Barnsley's poor start to the season continued as they lost to Watford in the Coca-Cola Championship.

The Tykes' winless run stretched to six as Mark Robins began life with the Oakwell club manager with defeat.

Watford's goal came nine minutes into the second half when Danny Graham scored from close range.

Both sides lacked any real attacking impetus and an uneventful match was ultimately settled by a scrappy goal.

Malky Mackay was forced to change his defence round after Jay DeMerit suffered a groin injury on international duty with the United States so Dale Bennett was given a first start.

John Eustace returned to the midfield with loanees Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury keeping their places.

Barnsley's new boss made a number of changes to the Tykes side which lost to Reading and included Emil Hallfredsson, Bobby Hassell and O'Neil Thompson in his side.

Without a win in the league this season, the Tykes started nervously as Cleverley and Lansbury both had long-range efforts in the opening moments.

With one win between the two sides for the season it was no surprise to see such a cagey affair in the first half as both teams looked happy restricting their opponents to a handful of long-range efforts.

Hallfredsson had a fine chance for the visitors moments before the break but his effort flashed wide of the post as a poor first half drew to a close.

Robins' side started brightly after the break and came close to taking the lead through Kayode Odejayi but his header from six yards went over the bar.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce then raced into the Watford area before drilling the ball across goal but his shot flashed wide as the Tykes started the second period with an obvious intent to attack.

But they went behind after 54 minutes when Don Cowie's free-kick was headed back across goal by Eustace and Graham bundled the ball over the line off his shin.

Graham almost put Watford two up five minutes later when he rounded the last defender but his effort was well saved by David Preece as the hosts looked to kill the game off.

Lee Hodson beat two men before unleashing a fierce drive at goal from 20 yards but his shot fizzed wide of the post as Barnsley struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.

The visitors pushed forward as the clock ticked down and with nine minutes to play Adam Hammill had a fine effort from the edge of the area but it curled wide of the right-hand post.

The win made it four games unbeaten for Watford as they bounce back from their own slow start to the season.

Teams:

Watford Loach, Hodson, Mariappa, Bennett, Doyley,Lansbury (Harley 85), Cowie, Jenkins, Cleverley (Ellington 90),Eustace, Graham.

Subs Not Used: Lee, Hoskins, Bryan, Sordell, Oshodi.

Booked: Bennett.

Goals: Graham 54.

Barnsley Preece, Hassell, Kozluk, Moore, Foster,Campbell-Ryce (Hammill 52), Devaney, Hallfredsson, De Silva,Thompson (Odejayi 28), Gray, Odejayi (Hume 79).

Subs Not Used: Rusling, Colace, Macken, El Haimour.

Booked: De Silva, Devaney.

Att: 12,613

Ref: David Phillips (West Sussex).