In a week where all the talk has been about Jamie Vardy’s record for goals in consecutive Premier League games, Troy Deeney grabbed his own slice of history to give Watford a 1-0 half-time lead against Norwich City.

The skipper’s 31st-minute penalty, following a challenge by Andre Wisdom on strike partner Odion Ighalo, was his fourth in consecutive Premier League matches – the longest run of goals by a Hornets player in the Premier League era.

Deeney scored in last weekend’s 3-2 win at Aston Villa and preceded that with penalties in defeats against Manchester United and Leicester City.

Both sides struggled to carve out chances in an instantly forgettable half which was low on quality, chances and, ultimately, entertainment.

Alex Neil’s side failed to work Heurelho Gomes – handed a start after recovering from a nasty blow to the head at Villa Park last weekend – whilst Declan Rudd, starting his first Premier League game in place of the dropped John Ruddy, was underworked too.

The only real chance the Hornets had prior to taking the lead came when Ikechi Anya got in behind the visitors’ backline only to sling his low cross into the grasp of Rudd with Ighalo lurking.

But it was Ighalo who won the spot kick from which the Golden Boys took the lead. The forward got into the penalty area and with Wisdom and former Watford loanee Sebastien Bassong for company, went down under the challenge of the former.

Referee Mike Dean felt the Nigerian had been felled and pointed to the spot. Deeney stepped up and side footed the ball to Rudd’s left to break yet another club record and give Watford the lead.

The Hornets were momentarily 2-0 up soon after and television replays since suggest the decision to disallow Ighalo’s close-range finish for offside were incorrect as he had come from behind a Norwich defender.

Allan Nyom headed the ball into the path of Ighalo to tuck beyond Rudd at his near post but assistant referee Harry Lennard’s flag was raise on the near side.

Ighalo might have grabbed a second just before the break when he weaved past Ryan Bennett but he failed to squeeze the ball beyond Rudd at his near post.

Watford: Gomes; Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Ake; Capoue, Watson; Anya, Deeney (c), Jurado; Ighalo.

Substitutes: Arlauskis (GK), Holebas, Paredes, Guedioura, Abdi, Diamanti, Oulare.

Norwich City: Rudd; Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Tettey, Dorrans, Brady; Howson; Grabban.

Substitutes: Ruddy (GK), Martin, Mbokani, Jerome, Mulumbu, O'Neil, Odjidja.

Referee: Mike Dean.