Southampton 1-3 Watford

Darius Henderson's brace helped Watford climb to third in the Championship and increased discontent at Southampton.

Skipper Gavin Mahon gave the Hornets a perfect start on three minutes when he capitalised on poor defending to score.

Henderson had chances to double the lead before tapping in Marlon King's cross on 68 minutes and the pair combined again four minutes later.

A close-range header killed off the game and Peter Madsen's late goal did little to lift the gloom at St Mary's.

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Southampton manager George Burley:
"We gave away a soft early goal and struggled for an hour to try and get back in to the game.

"To let in three at home is a big disappointment.

"It shows there is much work for us to do before we can say we have a decent team here again."

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd:
"This is exactly where we wanted to be.

"The promotion race is reaching a crucial time and I like to think we are reaching our peak at the best moment with a handful of games to go.

"At this stage of the season you talk about character and resilience as qualities and that is what we showed."

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Southampton: Smith, Ostlund, Kenton, Higginbotham, Brennan, Baird, Chaplow (Jones 45), Wright (Kosowski 80), Surman, Rasiak, Madsen.
Subs Not Used: Miller, Blackstock, Cranie.

Goals: Madsen 85.

Watford: Foster, Doyley, DeMerit, Mackay, Stewart, Eagles (Bangura 67), Mahon, Spring, Young, Henderson (Chambers 90), King.
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Carlisle, McNamee.

Booked: DeMerit.

Goals: Mahon 3, Henderson 67, 72.

Att: 19,202

Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).