Chris Eagles' second-half strike was enough to see Watford past Stoke - but
Hornets boss Adrian Boothroyd knows his promotion-chasing side can play much
better.
The on-loan Manchester United winger took advantage of Carl Hoefkens' sloppy
defending to score the 54th-minute winner, while Stoke were denied a point by
Ben Foster's magnificent save from Luke Chadwick.
Johan Boskamp's men are now without a win in six matches, which is hardly
ideal preparation for their FA Cup third-round replay at non-league Tamworth
next week.
Stoke were looking for their fourth consecutive win at Vicarage Road, but
despite making the brighter start they failed to create chances.
Luckily for the visitors, Watford were equally lacking in invention, which
contributed to the game's flat opening.
Indeed, the sole noteworthy incident of the first period arrived in the 33rd
minute when Watford's top scorer Marlon King struck a fierce drive from 25
yards that Steve Simonsen was forced to push around his left post.
Fortunately for both sets of supporters, the start of the second half was for
more engrossing.
For Stoke Marlon Broomes fired just over in the 47th minute and Kevin Harper
shot wide from eight yards five minutes later after Sidibe had headed into his
path.
Watford took the lead in the 54th minute - but their goal owed as much to
Hoefkens' dreadful error as it did to Eagles' confident finish.
The Potters centre-back failed to clear with a King flick-on, allowing Darius
Henderson to work the ball to his right for Eagles, whose angled effort beat
Simonsen from 12 yards.
The goal should have settled the Hornets' nerves, but Stoke went close to
equalising twice in the space of eight minutes.
First Paul Gallagher shot narrowly wide of the right post after he had run
unchallenged to the edge of the penalty area, and then Ben Foster - who is on
loan at Watford after being signed by Manchester United from Stoke in the summer
- produced a stunning stop in the 62nd minute after Chadwick had turned Mahon
and drilled the ball goalwards from eight yards.
Chadwick was left dejected again seven minutes later after he fired way over
the top following intelligent work from Michael Duberry, who had headed back
across goal at the far post following Karl Henry's right-wing cross.
Eagles wasted a great chance to make it two three minutes from full-time,
prodding over the bar after substitute Hameur Bouazza's left-wing cross was only
half-cleared by Broomes.
Teams:
Watford Foster, Doyley, Mackay, DeMerit, Stewart, Eagles,
Mahon, Spring, McNamee (Bangura 70), King,
Henderson (Bouazza 81).
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Chambers, Mariappa.
Goals: Eagles 54.
Stoke Simonsen, Hoefkens, Broomes, Duberry, Brammer,
Harper (Dyer 78), Junior, Chadwick, Henry, Gallagher, Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: Sweeney, Kopteff, Dickinson, Duggan.
Att: 12,247
Ref: P Crossley (Kent).
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