Barnsley's Wembley villain Kayode Odejayi grabbed a goal in each half to lift the Tykes out of the Championship relegation zone and condemn Watford to a damaging defeat.

Odejayi managed to miss a chance against Cardiff in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat after having a whole half to run into and, despite missing another howler, he did manage to steer the Tykes deservedly ahead before the break.

Captain Stephen Foster then headed in a second before Odejayi produced an accomplished finish on the break to triple his league tally for the campaign and dent the Hornets' chances of automatic promotion.

Adrian Boothroyd's men had gone eight games without a win before Saturday's 2-1 win over Coventry but due to the lack of ruthlessness amongst the Championship's top sides kicked off knowing that a win would see them climb from fifth to top. However they were awful throughout and failed to force Luke Steele into a solitary meaningful save in the Barnsley goal.

Simon Davey's side had the first chance in the ninth minute when Jon Macken cleverly lofted the ball over a static back four for Odejayi to run onto.

The burly striker lacked conviction as he delayed a shot and allowed Danny Shittu to make a recovery challenge.

The Nigerian-born forward had scored just one league goal all season since his move from Cheltenham in the summer before kick-off - as well as the cup winner against Chelsea - and provided another illustration of his finishing in the 16th minute.

Again it was Macken who created the chance with a fine ball which left Shittu on his heels and presented Odejayi with a clean run on goal.

However just as against Cardiff he failed to even hit the target as he lashed over the bar under pressure.

But the visitors did take the lead in the 35th minute after creating a chance that Odejayi could not miss.

A rapid break ended with Diego Leon flicking Macken in on the right-hand side of the area.

The former Manchester City man was onside and drove a ball across Richard Lee to Odejayi, who tapped in from two yards out.

If the Vicarage Road faithful thought that things could not possibly get any worse they were proved wrong when the visitors doubled their lead in the 48th minute.

Leon's right-wing corner travelled all the way to the far post where Foster - who had ran unchallenged from the edge of the area - thumped in a header from four yards.

The Hornets promptly kicked the restart straight into touch to trigger a chorus of boos around the stadium but they did go close in their next attack when Nathan Ellington's header from a Jobi McAnuff corner was hacked off the line by Rob Kozluk.

And the fans' dissent turned into disbelief in the 55th minute when Odejayi notched Barnsley's third goal.

A hopeful clearance was chased down by the big forward and after holding off the challenge of Leigh Bromby he managed to lift the ball over Lee from just inside the area.

Boothroyd brought on forwards Tamas Priskin and Steve Kabba in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game but the best chance fell to Darius Henderson who headed McAnuff's cross over.

The win saw Davey's side climb to 18th but Boothroyd's men will have their Premier League credentials sternly tested on Saturday when they travel to face current Championship leaders West Brom.

Teams

Watford Lee, Doyley, Shittu, Sadler (Kabba 56), Bromby,McAnuff, Williamson, O'Toole, Stewart, Henderson (DeMerit 71),Ellington (Priskin 55).

Subs Not Used: Poom, Mariappa.

Barnsley Steele, Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Van Homoet,Campbell-Ryce (Togwell 90), Hassell, Leon, Kozluk,Odejayi (Ferenczi 86), Macken (Coulson 90).

Subs Not Used: Letheren, Butterfield.

Goals: Odejayi 36, Foster 47, Odejayi 54.

Att: 16,129

Ref: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire).