Watford got the better of Norwich City at Vicarage Road on the weekend.
Quique Sanchez Flores' Hornets made it two wins on the trot courtesy of a 2-0 result at home which saw them move into ninth place on the Premier League table.
Odion Ighalo was hauled down in the area by Alexander Tettey just before the half-hour mark, allowing Watford skipper Troy Deeney to step up and convert from the penalty spot for a fourth consecutive goal and fifth in six games.
Norwich produced few chances to really test Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes before Ighalo helped himself to his ninth of the campaign when holding off Sebastien Bassong to race onto Deeney's through ball and slot beyond John Ruddy.
Watford now have 22 points from 25 matches in their top flight return as Alex Neil's Norwich slumped to their sixth defeat in their past eight outings.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Watford: 2 (Troy Deeney (PEN) 30', Odion Ighalo 90+1')
Norwich City: 0
Vicarage Road, Watford - 20,422
TALKING POINTS
- Are Deeney and Ighalo one of the most dangerous partnerships in the league? Can they fire Watford safely into the top half?
- Norwich now perilously close to the bottom three. Do they desperately need reinforcements this winter to avoid a relegation battle?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Watford will be searching for a trio of wins in a row when they head to Sunderland on Saturday as Norwich hunt for a much-needed victory at home against Everton.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Great day at the office my bro @ighalojude is on great support once again on to the next 1 pic.twitter.com/NPHcPmLDcf
— Troy Deeney (@T_Deeney) December 5, 2015pic.twitter.com/Nxhxd1lXYP
— JUDE (@ighalojude) December 6, 2015Great 3 points, well done lads, amazing team performance! let's keep it up, congrats to @T_Deeney@ighalojude with the goals !
— HEURELHO GOMES (@hdgomes) December 5, 2015WISDOM | "We weren't good enough," says @andrewisdom47x after @WatfordFC defeat: https://t.co/fhAX4f4lNd#ncfcpic.twitter.com/AJlhPKDZ6H
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) December 5, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Watford's Flores on his star strikers:
"I love my strikers and I love the team we have. Deeney feels passion for this team and Ighalo took a very good decision months ago when he had the opportunity to go and he stayed here."
Norwich boss Neill on his side's disappointing effort:
"I don't think we had enough performers on the pitch. It wasn't enough today, there aren't too many positives to take."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
4 - Troy Deeney is the first Watford player to score in four successive Premier League games. Buzzing.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 5, 201525 - Odion Ighalo has scored more goals than any other player in the top four tiers in 2015 (25). Haul.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 5, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
Watford
Goals - Odion Ighalo 9
Assists - Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo 5
Clean sheets - Heurelho Gomes 6
Yellow cards - Allan Nyom, Etienne Capoue 4
Red cards - Valon Behram 1
Norwich
Goals - Nathan Redmond 4
Assists - Wes Hoolahan 5
Clean sheets - John Ruddy 1
Yellow cards - Alexander Tettey 7
Red cards - Steven Whittaker, Russell Martin 1
