Goals from Almen Abdi and Matej Vydra have put Watford 2-0 ahead at half time of their Championship clash with Reading.

Abdi fired the hosts in front in the first minute with a well taken finish from the edge of the area and Vydra added a second shortly before the break.

Slavisa Jokanovic made three changes to the side which drew with Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

Daniel Pudil replaced the suspended Tommie Hoban at left wing-back, Marco Motta came in for Juan Carlos Paredes at right wing-back whilst Joel Ekstrand took the place of Gabriele Angella at centre-back.

Watford made the perfect start to the contest. An intricate attacking move appeared to have lost momentum when Troy Deeney was tackled.

However, the Hornets captain neatly turned into space and played a pass to Abdi. The Swiss maestro was given far too much time on the edge of the area and curled his shot into the far corner with the outside of his boot.

It was Abdi’s only involvement in the contest. The midfielder was a doubt before the match with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced after just seven minutes by Fernando Forestieri.

Reading offered little going forward in the opening period while the Golden Boys created opportunities to add to their lead.

Motta came close. The Italian wing-back produced a lovely moment of skill to make room for a half volley and his 25-yard effort struck the crossbar and bounced clear.

Forestieri then shot comfortably wide before the diminutive forward forced Mikkel Andersen into a full-length save with an excellent bicycle kick from an Adlene Guedioura cross.

Simon Cox drilled a shot well wide for the visitors before Forestieri again missed the target from distance.

Reading were poor throughout the opening 45 minutes and it allowed the Hornets to coast through to half time.

They did, however, go in with a two-goal advantage at the interval. Forestieri collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area, escaped the attention of Niall Cooper and played a pass to Vydra.

The Czech Republic international took a touch before firing past Andersen at his near post. 

The 44th minute of the game saw a minutes' applause for Hornets supporter Nick Cruwys, who remains in a critical condition in hospital following an attack after last weekend's draw at Wolves. 

Watford: Gomes; Motta, Ekstrand, Cathcart, Pudil; Watson, Guedioura, Tozser; Abdi (Forestieri 7); Vydra, Deeney.

Watford Substitutes: Bond, Angella, Layun, Doyley, Paredes, Anya.

Reading: Andersen: Travner, Keown, Knight, Cooper, Akpan, Guthrie, Taylor, Stacey, Cox, Yakubu.

Reading substitutes: Lincoln, Long, Kuhl, Karacan, Edwards, Blackman, Novakovich.

You can see a picture of the banner in support of Nic Cruwys here.