Two goals from Danny Graham and one from Jordon Mutch (pictured) helped Watford to a 3-1 victory against the Boro.

Those arriving late to Vicarage Road were left kicking themselves as it took Danny Graham just 17 seconds to score the opening goal. A bad day at the office for David Wheater; he chose to undersell his back pass to Jason Steele in the Middlesbrough net. Wheater brought his hands to his head even before Danny Graham picked up the loose ball, and with no hesitation, Graham slotted the ball home from close range and made the scoreline 1-0.

Will Buckley would prove to be a nuisance all afternoon and it took the Watford wideman just 10 minutes to earn his side a corner. Middlesbrough, still shell-shocked from the first goal, failed to sufficiently defend the second ball. Jordon Mutch had far too much space outside the box and powered home his second Watford goal.

Middlesbrough’s shaky start was their ultimate downfall; with only twenty minutes gone in the game, Martin Taylor, had an eternity to pick out Don Cowie on the left flank. Cowie’s pass found the left boot of Danny Graham and Watford had scored 3 goals in 20 minutes and 9 in a week. Graham even achieved a personal milestone by netting his 20th league goal as Watford player. The only man to have scored more goals in the Championship this season is Jamie Mackie of league leaders QPR.

In October of last year, it was Middlesbrough hosting Watford. A single goal by Tom Cleverley was enough to beat Boro on that day and within a week Boro manager, Gareth Southgate, was out of a job. With Middlesbrough now sitting in 17th place, the same fate may fall to present manager Gordon Strachan. Consolation for Strachan came on the 79th minute when Mariappa beat Boyd in the air, but headed past Loach.

The result ended like that at 3-1. A great day for Watford manager Malkay Mackay who sees his side climb to 3rd and just one point behind Cardiff City.