Watford’s seventh away victory of the season at Middlesbrough on Saturday ensured they became the leading travelling side in the Championship and the highest scoring team on the road in all four domestic divisions.

The 2-1 victory at the Riverside Stadium ensured the Hornets matched Hull City’s away record of won seven, drawn two and lost four from 13 matches played, but Gianfranco Zola’s men have a goal difference that is six better than the Tigers on their travels.

The seventh away win also means the Vicarage Road outfit have now recorded more victories on their travels than they amassed in six of the last ten seasons. One more win will increase that number to eight.

Watford were already the highest scorers on the road in the Championship prior to Saturday’s game but Matej Vydra’s brace saw them extend their advantage over leaders Cardiff City to six goals, with 29 from 13 matches compared to the 23 from 13 Malky Mackay’s side have netted on their travels.

The Hornets’ scoring tally though, now makes them the top scorers away from home in all four English divisions.

League Two side Rochdale are a goal behind, with 28 from 14 games, while Premier League leaders Manchester United and another fourth-tier club, Port Vale, currently sit joint third, with 26 goals from 11 and 14 matches respectively.

Zola’s side have netted nine more goals away than at Vicarage Road but their combined tally of 49 is the second highest of any Watford side after 26 league matches since the 1978/79 season – Mackay’s squad of 2010/11 scored 52 after the corresponding number of fixtures.

The Hornets’ current points tally of 43 also offers more reasons for optimism for the remainder of the season when compared to the three previous occasions the club has reached the play-offs.

Although Aidy Boothroyd’s side limped into the top six in the 2007/08 campaign, they had 47 points after 26 matches. Rewind two seasons though, and Boothroyd’s side which was ultimately victorious against Leeds United at the Millennium Stadium also had 43 points after 26 games.

Furthermore, Graham Taylor’s class of 1998/99 that went on to beat Bolton Wanderers at Wembley to secure Watford’s place in the Premier League for the first time had amassed 44 points after completing 26 games.

While the omens are encouraging though, Taylor’s team of 200/01 had reached the 49-point mark after playing 26 times but ultimately faded to ninth that season.