Marvin Sordell grabbed his fifth goal in six games as high-flying Watford beat Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
The in-form striker netted the decisive goal when he tapped home Danny Graham's cross after 16 minutes.
The Blades created a host of second-half chances, with Daniel Bogdanovic's missed free header the best of them.
Watford keeper Scott Loach also saved well from Richard Creswell as the Hornets preserved their unbeaten away record.
Sheffield United will consider themselves unlucky not to have taken a point from the encounter after spurning a string of opportunities after the break.
Mark Yeates went close for the Blades early on when he brought a fine save from Loach, but it was Watford who then went ahead in the 16th minute.
Lloyd Doyley advanced down the right and fed Graham who delivered an inviting cross for Sordell to slide in from close range. It was Sordell's sixth strike of the season and his fifth in the last six games.
Watford then dominated and Will Buckley fired a long-range effort wide of the target, while Jordon Mutch saw his shot blocked.
The hosts had a good chance to level just before the break when Bogdanovic's cross was met by Richard Cresswell, whose header was well saved by Loach.
The Blades were stronger after the break and Bogdanovic had two quickfire efforts, first firing over from distance and then seeing Loach get down well to keep out his shot.
Yeates drove an effort wide from 20 yards before Bogdanovic was again denied by Loach, who saved his header after Cresswell's cross.
But Watford weathered the storm and could have doubled their lead when Troy Deeney shot wide from the edge of the area.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Sheff Utd
0-1
Watford
FT
(HT 0-1)
Sordell 16
Sheff Utd
01 Simonsen
02 Jordan yellow card
03 Nosworthy
06 Ertl (Evans 71)
12 Calve
27 De Laet
04 Montgomery
11 Yeates yellow card
28 Quinn (Slew 86)
10 Bogdanovic
17 Cresswell
Substitutes
29 Wright,
05 Morgan,
16 Taylor,
34 Lowton,
08 Britton,
09 Evans,
35 Slew
Watford
01 Loach
03 A Taylor (Hodson 71)
05 M Taylor
06 Mariappa
12 Doyley
04 Eustace yellow card
07 Cowie
11 Buckley (McGinn 61)
18 Mutch
10 Graham
20 Sordell (Deeney 46)
Substitutes
13 Gilmartin,
02 Hodson,
17 Bennett,
08 Walker,
15 McGinn,
16 Bryan,
09 Deeney
Ref: WebsterAtt: 22,433
SHEFF UTD
WATFORD
Possession
Sheff Utd46%
Watford54%
Attempts on target
Sheff Utd6
Watford7
Attempts off target
Sheff Utd5
Watford4
Corners
Sheff Utd11
Watford2
Fouls
Sheff Utd13
Watford8
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:44 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+4:05 Richard Cresswell concedes a free kick for a foul on Adrian Mariappa. Free kick taken by Scott Loach.
90:00+2:32 Ched Evans takes a shot.
90:00+1:13 Unfair challenge on Mark Yeates by Jordon Mutch results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Nick Montgomery.
90:00+0:45 The ball is delivered by Ritchie De Laet, Martin Taylor manages to make a clearance.
88:14 Troy Deeney produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
86:58 Unfair challenge on Jordon Mutch by Daniel Bogdanovic results in a free kick. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.
85:41 Substitution Jordan Slew on for Stephen Quinn.
85:00 John Eustace produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.
84:24 Ritchie De Laet concedes a free kick for a foul on Troy Deeney. Free kick taken by Danny Graham.
83:42 Troy Deeney takes a shot. Ritchie De Laet gets a block in.
82:19 Richard Cresswell challenges Martin Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Loach takes the free kick.
81:42 Stephen Quinn takes a shot. Martin Taylor gets a block in.
78:01 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jean Calve on Danny Graham. The ball is sent over by Don Cowie, Danny Graham has a headed
effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
77:28 Don Cowie takes the direct free kick.
77:28 Booking The referee cautions Mark Yeates for dissent.
76:49 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Yeates on John Eustace.
75:45 The ball is crossed by Richard Cresswell.
74:59 Nick Montgomery produces a cross, clearance made by Adrian Mariappa.
74:45 A cross is delivered by Stephen Quinn, clearance by Lloyd Doyley.
74:22 Jordon Mutch takes a shot. Save made by Steve Simonsen.
72:36 Corner taken by Mark Yeates from the left by-line, Unfair challenge on John Eustace by Richard Cresswell results in a free
kick. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.
72:28 The ball is delivered by Stephen Quinn, Lee Hodson manages to make a clearance.
72:15 Corner taken short by Nick Montgomery.
72:08 The ball is delivered by Nick Montgomery, blocked by Lee Hodson.
71:49 Centre by Daniel Bogdanovic, clearance made by Martin Taylor.
70:57 Substitution Ched Evans replaces Johnny Ertl.
70:20 Substitution Lee Hodson on for Andrew Taylor.
70:09 Shot from just outside the box by Johnny Ertl goes over the bar.
69:39 Corner taken by Jean Calve from the right by-line, clearance by John Eustace.
69:32 Centre by Richard Cresswell, clearance by John Eustace.
68:56 Stephen Quinn takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Stephen McGinn.
68:48 Jean Calve crosses the ball, Martin Taylor manages to make a clearance.
68:37 The ball is swung over by Mark Yeates.
66:56 Mark Yeates crosses the ball.
66:29 Troy Deeney concedes a free kick for a foul on Nyron Nosworthy. Steve Simonsen takes the direct free kick.
65:30 The ball is crossed by Jean Calve.
