Heidar Helguson scored the opener in his first Watford start in four-and-a-half years as the Hornets comfortably beat Preston North End 2-0 at Vicarage Road.

Helguson, on loan from QPR, scored two after coming off the bench against Leicester City seven weeks ago but only made a return from calf injury last week.

Helguson headed Watford in front on nine minutes and Tom Cleverley made it two midway through the first half.

Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline but the Hornets never looked like losing.

Watford were inches away from opening the scoring in the seventh minute when Craig Cathcart glanced Don Cowie’s inswinging free-kick narrowly wide of Andy Lonergan’s left-hand post, with the Preston keeper beaten.

But two minutes later the Hornets did take the lead and perhaps, almost inevitably, it was the man Heidar Helguson who scored.

The home side kept the pressure on after forcing the first corner of the match and when Don Cowie played in a cross from the right side of the area, the Hornets legend showed all his experience by just pulling off his man to give himself a yard and then guided the header back across Lonergan and inside his far post to make it 1-0.

It should have been two eight minutes later when Tom Cleverley played a fine pass down the side of the Preston defence and the rather unexpected figure of John Eustace found himself unmarked in the heart of the area, but Lonergan did well to block with his legs.

The one-way nature of the match continued, with Eustace narrowly failing to divert a Cleverley cross-cum shot on target with his head, before Henri Lansbury opened up a chance on the right side of the area, only for Lonergan to save again.

A second Watford goal was coming but when it finally arrived in the 33rd minute it was well worth the wait.

Lansbury picked the ball up in midfield and attacked the heart of the visiting defence before finding Helguson, who turn slid the ball to his left where Cleverley struck a low first-time right-footed effort inside Lonergan’s near post.

But having been totally dominant, Watford nearly gifted their opponents a route back into the game in first-half injury time.

Adrian Mariappa, who could have let the ball bounce out of play, instead tried to clear it from near his own goal line, only to scuff it to Billy Jones, whose mis-hit effort fell for Jon Parkin, and the big striker turned and hit a shot that beat Scott Loach but not the outside of his left-hand post.

Preston had the first chance of the second period. Ross Wallace's free kick was was heading for the top corner but although Loach made the save, he was unable to gather at the first attempt and the ball was just cleared.

Watford's first effort of the second period was also a free kick but Cowie's effort was never going to trouble Lonergan.

Lansbury was looking dangerous breaking from midfield and his cross was headed narrowly wide by Helguson.

As the half went on, Watford took control again and Cowie almost picked out Helguson with a low cross 64 minutes but it was just cleared by Collins.

The following minute, Lansbury stung the hands of Lonergan with a low shot from 30 yards but the keeper parried away.

Preston were struggling to break down the Watford defence and Sedgwick was forced to try from distance and his curling effort was comfortably over.

Neither side had an attempt for a while but then after Eustace had a header deflected just wide, Hodson forced Lonergan into a good save with his feet after the corner was taken quickly.

Hart somehow only saw yellow for bringing down Cowie when the midfielder seemed clear through and Lansbury was unable to direct his free kick on target.

Ellington was unable to grab his second league goal of the season when he shot wide after a good turn in the box.

Substitute Liam Henderson almost grabbed his first professional goal when he intercepted Hart's back pass but Lonergan closed down the angle in time to make the save.

Preston would have set up a tense finish had Loach not made an excellent save to deny Parkin in the first minute of injury time.

Watford: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Cathcart, Doyley; Cowie, Lansbury, Eustace, Cleverley (Harley 73); Graham (L Henderson for Graham 83), Helguson (Ellington 71). Not used: Severin, Bennett, Bryan, Bond.

  Preston North End: Lonergan; Hart, Collins, Chilvers, Davidson (Parry 66); Sedgwick (Brown 73), Jones, Shumulikoski, Wallace; Parkin, Mellor (Elliot 66). Not used: Mawene, Carter, W Henderson, Nolan.

  Bookings: Lansbury, 32; Helgsuon, 45, Hart 82;  

Attendance: 13, 524  

Referee: Kevin Wright.