Sylvan Ebanks-Blake grabbed his 50th career league goal as Wolves saw off struggling Watford to stay at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Ebanks-Blake was on hand to lash in from close range midway through the first half before strike partner Andy Keogh and substitute Sam Vokes scored after the break to ensure Mick McCarthy's side stay at the summit.

Hornets defender Adrian Mariappa did trigger a nervous finish with a late strike but Vokes wrapped up the win with a great header in the last minute.

The kick-off was delayed by 10 minutes because of a turnstile problem at Molineux and after weathering some early Watford pressure Ebanks-Blake grabbed his 17th goal of the season in the 23rd minute.

Wolves are poised to complete the signing of Hearts captain Christophe Berra to shore up their defence after their lead at the top of the table was trimmed to just two points on Tuesday night with a 1-0 defeat at chasing Reading, but it was another centre-half who played a part in the goal.

Kyel Reid sent over an outswinging corner and Richard Stearman, who endured a shaky 90 minutes at Reading, climbed highest to steer a header back into the danger zone where Ebanks-Blake was waiting to smash into the roof of the net.

Brendan Rodgers' side immediately responded when Jobi McAnuff bundled Tommy Smith's cross into the net only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

Tamas Priskin, who scored twice in the 3-0 win over Burnley in midweek, then forced Hennessey into a decent save with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Stearman won another header from a Reid corner to test Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach before Hennessey produced a stunning double save as the half came to an end.

The Wales international dived full length to keep out Will Hoskins' effort and then leapt to his feet to tip Jack Cork's follow-up over the crossbar.

Ebanks-Blake registered the first attempt of the second half but drilled straight at Loach after Keogh had chested Kevin Foley's cross down to him.

But the killer second goal did arrive in the 67th minute.

Watford had a free-kick on the edge of the Wolves area but after the ball was cleared the hosts broke with lethal pace.

Ebanks-Blake carried the ball forward before playing in Michael Kightly down the right wing. The former Grays man picked out Keogh at the back post and after chesting the ball down the Republic of Ireland international thumped a shot past Loach.

Mariappa gave Rodgers' side some faint hope with his first career goal in the 81st minute.

A long ball across the face of goal was headed back by substitute Grzegorz Rasiak for the centre-back to sidefoot in from close range.

But Vokes calmed the nerves in stoppage time when he ran on to fellow sub Matty Jarvis' cross to arrow a header across Loach and into the far corner.

Teams

Wolverhampton Hennessey, Foley, Stearman, Craddock, Ward,Kightly (Edwards 89), Henry, David Jones, Reid (Jarvis 70),Ebanks-Blake (Vokes 84), Keogh.

Subs Not Used: Higgs, Iwelumo.

Booked: Henry, Ward.

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 23, Keogh 67, Vokes 90.

Watford Loach, Hoyte (Lee Williamson 58), Mariappa,Mike Williamson, Doyley, Smith, Cork, Jenkins, McAnuff,Priskin (Rasiak 68), Hoskins.

Subs Not Used: Lee, DeMerit, Harley.

Booked: Hoyte, Mike Williamson.

Goals: Mariappa 81.

Att: 23,571

Ref: Nigel Miller (Durham).