A superb Andre Brooks curler reignited Sheffield United’s automatic promotion challenge with a 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.
Having stuttered over the festive period, picking up just one point from their previous three games, the visitors were grateful to Brooks for their 52nd-minute winner.
There seemed to be little danger as the ball broke to the striker 20 yards from goal, but with one touch to push the ball in front of him, he then curled a shot around Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann and into the far bottom corner.
The defeat was a third in succession for Watford who slipped further away from the play-off places.
The visitors might have taken the lead within the first 20 seconds. Brooks’ cross was perfect for Ryan One, but the 18-year-old, making just his second Championship start, could not find a finish.
Gustavo Hamer then slipped in Brooks only for Bachmann to smother his shot.
Sheffield United’s greater potency was rewarded in the 13th minute. Referee David Webb made a significant contribution, playing advantage in spite of a possible foul in midfield.
That allowed Callum O’Hare to sprint into space and feed a pass into Hamer who clipped his shot wide of the advancing Bachmann.
Watford’s equaliser arrived seven minutes later through Jeremy Ngakia’s first goal for the club. Kwadwo Baah was the instigator with a clever and perfectly played pass through two defenders for Ryan Andrews to pull the ball back into Ngakia’s path for a tap-in.
The home side almost went behind just after the half-hour when Bachmann received a back pass, attempted a Cruyff turn under pressure from O’Hare and was extremely fortunate to see the United player’s tackle roll inches wide of his post.
Brooks restored the visitors’ lead with his smart finish, before the game drifted into a lull caused by a number of stoppages.
It suddenly burst back into life after 66 minutes. In the space of 90 hectic seconds, Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze was denied by a falling block by United central defender Anel Ahmedhodzic just in front of the goal-line, before both goalkeepers beat away shots in turn.
Firstly, Bachmann denied O’Hare on the angle before Michael Cooper maintained United’s advantage with a similar parry of a Rocco Vata shot.
Watford supporters were convinced their side should have been awarded a penalty in stoppage-time when Imran Louza’s clipped cross connected with the outstretched arm of Jack Robinson.
Their appeals proved in vain as United manager Chris Wilder tasted victory on his return to the club he managed for 11 games two seasons ago.
