Watford’s woes on the road continued as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Preston, who were winless in four and in the bottom three before tonight.
It was the Hornets' fourth consecutive away defeat, and came not long after a 4-1 thumping at Norwich.
They were without Tom Dele-Bashiru (knee injury) and Daniel Jebbison (heel injury) so Imran Louza came into midfield while Kwadwo Baah made his first league start and led the line.
The first-half was a scrappy affair which lacked quality though it might have bene very different had Baah taken a great chance when he was sent clear early on.
After the break Watford never really got going, and the home side looked a stride faster and a bit keener.
Once they’d got ahead they assumed control and any chance the Hornets had disappeared in a minute when Vakoun Bayo failed to hit the target when sent through 1-1 one-on-one seconds before North End made it 3-0.
Four away defeats in a row, and no real improvement on the display at Norwich. A bitterly disappointing night, and not what those fans who made the long midweek trip deserved.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
5 - Big, big chance as Sissoko sends Baah clear into the box, but he puts his shot straight at Woodman.
18 - Kayembe's driven inswinging corner forced Woodman to punch away from under his own bar.
21 - Baah ran onto a pass on the left of the box and took an angled shot on early, but Woodman held.
22 - Excellent reaction save from Bond to keep out Osmajic's close-range header.
24 - Bond came out for a lofted free-kick and didn't get the there, the ball ran to Brady and he curled an effort over the top with the keeper chasing back.
26 - Quick break down the right ended with Kesler-Hayden sending a rising shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
32 - Preston worked the ball to Whiteman on the edge of the box but he shot straight at Bond.
Half-time – Preston 0 Watford 0
47 - Series of three Preston corners, from the third Osmajic nodded goalwards from close range but Bond held.
52 – Preston 1 (Osmajic) Watford 0
Watford were looking offside as Preston broke down the right and, when the ball came into the centre, Osmajic turned it past Bond.
57 - Andrews swerving 25-yard shot forces Woodman to parry.
65 – Preston 2 (Osmajic) Watford 0
Thordarson's long throw wasn't cleared and when Kesler-Hayden drove it towards goal the ball deflected to Osmajic who was unmarked at the back post to score.
72 - Oh dear, oh dear. Chakvetadze sends Bayo clean through with only Woodman to beat, and the striker rolls his shot wide. Quite a bit wide...
75 – Preston 3 (McCann) Watford 0
Cracking strike from McCann who meets a free-kick at the back of the box with a ferocious hooked volley.
81 - Woodman saves well again from another long-range Andrews effort.
Watford: Bond; Pollock, Ogbonna (Bayo 52), Morris; Ebosele (Andrews 53), Louza, Sissoko, Larouci (Sema 62); Chakvetadze, Kayembe (Ince 82); Baah (Vata 82): Subs: Marriott, Porteous, Dwomoh, Tikvic
