A brace from captain John Eustace secured Watford three points against Barnsley at Vicarage Road.

Eustace gave his side the lead when he acrobatically hooked in Sean Murray's deflected cross on 32 minutes.

He doubled their advantage midway through the second half, picking up a clearance and breaking through the Barnsley defence before sliding home.

Tykes debutant Scott Golbourne ensured a tense finish when scored from close range with five minutes to go.

Watford had dominated early proceedings, with Joe Garner feeding Troy Deeney whose shot was charged down.

Eustace curled a shot narrowly wide before his spectacular effort went in off the post to give the Hornets a first-half lead.

Barnsley improved in the second-half, Andy Gray headed wide before Jim McNulty's free-kick was tipped over the bar by Scott Loach.

McNulty had another excellent chance to draw his side level, heading over unmarked from David Perkins's cross.

But Eustace put his side in the driving seat shortly afterwards, before Golbourne turned in Scott Wiseman's cross at the far post to set up a dramatic finale.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Watford

  • 01 Loach
  • 02 Hodson
  • 06 Mariappa
  • 12 Doyley
  • 33 Nosworthy
  • 04 Eustace
  • 18 Kacaniklic (Buaben - 69' )
  • 22 Murray
  • 32 Hogg Booked
  • 09 Deeney
  • 25 Garner

Substitutes

  • 30 Bond
  • 03 Dickinson
  • 07 Yeates
  • 19 Buaben
  • 10 Iwelumo

Barnsley

  • 01 Steele
  • 04 Edwards
  • 06 Foster Booked
  • 14 Wiseman
  • 15 McNulty Booked (Doyle - 68' )
  • 10 Done (Dagnall - 46' )
  • 11 Perkins
  • 16 Smith
  • 28 Tonge Booked (Golbourne - 57' )
  • 09 Davies
  • 27 Gray

Substitutes

  • 12 Preece
  • 02 Hassell
  • 20 Golbourne
  • 05 Doyle
  • 13 Dagnall
Ref: East
Att: 11,306

Match Stats

Shots

14 6

On target

7 3

Corners

4 2

Fouls

9 13

Live Text Commentary

84:31

Assist by Craig Davies.

84:31 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Golbourne - Watford 2 - 1 Barnsley Scott Golbourne finds the net with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Watford 2-1 Barnsley.

84:24

Craig Davies crosses the ball,

90:00 +5:08 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +4:50

Joe Garner is caught offside. Luke Steele takes the free kick.

90:00 +4:28

Rob Edwards gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Garner. Direct free kick taken by Sean Murray.

90:00 +3:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Doyle on Joe Garner. Scott Loach takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:41

Joe Garner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Foster. Free kick taken by Nathan Doyle.

89:22

The ball is sent over by Stephen Foster.

87:06

Effort on goal by Sean Murray from just inside the area clears the bar.

85:38

Chris Dagnall gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Hodson. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.

84:31

Craig Davies provided the assist for the goal.

84:31 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Gray - Watford 2 - 1 Barnsley Andy Gray gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Watford 2-1 Barnsley.

84:24

A cross is delivered by Craig Davies,

84:00

The ball is crossed by Scott Wiseman, clearance made by Nyron Nosworthy.

83:45

The ball is delivered by Stephen Foster, Nyron Nosworthy manages to make a clearance.

83:13

Craig Davies crosses the ball, Lee Hodson manages to make a clearance.

82:26

Troy Deeney takes a shot. Luke Steele makes a save.

79:47

Troy Deeney delivers the ball, clearance made by Scott Golbourne.

78:50

Shot from just outside the box by Troy Deeney goes over the bar.

77:12

Long range effort from Craig Davies misses to the left of the goal.

76:21

The ball is sent over by Lee Hodson, Sean Murray produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

72:20

Scott Golbourne fouled by Lee Hodson, the ref awards a free kick. David Perkins crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Foul by Stephen Foster on John Eustace, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Scott Loach.

70:08

Jonathan Hogg challenges Craig Davies unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Perkins restarts play with the free kick.

68:43 Substitution

Substitution Prince Buaben on for Alex Kacaniklic.

67:48 Goal scored

Goal - John Eustace - Watford 2 - 0 Barnsley John Eustace finds the net with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Watford 2-0 Barnsley.

67:01 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Doyle is brought on as a substitute for Jimmy McNulty.

