They had most of the possession and created the majority of the chances, but Watford currently trail Cardiff City 1-0 at Vicarage Road.

The Golden Boys have built several attacks but their failure to be clinical in the final third, both with attempts at goal and deliveries into the box, meant they failed to find the back of the net against Russell Slade’s men in the first half.

Cardiff haven’t won away all season but lead the Hornets at the break through Adam Le Fondre’s opener 12 minutes into the match at Vicarage Road.

Before the match a host of Watford greats were introduced to the crowd as the club’s greatest manager, Graham Taylor, addressed supporters after the club decided to rename the East Stand after the former England manager.

The Hornets made six changes to their starting line-up as the likes of Heurelho Gomes, Gabriele Angella and Almen Abdi returned from injury, and Gianni Munari, Ikechi Anya and Matej Vydra were promoted to the XI.

There was also a significant change to the way the team set-up as Slavisa Jokanovic opted for a 3-5-2 formation; the system used during the club’s successful 2012/13 campaign.

The Golden Boys started brightly, with Troy Deeney having an effort cleared yards from the goal-line and David Marshall denying Vydra as he attempted to lift the ball over the Cardiff glovesman.

But the visitors took the lead on 12 minutes when Kenwyne Jones beat Gomes in the air from Anthony Pilkington’s in-swinging cross and Le Fondre was left with a simple tap-in.

Watford were playing with attacking intent and at times opened Cardiff up with ease, with Vydra wasting a glorious opportunity when the ball got stuck under his feet. But the Hornets were also sloppy and struggled to defend balls into their box. Craig Noone arguably should have tested Gomes when he fired over from 12 yards as the home side failed to clear.

Vydra was working hard and looked lively. On another day he could have had two or three goals in the first half. Connolly needed to make a last-ditch tackle to deflect the Czech Republic international’s shot on to the roof of the net following Abdi’s through ball.

The Golden Boys became completely dominant as the half wore on and Angella was next to have an attempt at goal. A slick move ended with the centre back shooting wide of the near post from the corner of the area.

But for all of their possession, it could have been worse for the Golden Boys going into the break as failure to clear another cross into their box allowed Le Fondre to have a low drive. Gomes parried and then saved the rebound but Jones was deemed to be offside.

Watford line-up: Gomes; Bassong, Ekstrand, Angella: Paredes, Abdi, Tozser, Munari, Anya; Deeney, Vydra.

Subs: Gilmartin, Doyley, Cathcart, Pudil, Guedioura, Dyer, Forestieri Cardiff City line-up: Marshall; Brayford, Turner, Morrison, Connolly; Pilkington, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Noone; Jones, Le Fondre.

Subs: Moore, Fabio, Ralls, Adeyemi, Daehli, Macheda, Maynard.

Referee: Phillip Gibbs.