.

Watford Chamberlain, Doyley, DeMerit (Cox 74), Cullip, Chambers, Young, Mahon (Bangura 30), Blizzard, Bouazza (McNamee 86), Helguson, Dyer.

Subs Not Used: Osborne, Kirk.

Goals: Helguson 51.

Att: 15,229

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).