65:59

Centre by David Perkins, Jimmy McNulty has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.

65:59 Booking

Booking The referee books Jonathan Hogg for unsporting behaviour.

65:51

Foul by Jonathan Hogg on Korey Smith, free kick awarded.

65:21

Unfair challenge on Craig Davies by Lee Hodson results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by David Perkins.

63:37

David Perkins challenges Sean Murray unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Nyron Nosworthy. Troy Deeney has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

63:37

David Perkins challenges Sean Murray unfairly and gives away a free kick. Nyron Nosworthy takes the free kick, Troy Deeney produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

62:36

Troy Deeney is caught offside. Jimmy McNulty restarts play with the free kick.

61:39

Sean Murray produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

60:08

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by David Perkins, clearance by Nyron Nosworthy.

59:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adrian Mariappa on Chris Dagnall. Jimmy McNulty crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Scott Loach.

56:49

Craig Davies handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Scott Loach.

56:08 Substitution

Substitution Scott Golbourne replaces Michael Tonge.

55:00

Foul by Sean Murray on Jimmy McNulty, free kick awarded. The ball is delivered by Michael Tonge, Headed effort from inside the area by Andy Gray misses to the left of the target.

52:57

The referee blows for offside against John Eustace. Luke Steele takes the free kick.

52:28

A cross is delivered by Joe Garner.

51:10

Lee Hodson delivers the ball.

48:23

Free kick taken by Jonathan Hogg.

48:23 Booking

Booking The referee shows Stephen Foster a yellow card.

48:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Troy Deeney by Stephen Foster.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Barnsley) makes a substitution, with Chris Dagnall coming on for Matty Done.

45:00 +2:21 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +1:16

Inswinging corner taken by Sean Murray, Luke Steele makes a save.

44:30

Lloyd Doyley takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen Foster.

41:52

The referee blows for offside against Scott Wiseman. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Loach.

39:55

Lloyd Doyley takes the direct free kick.

39:55 Booking

Booking The referee shows Michael Tonge a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

39:49

Foul by Michael Tonge on Alex Kacaniklic, free kick awarded.

38:35

Centre by Michael Tonge, John Eustace manages to make a clearance.

32:11 Goal scored

Goal - John Eustace - Watford 1 - 0 Barnsley John Eustace finds the net with a goal from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Watford 1-0 Barnsley.

31:10

Joe Garner fouled by Stephen Foster, the ref awards a free kick. Shot on goal comes in from Sean Murray from the free kick, blocked by Craig Davies.

29:40

The ball is swung over by Sean Murray, Stephen Foster manages to make a clearance.

26:44

Michael Tonge takes the outswinging corner, Rob Edwards takes a shot. Save by Scott Loach.

21:23

Scott Wiseman delivers the ball, Adrian Mariappa manages to make a clearance.

19:21

Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Alex Kacaniklic.

19:21 Booking

Booking Jimmy McNulty goes into the book.

19:02

Jimmy McNulty challenges Lee Hodson unfairly and gives away a free kick.

17:45

A cross is delivered by Lee Hodson.

14:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Troy Deeney by Rob Edwards. Sean Murray crosses the ball in from the free kick.

12:49

Alex Kacaniklic takes a shot. Save by Luke Steele.

10:22

Craig Davies challenges Adrian Mariappa unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.

9:40

Effort from outside the penalty box by John Eustace goes wide right of the target.

9:12

Inswinging corner taken by Sean Murray from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Craig Davies.

8:47

Corner taken by Alex Kacaniklic from the right by-line, save by Luke Steele.

8:30

Troy Deeney takes a shot. Blocked by Rob Edwards.

7:08

Korey Smith fouled by John Eustace, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Tonge takes the free kick.

6:45

Sean Murray fouled by Jimmy McNulty, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Loach.

6:36

The ball is delivered by Jimmy McNulty, clearance by Nyron Nosworthy.

5:13

Inswinging corner taken by Alex Kacaniklic from the right by-line.

1:55

David Perkins fouled by John Eustace, the ref awards a free kick. Strike comes in from Michael Tonge from the free kick, blocked by Troy Deeney.

1:22

The assistant referee signals for offside against Craig Davies. Scott Loach takes the indirect free kick.

0:03

Craig Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Garner. Adrian Mariappa restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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