LIKE a welcome ant-acid for an upset stomach, Saturday's victory was embraced by fans and players alike as placatory reassurance after an increasingly uneasy period of indegestion.

Yet Alon Hazan's long-awaited appearance at Vicarage Road was upstaged, and Watford's triumph was made possible by another 'new' player.

If the marketing men were able to sell this game in advance, they would have resorted to the old gambit when recylcing an existing product proclaiming that the Watford attack contained "a new, improved Lee, enhanced by laboratory-tested Applico, which helps get right to the heart of even the most stubborn of opposition defences".

Whether it was down to renewed application, or as Graham Taylor would have it, a change in the team's and the individual's focus, Lee gave the type of performance we all hoped would be his benchmark when he first signed.

He helped set up all three goals, worked, worried and ran the Preston defence as he turned in his best and, importantly, what appeared to be his most committed performance in Watford's colours.

It was a timely demonstration of his abilities for there has been a growing disquiet among the faithful with regard to his displays and seemingly languid approach.

Not that Lee won this match on his own but, while one can sympathise with those who opted for the eye-catching striking of Kennedy, it was the big man that made it possible.

While those Lee-doubters among us were helping ourselves to a large wedge of humble pie, and were quite happy to do so incidentally, Watford combined to gain the win everyone needed and reduced the rocking of the boat.

Kennedy's switch to a striker role, with which he was not unfamiliar in Northern Ireland, saw him take his tally to 13 goals with two pieces of adept finishing, scoring one on the volley and the other after a neat piece of juggling, each time anticipating that Lee would win the heading duel for Page's free kick.

Yet the two other goals could not be ignored. For sheer ferocity, Preston's strike was sufficient to cause Richard Johnson a moment of envy. It really was a stunning free kick from 35 yards out and of such quality that even home supporters had to applaud.

Yet the best goal of the afternoon was Watford's second, which involved a succession of passes, a final ball of near-perfection by Lee and a remarkable run and finish on the part of Hyde.

For the midfielder, the goal was sweet consolation after the disappointment of the mid-week penalty miss.

Hyde, with his performance on Saturday, showed that admirable determination to put the Hillsborough hiccup behind him and his display challenged that of Kennedy's if not Lee's.

The defence, it must be said, had an uncomfortable time, never looking quite so authoritative but with Lee leading the line so well, Watford always looked threatening when going forward.

It was a mite unfortunate - image-wise - that two of their goals should come from set-pieces lofted into the penalty area, because their general play was often more typically reflected by their second goal, which was all down to an accomplished passing movement of flow, direction and penetration.

Even Kennedy, who has spent most of the season in the attacking half of the pitch, was dubbed a full back with a knack of scoring, when Sky featured his goals, both the result of lofted balls into the box.

As far as home League displays are concerned, this was probably their best since overcoming Blackpool.

Yet, it was not a perfect afternoon. Preston still managed to rattle Watford, opening up holes in the heart of the home defence.

Having taken a two-goal lead, the Hornets could have found those strikes cancelled out before the interval.

Lormor was on his own when he met a Parkinson cross but gained only a slight touch with what looked a routine header and the ball went well past the post instead of at least testing Chamberlain.

Watford had gone close on other occasions, notably from Mooney's and Millen's headers and a rasping, low shot from Kennedy, but then so too did Davey with a flying header wide.

A clear chance, however, was shot straight at Chamberlain three minutes from the interval by the unmarked Lormor and the Watford keeper, clawing down a Barrick drive, reacted quickly to punch the ball away as the striker came in on the rebound.

After Watford had played so well in first-half patches, it was disappointing to experience another one of those unconvincing and unsettling periods, when supporters mentally reached for the Rennies once again.

Watford made moves towards imposing themselves on the game once more with Hyde playing a one-two with Hazan and seeing the keeper block his shot and Kennedy frustrated by a Parkinson parry.

But the fans were soon juggling mentally with the worry beads again when Preston pulled back into the game ten minutes after the interval.

Watford responded well, reasserted a two-goal lead within five minutes and went on to threaten more.

Hazan, who rarely wasted a pass after a bizarre first touch to a bobbling ball, played in Gibbs superbly but the full back took a touch too many and the opening was closed down.

Later, Kennedy found the keeper with an attempt on the turn.

There is nothing better than a win, apart from a good and timely one.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.