Watford win wooden spoon battle

Watford 1-0 Sheff Wed

A late goal from Allan Smart gave Watford the points in this battle between the Premiership's worst two sides.

The Hornets chances of survival are only slightly revived by the result, but Wednesday's marginally more realistic chance takes a hammer blow as a result.

Smart clinched victory for Watford with a dramatic winner two minutes from time.

He swept home a cross from sub Tommy Smith to give them only their fifth win in the Premiership this season.

Watford and Wednesday have scored fewer goals between them than Manchester United or Leeds.

Both sides had several chances to win this basement battle but it was Wednesday who were punished for their lack of punch up front.

Richard Cresswell saw a shot cleared off the line and had the best chance of the game in the 50th minute, but slashed the ball into the side netting.

Watford were equally wasteful.

Dutch midfielder Nordin Wooter fired his shot straight at Pavel Srnicek and Micah Hyde blasted over after 28 minutes.

Srnicek was forced off injured after only seven minutes, injuring his shoulder as he attempted to take Wooter's shot at the second attempt.

Kevin Pressman, who had been troubled himself by a groin injury, came on instead and made several brave saves in an impressive display.

But there was little he could do to keep out Smart's late winner.

Teams:

Watford: Chamberlain, Robinson, Page, Palmer, Cox, R. Johnson, Hyde, Kennedy, Wooter, Helguson, Smart. Subs: Day, Smith, Gudmundsson, Bonnot, Williams.

Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Hinchcliffe, Atherton, Walker, Nolan, Quinn, Haslam, Jonk, Alexandersson, De Bilde, Cresswell. Subs: Pressman, Sonner, Sibon, Rudi, Briscoe.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)