Middlesbrough's struggles continued as two goals from the club's former trainee Danny Graham helped Watford to a comfortable victory at Vicarage Road.
The visitors went behind after just 17 seconds when David Wheater's weak pass allowed Graham a simple opportunity.
Jordon Mutch's half-volley then gave Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele no chance.
Graham added a third from Don Cowie's cut-back after just 20 minutes and only an own goal from Adrian Mariappa gave Boro faint hope with 10 minutes left.
Graham spent four years at the Riverside Stadium before being released and he showed his old club what they were missing with two clinical finishes.
Buoyed by a 6-1 win at Millwall last weekend, Watford started with real confidence - a quality clearly lacking in Wheater, whose attempted back-pass was woefully short and perfect for Graham to pounce on before he rounded Jason Steele to roll the ball home.
Leroy Lita had a good chance to Boro level but his shot was tipped round the post by Loach, and the hosts capitalised two minutes later when Cowie's corner was cleared into the path of Mutch.
He slammed home a superb half-volley from 25 yards, before Graham added a close-range third which proved too much of a blow for the pre-season promotion favourites to recover from.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Watford
3-1
Middlesbrough
FT
(HT 3-0)
Graham 1
Mutch 11
Graham 20
Mariappa (og) 80
Watford
01 Loach yellow card
02 Hodson yellow card
05 M Taylor
06 Mariappa
12 Doyley
04 Eustace
07 Cowie
11 Buckley (McGinn 65)
18 Mutch
10 Graham (Walker 85)
20 Sordell (Deeney 73)
Substitutes
13 Gilmartin,
25 Oshodi,
08 Walker,
15 McGinn,
16 Bryan,
24 Whichelow,
09 Deeney
Middlesbrough
30 Steele
04 Bates (McMahon 55)
05 Wheater
06 McManus
17 Robson
18 O'Neil
19 Halliday (Boyd 46)
20 Arca
37 Tavares
07 McDonald
15 Lita (Kink 66)
Substitutes
21 Coyne,
24 Hines,
29 McMahon,
10 Bailey,
09 Boyd,
11 Kink,
22 Williams
Ref: GrahamAtt: 12,185
WATFORD
MIDDLESBROUGH
Possession
Watford48%
Middlesbrough52%
Attempts on target
Watford4
Middlesbrough7
Attempts off target
Watford3
Middlesbrough5
Corners
Watford4
Middlesbrough4
Fouls
Watford16
Middlesbrough10
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:43 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+3:54 The ball is delivered by Tony McMahon, clearance by John Eustace. Corner taken by Barry Robson played to the near post, Scott
Loach makes a save.
88:52 Unfair challenge on Troy Deeney by Mickael Tavares results in a free kick. Lee Hodson takes the free kick.
88:23 The ball is sent over by Tony McMahon, David Wheater takes a shot. Save by Scott Loach.
87:48 The ball is crossed by Gary O'Neil, John Eustace manages to make a clearance.
87:40 The ball is crossed by Gary O'Neil, clearance made by Martin Taylor.
86:53 Foul by Stephen McGinn on Barry Robson, free kick awarded. Barry Robson crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from
left channel, clearance by Josh Walker.
84:57 Substitution Josh Walker joins the action as a substitute, replacing Danny Graham.
84:31 The ball is crossed by Tarmo Kink.
84:24 Centre by Barry Robson.
84:05 Shot from close range by Danny Graham clears the bar.
82:49 Troy Deeney fouled by Stephen McManus, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Don Cowie, clearance
made by David Wheater.
81:57 Stephen McGinn challenges Julio Arca unfairly and gives away a free kick. Julio Arca takes the free kick.
81:40 Danny Graham crosses the ball, clearance by Stephen McManus.
80:59 Tarmo Kink has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
80:29 Danny Graham crosses the ball, Jason Steele makes a save.
79:37 Booking Scott Loach is shown a yellow card for dissent.
79:17 GOAL - Adrian Mariappa:Watford 3 - 1 Middlesbrough Own goal by Adrian Mariappa. Watford 3-1 Middlesbrough.
78:04 A cross is delivered by Tony McMahon, Scott McDonald takes a shot. Save by Scott Loach.
76:08 Lloyd Doyley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tarmo Kink. Free kick taken by Gary O'Neil.
75:32 Stephen McGinn challenges Barry Robson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Julio Arca.
75:10 Tarmo Kink takes a shot. Scott Loach makes a save.
Correction - 72:46 Substitution Troy Deeney joins the action as a substitute, replacing Marvin Sordell.
72:46 Substitution Troy Deeney is brought on as a substitute for Marvin Sordell.
72:04 A cross is delivered by Tony McMahon.
71:37 A cross is delivered by Barry Robson, Lloyd Doyley manages to make a clearance.
71:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephen McManus by Jordon Mutch. Mickael Tavares takes the free kick.
70:53 Julio Arca has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
69:46 Julio Arca crosses the ball, Headed effort from inside the area by Kris Boyd misses to the right of the target.
69:34 The ball is delivered by Tarmo Kink, John Eustace makes a clearance.
68:03 Tarmo Kink challenges Lloyd Doyley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Loach takes the direct free kick.
67:14 Danny Graham takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.
65:56 Centre by Tarmo Kink.
