Friday, December 26, 1986

With Luton Town's away fans ban in place, precious few Watford supporters witnessed a 2-0 victory courtesy of early goals from Kevin Richardson and Gary Porter.

Manager Graham Taylor later speculated that the lack of celebrating away support probably helped the Hornets' cause by maintaining a subdued atmosphere.

The Watford Observer described the second half as "22 players frantically trying to keep the ball in play" on Kenilworth Road's plastic pitch.

Future Hornet Peter Nicholas missed a second-half penalty for the home side in what remain's Watford's only competitive victory on an artificial surface.

Reproduced by kind permission of Matt Rowson from his book, Watford FC On This Day