WATFORD's resolve and character again shone through as they played for more than 45 minutes with ten men, yet still had enough to record a third successive league win for the first time since October thanks to a 1-0 victory over Leicester City at Vicarage Road tonight (Tuesday).

Darius Henderson scored the all-important goal just before the interval, minutes after John-Joe O'Toole saw red, ridiculously in many observers' eyes, for supposedly denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. But with the odds seemingly against them, the Hornets dug in with superb defensive organisation and were more than able to deal with what their abject opponents had to offer.

Aidy Boothroyd made two changes following Saturday's superb 2-1 triumph at Ipswich Town, one of which was enforced. Ankle injury-victim Tommy Smith missed his first league game of the season, which meant Lionel Ainsworth switched to the right flank as Jobi McAnuff was available again following his one-match ban. The other adjustment saw John-Joe O'Toole come in for the defensively-minded Al Bangura, while Lee Williamson, who was also suspended at the weekend, had to settle for a place on a bench that again did not feature a replacement keeper.

Like the Hornets boss, Ian Holloway also decided to make two changes after seeing his side lose 1-0 at home to Plymouth Argyle last time out. Richard Stearman returned after a one-match suspension to replace Iain Hume, with former Hornet James Chambers switching to left-back, while DJ Campbell, once a transfer target of the Hornets manager, came in for Barry Hayles.

Both sides started positively, but Watford suffered a nervous moment in the second minute when Adrian Mariappa, making his 50th first-team appearance, ran across Chambers on the left side of the Hornets area but no real penalty appeals were forthcoming.

But it took until the 13th minute for either side to register a goal attempt, and that fell to the visitors with Jamie Clapham rifling high and wide from 25 yards. By this stage though, the game had already largely become a physical battle with both sides trying to create openings, but with little success.

This pattern continued, although there was some encouraging respite in the 22nd minute when McAnuff worked some space on the left side of the area before cutting the ball inside to Henderson. He did well to evade a defensive leg before firing in a left-footed shot which Ben Alnwick blocked with his legs.

Soon after, a clever Richard Lee clearance found Ainsworth near the right touchline. He did well to flick on to Henderson who, in turn, sent the youngster scampering away but the former Hereford United player was unable to get to the ball as he closed in on goal.

McAnuff was involved again on 27 minutes, working a neat give-and-go with Henderson on the left corner of the area before driving inside and firing a shot across the target and wide. Then Ainsworth did well down the right to send over a deep cross, which Henderson nodded down and O'Toole turned to lift the ball over the advancing Alnwick, but saw the on-loan Tottenham Hotspur keeper deflect it behind.

Watford maintained their strong spell with O'Toole getting in the way of a goal-bound Nathan Ellington piledriver, before McAnuff sent over a right-footed cross from the left which Henderson headed beyond Alnwick but also over the target.

But the goal Watford were threatening so nearly arrived in the 33rd minute. An Ellington flick sent McAnuff away through the middle, but under increasing pressure and threatening to lose balance he cleverly knocked the ball inside to Henderson, who only had Alnwick to beat from the edge of the area, but the keeper was equal to his effort, deflecting it over the bar.

Having withstood that bombardment, the Foxes went very close to taking the lead in the 36th minute. A lovely pass with the outside of his right foot from Matt Oakley found Steve Howard in space on the left side of the Hornets box, and he lifted the ball over the advancing Lee, but as Campbell touched the ball into the unguarded net to make sure the linesman's flag was already raised.

But the entire complexion of the game changed after 38 minutes with one of the most controversial decisions seen at Vicarage Road for some time.

There was no doubt that O'Toole pulled back Stephen Clemence as he sought to latch onto a pass and break into the area, but there was doubt over whether he was the last man or, indeed, would have got to the ball. Andy Penn initially chose not to award anything, but assistant Gary Young flagged and after going over to consult with his colleague the referee, much to the utter disbelief of most inside Vicarage Road, sent O'Toole off. To this pair of eyes it was definitely a yellow card, but in commiting the offence the Republic of Ireland youngster did not deny a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Watford successfully repelled Clemence's free-kick from 20 yards, and Clapham's follow-up, before the temperature rose still further when Clemence went through Ellington and was rightly booked.

Boothroyd would happily have seen the half end at that point but, incredibly, a minute before the break Watford took the lead. Alnwick attempted to punch clear a deep Mat Sadler free-kick from the left but only succeeded in finding Leigh Bromby, who diverted the ball back into the danger zone and Henderson was left unmarked to prod home his 11th of the season to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

The Watford manager's response was to make the pre-planned change of Bangura for Ainsworth, but the half ended with abuse ringing in the ears of the referee, and the sight of Hornets player-coach Malky Mackay waiting for him by the tunnel, as he made his way off the pitch at the interval.

Holloway followed his counterpart by making a change at the start of the second period, with Zsolt Laczko coming on for Chambers, and within three minutes of the restart Gabor Bori had fizzed a dangerous ball across the Hornets' six-yard box.

The pattern of the second period soon became clear though, with the home side content to soak up any pressure Leicester had to offer and then use their tried-and-tested counter-attacking game where appropriate.

The Foxes had a sniff of an opening when the ball was played into Laczko in the area, but the strength and the positioning of Bromby meant the substitute could only turn and fire over the bar.

Boothroyd made his second change just after the hour-mark, bringing on Jordan Stewart to face his former club at the expense of Ellington, and then Hume came on for Bori as City effectively switched to four up front when they were attacking.

Mariappa saw yellow on 72 minutes for a foul on Laczko, but Watford did gain some time upfield when, following another lung-busting run by Henderson, McAnuff managed to squeeze in a shot which Alnwick was unable to prevent crossing the line for a corner. However, the referee then chose to book McAnuff for time-wasting at the set-piece and the chance then fizzled out to nothing.

The Foxes search for an equaliser became increasingly desperate but they nearly got lucky with four minutes remaining when Clemence's speculative attempt from 30 yards appeared to go worryingly close to Lee's right-hand post, with the keeper positioned in the centre of his goal.

With the job seemingly done, the referee then decided that five minutes of stoppage-time were required. Substitute Hume did send one ambitious speculative attempt wide and the visitors even managed to win their only two corners after the 95th minute, but the Hornets deservedly held on to stay top of the table.

To rate the performances of the players against Leicester, click here Watford: Lee; Mariappa, Bromby, Shittu, Sadler; Ainsworth (Bangura, 45), O'Toole, Eustace, McAnuff (Kabba, 90); Henderson, Ellington (Stewart, 61). Not used: Doyley and Williamson.

Leicester City: Alnwick; Stearman, McAuley (Hayles, 81), Kisnorbo, Chambers (Laczko, 46); Bori (Hume, 67), Oakley, Clemence, Clapham; Campbell, Howard. Not used: N'Gotty and Wesolowski.

Bookings: O'Toole sent off for professional foul after 39 mins; Clemence for a foul on Ellington after 41 mins; Mariappa for a foul on Laczko after 72 mins; McAnuff for time-wasting after 76 mins.

Attendance: 15,944.

Referee: Andy Penn.