65:15 Substitution Tarmo Kink on for Leroy Lita.
64:49 Substitution (Watford) makes a substitution, with Stephen McGinn coming on for Will Buckley.
59:15 Unfair challenge on Marvin Sordell by Mickael Tavares results in a free kick. Don Cowie takes the direct free kick.
57:41 The ball is swung over by Tony McMahon, Scott Loach makes a save.
55:52 Foul by Scott McDonald on Adrian Mariappa, free kick awarded. Scott Loach takes the direct free kick.
54:41 Substitution Tony McMahon comes on in place of Matthew Bates.
52:04 Foul by Gary O'Neil on John Eustace, free kick awarded. Scott Loach takes the direct free kick.
51:38 Jordon Mutch produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
49:12 Barry Robson sends in a cross, Gary O'Neil takes a shot. Save by Scott Loach.
48:07 Foul by Lloyd Doyley on Gary O'Neil, free kick awarded. Matthew Bates takes the direct free kick.
46:33 Lloyd Doyley concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Bates. Jason Steele takes the direct free kick.
45:25 Kris Boyd is caught offside. Scott Loach takes the free kick.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
45:01 Substitution Kris Boyd joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andy Halliday.
Half Time
45:00+1:13 The referee calls an end to the first half.
45:00+1:12 The assistant referee flags for offside against Danny Graham. Stephen McManus takes the free kick.
45:00+0:09 The ball is sent over by Matthew Bates.
42:03 Gary O'Neil gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Will Buckley. Scott Loach takes the direct free kick.
41:15 Andy Halliday delivers the ball, Lee Hodson gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken by Barry Robson from the left by-line.
39:33 The ball is swung over by Danny Graham.
38:57 Don Cowie takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Mickael Tavares.
37:18 Adrian Mariappa concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Halliday. Barry Robson has a direct shot on goal from the free kick,
Danny Graham gets a block in.
34:34 Scott McDonald challenges Adrian Mariappa unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Loach takes the free kick.
34:24 The referee blows for offside against Marvin Sordell. Julio Arca takes the free kick.
33:51 Centre by Matthew Bates, save made by Scott Loach.
32:03 Gary O'Neil produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, Lloyd Doyley gets a block in.
32:03 Booking Lee Hodson receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
31:50 Lee Hodson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott McDonald.
31:33 The ball is sent over by Don Cowie, clearance by Julio Arca.
30:03 Unfair challenge on Scott McDonald by Jordon Mutch results in a free kick. Stephen McManus takes the direct free kick.
29:41 Barry Robson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marvin Sordell. John Eustace restarts play with the free kick.
28:58 The ball is delivered by Mickael Tavares.
28:09 Scott McDonald fouled by John Eustace, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Gary O'Neil, clearance
by Jordon Mutch.
26:14 The assistant referee signals for offside against Danny Graham. Jason Steele takes the indirect free kick.
23:38 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adrian Mariappa on Scott McDonald. Barry Robson crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed
from left channel.
22:42 Unfair challenge on David Wheater by Marvin Sordell results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jason Steele.
22:32 The ball is swung over by Mickael Tavares, Scott Loach makes a save.
21:28 Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson from the right by-line played to the near post, Marvin Sordell manages to make a clearance.
19:47 Assist by Don Cowie.
19:47 GOAL - Danny Graham:Watford 3 - 0 Middlesbrough Danny Graham finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Watford 3-0 Middlesbrough.
19:39 The ball is swung over by Don Cowie,
19:21 A cross is delivered by Marvin Sordell, clearance made by David Wheater.
17:50 Barry Robson fouled by Jordon Mutch, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jason Steele.
16:05 Will Buckley sends in a cross, blocked by Mickael Tavares. The ball is sent over by Will Buckley, Adrian Mariappa produces
a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.
14:49 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Don Cowie, Stephen McManus manages to make a clearance.
13:01 Julio Arca concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Graham. Lee Hodson restarts play with the free kick.
12:27 Centre by Andy Halliday.
10:44 GOAL - Jordon Mutch:Watford 2 - 0 Middlesbrough Jordon Mutch finds the net with a goal from long distance low into the middle of the goal. Watford 2-0 Middlesbrough.
10:07 Will Buckley sends in a cross, Julio Arca gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Don Cowie,
9:32 Scott McDonald takes a shot from long range which goes wide right of the target.
8:13 Leroy Lita takes a shot. Save by Scott Loach. Short corner taken by Barry Robson from the right by-line, Gary O'Neil crosses
the ball, Scott Loach makes a save.
7:23 A cross is delivered by Barry Robson, Andy Halliday takes a shot. Scott Loach makes a save.
6:37 Leroy Lita fouled by Martin Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Barry Robson restarts play with the free kick.
5:41 The official flags Danny Graham offside. Jason Steele takes the free kick.
Correction - 3:52 Julio Arca delivers the ball.
3:52 Julio Arca delivers the ball, save by Scott Loach.
3:22 Jordon Mutch challenges Gary O'Neil unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Steele.
0:23 GOAL - Danny Graham:Watford 1 - 0 Middlesbrough Goal scored by Danny Graham from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Watford 1-0 Middlesbrough.
0:00 The game kicks-off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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