West Brom manager Gary Megson was left contemplating whether his investment in
two new strikers had been somewhat premature as Geoff Horsfield and Lee Hughes
propelled the Baggies to a 3-1 Hawthorns victory over 10-man Watford.
Megson had signed Delroy Facey from Bolton late on Friday afternoon and then
Borussia Monchengladbach's Morten Skoubo two hours before kick-off as he sought
to improve his promotion chasers' goal tally.
But with Facey starting on the bench and Danish international Skoubo
ineligible while awaiting international clearance, two-goal hero Horsfield and
Hughes took their cue to remind Megson of their own value.
Horsfield struck either side of the interval while Hughes also weighed in with
a second-half effort to maintain the hosts' push for promotion back to the
Premiership, while simultaneously heaping more misery on the struggling Hornets
who also saw Helguson receive a straight red card from referee Phil Crossley
late in the game.
Albion had been responsible for much of the early running but Neil Clement
could only fire his 25-yard free-kick effort harmlessly wide from the right
channel before Wayne Brown's mis-timed defensive header almost presented Hughes
with an opportunity, although a hurried recovery from the Watford defender saved
his blushes on the quarter-hour mark.
Welsh international Andy Johnson laid much of the groundwork for the goal in
midfield before spreading the ball into the right channel where both Hughes and
Horsfield were bearing down on goal.
But as Lenny Pidgeley advanced from his line it was Horsfield who assumed
responsibility, rounded the Hornets goalkeeper and slotted home from an acute
angle.
Helguson escaped punishment after clattering Baggies' goalkeeper Russell Hoult
before Pidgeley saw Darren Moore's 55th-minute header travel inches wide of the
woodwork following a left-wing supply from Clement.
The Watford threat was all but negligible and the Baggies doubled their lead
after Hughes had raced along the left channel to collect a lofted pass from
skipper Sean Gregan and curl his shot past Pidgeley.
And the visitors went further behind as Thomas Gaardsoe put Horsfield through
on goal from the edge of the box and the £1million striker made no mistake from
12 yards out.
Watford substitute Scott Fitzgerald produced a strike of supreme quality to
reduce arrears in the 77th minute when Hoult was beaten by a 25-yard shot
arrowed into the top corner.
But with less than 60 seconds remaining a frustrated Helguson received his
marching orders following a rash challenge on Baggies right-back Bernt Haas.
Teams
West Brom: Hoult, Robinson, Gaardsoe, Moore, Haas, Clement, Kinsella (Dyer 75), Gregan, Johnson (James Chambers 90), Hughes (Facey 85), Horsfield.
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Sakiri.
Goals: Horsfield 41, Hughes 61, Horsfield 66.
Watford: Pidgeley, Brown, Dyche, Gayle, Smith, Ardley (Vernazza 78), Mahon, Hyde, Devlin (Cook 86), Helguson, Dyer (Fitzgerald 71).
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Doyley.
Sent Off: Helguson (89).
Goals: Fitzgerald 77.
Att: 23,958
Ref: P Crossley (Kent).
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