Watford 3-2 Rotherham

Allan Nielsen (l) is tackled by Rotherham's Paul Warne

Watford had a slice of good fortune in their victory over Rotherham to give Gianluca Vialli his first league win since he took charge.

The home side were awarded a penalty in the very first minute of the match.

Referee Phil Joslin appeared to suggest that he was penalising Rotherham's Paul Hart for shirt-pulling, but it was a decision that bemused many of the spectators.

Tommy Smith saw Rotherham goalkeeper Mike Pollitt block his spotkick but he scored from the rebound.

Rotherham equalised after 19 minutes when Marvin Bryan put Mark Robins through, and the striker hit the back of the net with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Parity was short ived as Allan Nielsen punished a wayward headed back pass to poke the ball home.

Watford increased their lead after 59 minutes when Smith hooked home after a fluent move.

Rotherham pulled one back when Robins sneaked through a static Watford defence and placed home Richard Barker's flick-on.

Ramon Vega then gave away a penalty to give Rotherham a chance of claiming a point.

But Robins missed his spotkick - and his chance of a hat-trick - with a poor effort that Espen Baardsen saved comfortably.