65:21 Stephen Jordan crosses the ball, clearance by Adrian Mariappa.
63:18 Inswinging corner taken by Stephen Quinn from the right by-line played to the near post, Stephen McGinn makes a clearance.
63:12 Centre by Nick Montgomery, blocked by John Eustace.
61:28 The ball is delivered by Nick Montgomery, Daniel Bogdanovic takes a shot. Save made by Scott Loach.
60:38 Substitution Stephen McGinn on for Will Buckley.
58:43 Foul by Richard Cresswell on Andrew Taylor, free kick awarded. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.
57:44 Troy Deeney challenges Johnny Ertl unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jean Calve.
57:15 Mark Yeates produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
55:01 Troy Deeney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ritchie De Laet. Steve Simonsen takes the free kick.
54:00 Daniel Bogdanovic takes a shot. Save by Scott Loach.
52:48 Daniel Bogdanovic produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.
50:44 The ball is crossed by Mark Yeates, save by Scott Loach.
48:22 Andrew Taylor concedes a free kick for a foul on Nick Montgomery. Direct free kick taken by Jean Calve.
47:34 The referee blows for offside against Danny Graham. Indirect free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
46:56 Corner from the right by-line taken by Mark Yeates, free kick awarded for a foul by Nyron Nosworthy on Adrian Mariappa. Direct
free kick taken by Scott Loach.
46:27 Booking The referee books John Eustace for dissent.
45:32 Unfair challenge on Troy Deeney by Nyron Nosworthy results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Don Cowie, clearance
by Nyron Nosworthy.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
45:01 Substitution Marvin Sordell goes off and Troy Deeney comes on.
Half Time
45:00+1:01 The referee blows for half time.
Correction - 44:40 The ball is crossed by Daniel Bogdanovic, Richard Cresswell takes a shot. Save made by Scott Loach.
44:40 Daniel Bogdanovic produces a cross, Richard Cresswell takes a shot. Save by Scott Loach.
43:55 Centre by Nick Montgomery, Martin Taylor makes a clearance.
42:52 Stephen Jordan crosses the ball.
42:14 The ball is delivered by Lloyd Doyley, clearance by Ritchie De Laet.
41:47 The ball is swung over by Mark Yeates, clearance by Andrew Taylor.
41:10 The ball is delivered by Don Cowie, clearance by Stephen Jordan.
39:37 The assistant referee flags for offside against Daniel Bogdanovic. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.
38:55 The ball is delivered by Daniel Bogdanovic, Andrew Taylor gets a block in.
38:19 Danny Graham sends in a cross, save by Steve Simonsen.
37:57 The ball is swung over by Danny Graham, Nyron Nosworthy manages to make a clearance.
37:48 Jordon Mutch sends in a cross, clearance made by Nyron Nosworthy.
37:22 Outswinging corner taken by Will Buckley from the right by-line.
35:05 A cross is delivered by Mark Yeates, Will Buckley gets a block in.
32:54 Shot from long distance by Will Buckley misses to the right of the target.
32:14 Jordon Mutch takes a shot. Blocked by Ritchie De Laet.
30:00 Direct free kick taken by Scott Loach.
30:00 Booking Stephen Jordan receives a caution.
29:39 Unfair challenge on Marvin Sordell by Stephen Jordan results in a free kick.
29:09 Corner taken by Mark Yeates from the right by-line.
29:01 Richard Cresswell crosses the ball, Andrew Taylor gets a block in.
28:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lloyd Doyley on Daniel Bogdanovic. Stephen Jordan restarts play with the free kick.
28:05 Andrew Taylor delivers the ball, clearance by Nyron Nosworthy.
23:38 Danny Graham is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
20:59 Daniel Bogdanovic challenges Adrian Mariappa unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Loach.
20:15 Don Cowie takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Nyron Nosworthy.
20:00 Jordon Mutch takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Jordan.
19:17 A cross is delivered by Don Cowie.
17:27 A cross is delivered by Stephen Quinn, clearance made by Adrian Mariappa.
15:48 Danny Graham provided the assist for the goal.
15:48 GOAL - Marvin Sordell:Sheff Utd 0 - 1 Watford Marvin Sordell finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Sheff Utd 0-1 Watford.
15:43 Danny Graham produces a cross,
15:00 Richard Cresswell concedes a free kick for a foul on Martin Taylor. Scott Loach takes the direct free kick.
13:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nick Montgomery by Will Buckley. Ritchie De Laet takes the free kick.
12:40 Mark Yeates crosses the ball.
9:48 The ball is swung over by Lloyd Doyley.
8:27 Mark Yeates takes the outswinging corner, Jordon Mutch makes a clearance.
7:43 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Mark Yeates, Stephen Jordan takes a shot. Clearance made by Adrian Mariappa.
7:18 Corner taken right-footed by Mark Yeates from the left by-line, clearance made by Danny Graham.
7:11 Richard Cresswell produces a cross, blocked by Lloyd Doyley.
6:56 Jean Calve produces a cross.
5:33 Mark Yeates is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.
5:03 Mark Yeates takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Marvin Sordell manages to make a clearance.
4:46 Mark Yeates takes a shot. Save by Scott Loach.
4:01 Don Cowie takes a shot. Ritchie De Laet gets a block in.
3:16 Danny Graham challenges Stephen Quinn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
1:56 Shot from long range by Stephen Jordan misses to the right of the goal.
1:11 The referee blows for offside against Marvin Sordell. Indirect free kick taken by Nyron Nosworthy.
0:32 Don Cowie takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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