A superb second half display took Town to their third league away win of the season against previously high-flying Watford. Goals from Alun Armstrong and Jamie Clapham won the points as Town enjoyed their best half of football since the 6-1 win over Leicester early in the season.

New keeper Paul Gerrard was in from the off, wearing Matteo Sereni's old number 34 shirt. Andy Marshall was not even included on the bench, James Pullen taking up his customary role amongst the subs. The defence was the now familiar three of Chris Makin, Thomas Gaardsøe and John McGreal. Hermann Hreidarsson and Fabian Wilnis were the wing-backs while Matt Holland, Jim Magilton and Jamie Clapham made up the midfield. In attack Armstrong played alongside Darren Bent.

The first half saw few chances with both sides failing to make the most of possession and often losing the ball. The Blues' first chance of the game came in the fourth minute when Bent played in Armstrong at a tight angle on the Town right but his shot went wide.

On 10 Thomas Gaardsøe appeared to attempt a shot from the halfway line after bringing the ball out of defence. The ambitious effort went well wide. There was more bizarre stuff a couple of minutes later when Chris Makin dived to clear a header which was sent back in with him still grounded. Thinking quickly, the former Sunderland man headed the ball away from off the ground, his fellow defenders completing the unorthodox clearance.

Jim Magilton is not a man known for scoring goals with his head, but in the 24th minute the Northern Irishman latched onto a McGreal freekick but his downward header was little trouble for former Town reserve keeper Alec Chamberlain.

Fabian Wilnis went close two minutes later when he ended a 20-odd pass Town move. The Dutchman exchanged a one-two on the right of the area with Clapham before hitting a shot which shaved the top of the bar.

Paul Gerrard had so far been untroubled with the defence continuing to have a more solid look than earlier in the season, Thomas Gaardsøe once more the stand-out player. In the middle of the three, he made a particularly important interception from Allan Nielsen after he broke through after appearing to handle a Magilton pass.

Arsenal youngster Jermaine Pennant was making his first appearance for the Hornets since returning on loan but was not having a good time of it. An early dive was ignored by referee Neale Barry and the latter stages of the half saw him caught offside innumerable times and giving the linesman an earful for his trouble and was lucky not to see a yellow card.

Hermann Hreidarsson did get a view of Mr Barry's card after a foul on Nielsen, having earlier been warned when he pulled back Ardley.

No boos at half-time and no changes. Town had looked solid without creating too many clear-cut chances. The increased personnel at the back seemed to limit the numbers whenever Town broke forward.

The Blues were quickly on the offensive as the second half began with Darren Bent sending a ball across the box but no Town players were in the box.

On 50 Micah Hyde, who broke Kieron Dyer's leg the last time the two sides met, went in very late on Matt Holland and was shown well-deserved yellow card.

Town were looking more impressive than in the first half and on 51 Darren Bent took the ball in from the left and laid to off to Alun Armstrong 20 yards out. The former Boro striker hit a powerful shot which beat Chamberlain to his right to give the Blues the lead.

That seemed to give the side confidence and very quickly Bent headed a Hreidarsson cross over the bar. A second goal was only five minutes away, though and it started with a long pass forward from Chris Makin down the left. Hermann Hreidarsson made one of his leggy runs down the flank, took it inside before playing it into Jamie Clapham who shot right-footed back across Chamberlain and into the corner of the net.

A rare occurrence a 2-0 away lead for Town these days and the supporters ensconced in the stand at the end where the goals went in were making a point of enjoying themselves.

Shortly after the second goal John McGreal and Neil Cox both got themselves in the book, McGreal for a late tackle on Robinson and Cox for a foul on Bent.

On 71 Jamie Clapham went looking for his second but his 20-yarder wasn't too tricky for the Watford keeper.

Matt Holland was played in by Jamie Clapham on the right of the Watford box in the 73rd minute. The Town skipper hit a cross-shot which came off the top of Chamberlain's bar.

Watford Sub Tommy Smith was putting himself about in the Hornets' attack and it took a couple of fine Gaardsøe interceptions to stop him. On 77 Smith hit Watford's first shot of the game over the bar.

Jermaine Pennant failed to impress the Town fans or his own players on 78 when Alun Armstrong deliberately played the ball out in order to receive attention for what looked like a hamstring injury. With Dave Williams ready to come on Pennant took the throw-in which eventually another Watford player put out of play, Marcus Gayle having a few words with the loan player. Armstrong left the field due to the injury, Pablo Couñago replacing him alongside Darren Bent.

With 10 minutes left on the clock Gayle, playing in defence, had a header deflected just wide from a corner. Pennant pulled the first real save of the day from Gerrard when he hit a freekick which the Town keeper saved to his right.

Town's last chance of the half came from the guile of the irrepressible Hermann Hreidarsson. The Icelander toyed with Watford full-back Lloyd Doyley on the left before cutting in and laying the ball off to sub Couñago. The Spaniard hit a shot which was at an easy height for Chamberlain.

As fine an away performance as we've seen this season, Town were excellent from front to back. Gerrard in truth had little to do but what he did he did well, with the exception of a sliced kick towards the end.

The defence is the real success story of Joe Royle's reign so far and particularly Thomas Gaardsøe playing as a libero in a central three. The second half saw the central midfielders getting further forward and once the first goal had gone in the passing came together as of old and Watford were made to look a far poorer side than their current position suggests.

This is the kind of result we've been awaiting for some while. Let's hope it isn't another false dawn.

Town: Gerrard, Wilnis, Hreidarsson, McGreal, Gaardsøe, Makin, Holland, Magilton, Clapham, Armstrong (Couñago 78), D Bent.

Photo: Action Images

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