Tommy Smith's goal ended Watford's goal drought at Vicarage to give The Hornets a crucial win over Charlton.
Smith strike enough as Watford end home woes
Tommy Smith's well-taken goal ended Watford's goal drought at Vicarage to give The Hornets a crucial 1-0 success over 10-man Charlton.
Tamas Priskin picked out his fellow strike partner Smith and he drilled home a low drive to astonishingly register Watford's first league goal at home since last April.
Adrian Boothroyd's side started brightly and Priskin had the first sight of goal in the third minute.
Jobi McAnuff put in a good cross from the left and Priskin drilled in a low shot which was well blocked by the sprawling Addicks captain Mark Hudson.
Fired over
Charlton midfielder Therry Racon then rattled a shot narrowly over from the edge of the area before former Chelsea man Jon Harley called Nicky Weaver into action at the other end with a sharp low drive.
The Hornets then began to take control of the game and took the lead in the 28th minute.
Again McAnuff was involved and he stood up a deep cross which Priskin won with a great leap above Hudson and headed down into the centre of the area. Smith arrived with a well-timed run and drove the ball home on the half-volley under Weaver's dive.
Kelly Youga then ploughed into Priskin with a crude challenge and was shown a straight red card by referee Iain Williamson.
Sacrifice
Pardew was forced to sacrifice former Hornet Hameur Bouazza at the break and brought on youngster Grant Basey to fill in at the back.
Watford struggled to find the rhythm of the opening 45 minutes in a scrappy start to the second period though midfielder Lee Williamson did threaten with a looping shot.
Grzegorz Rasiak was then brought on for Priskin and he instantly made an impact with a speculative volley from 20 yards which nearly caught Weaver out.
Hudson then made another good block to keep out a rasping Smith effort but his earlier goal proved decisive.
