West Brom 3-0 Watford

Hughes scored West Brom's second

Lee Hughes marked his elevation to West Brom captain for the game against Watford by scoring his 21st goal of the season to help his side to victory.

Hughes struck in the 57th minute after a shocking blunder by Watford keeper Espen Baardsen.

The big Norwegian fumbled a ball from Albion defender Neil Clement and Hughes pounced to make it 2-0 with a header.

Albion, who reinforced their play-off challenge with this victory, had to wait until five minutes after the break for their first goal.

Man of the match

Des Lyttle slipped a perfect pass to transfer listed Irish striker James Quinn and he grabbed his first league goal in two years with an angled drive into the far corner.

Hughes then struck before the scoreline was completed in injury time through Albion's man of the match in defender Clement.

He scored with a free-kick from 25 yards that took a deflection before flying past the helpless Baardsen.

It was Watford, now with just one win to their credit in nine games, who were the sharper outfit in the opening 45 minutes and they squandered a golden opportunity of taking an early lead.

A mistake by defender Phil Gilchrist opened a path to goal for striker Tommy Smith but, from only 12 yards, he ballooned his shot high over the crossbar.

After the break Watford were again guilty of poor marksmanship and in the dying seconds Allan Smart missed an open goal after Gifton Noel-Williams won a challenge with Albion keeper Russell Hoult.

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West Brom: Hoult, Lyttle, Clement, Butler, Cummings, Jordao, Appleton, Sneekes, Taylor, Hughes, Gilchrist. Subs: Jensen, Roberts, Quinn, Sigurdsson, Balis.

Watford: Baardsen, Cox, Robinson, Page, Palmer, Hyde, Vernazza, Nielsen, Helguson, Wooter, Smith. Subs: Chamberlain, Kennedy, Smart, Noel-Williams, Panayi.

Referee: M Pike (Barrow-in-Furness).