Vakoun Bayo’s late breakaway goal earned Watford victory and left managerless Norwich City pondering a dismal home run that has seen them win just once in nine league games at Carrow Road.
Bayo tapped the ball home after a deft move, Ismaila Sarr swung wide to the left and showed great composure to pick the striker into the net from close range.
Watford had been the most threatening for much of an entertaining game, with the impressive Keinan Davis coming close twice before the break.
But the Canaries, in their second game under caretaker boss Allan Russell, improved in the closing stages and were threatened twice by Adam Idah, only for Bako’s efforts to ensure the Hornets climb to the top. fourth in the Championship table and leave Norwich languishing in 11th place.
Victory was the perfect response from an injured Watford side beaten 4-0 by Swansea City last time out, but a real blow for the hosts, who have not won any of their games since Dean Smith was sacked after a run of just three wins from 13 league games.
Watford, no doubt with boss Slaven Bilic’s stern words still ringing in their ears after they were hammered by Swans, showed much more cohesion in the early stages with Davis involved in all their best moments.
The Aston Villa man’s shrewd footwork on loan saw him have an early strike cleared at the near post by keeper Angus Gunn, and he also sent in a delightful curling effort from just short before making a pass to Sarr, whose shot in goal was blocked. .
Norwich settled down after an understandably pissed off start, with Grant Hanley rightly ruling out a header for offside in their first real scoring moment 10 minutes before the break.
The lively Josh Sargent – three times goalscorer in his three previous games against the Hornets – then cleared on the left but saw his cross stopped by goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.
The end-to-end character continued after the break but big chances remained rare.
Bayo missed a glorious one though, inflating his lines horribly five minutes after the restart when he scuffed his effort from close range and allowed the hosts to scramble the ball.
Norwich appeared to finish stronger, with Marcelino Nunez firing a shot wide from the edge of the box and Sargent lifting an effort over the bar on the run for goal.
But their best opportunities fell on Adam Idah, who first missed the target when well placed and then curled in a superb 20-yard strike from a fraction wide after a fine approach play from Teemu Pukki.
Watford lost Davis, Samuel Kalu and Christian Kabasele to injury towards the end but still emerged victorious through Bayo – although the Canaries nearly snatched a point when Gabriel Sara’s free kick grazed the bar for nine minutes of additional time.
