Watford's on-loan Udinese pair Almen Abdi and Matej Vydra were both on target in an impressive win over Birmingham City.

Abdi converted from the spot after Steven Caldwell's challenge on Vydra in the penalty area.

Vydra then beat the Birmingham offside trap before sweeping the ball past keeper Jack Butland.

Birmingham offered little threat to the Hornets' goal and are still searching for a league win under boss Lee Clark.

Watford's new-look squad has been bolstered by seven loan signings from Udinese and Grenada - clubs possessed by new Hornets owners the Pozzo family - this summer.

Boss Gianfranco Zola named three of his European recruits in his starting line-up, with Grenada midfielder Daniel Pudil joining Vydra and Abdi in the side, and the trio were involved in both of the goals.

It was Vydra who won the penalty to open the scoring, going down under Caldwell's heavy challenge after Butland had saved smartly from Pudil - Abdi made no mistake with the spot-kick.

And Mark Yeates supplied an accurate through ball for Czech Under-21 international Vydra, who coolly finished to double the lead.

Birmingham kept the ball for long periods in the second half, but only had tame efforts from Nikola Zigic and Marlon King to show for it on a disappointing day for Clark's side.

Watford boss Gianfranco Zola: "I was really pleased with the performance. We scored two goals, created plenty of opportunities and played plenty of good football.

"It is a pity we couldn't keep the same rhythm in the second half and we conceded too much space to Birmingham but that is understandable because Birmingham are a very good team.

"It is something for us to build towards in the future because once our physical condition is better then we will be able to perform like that for longer than 45 minutes."

Birmingham boss Lee Clark: "Watford were excellent and I wouldn't take anything away from their performance but we have given them two very poor goals.

"In general, it was a very poor performance in the first half. We were not good enough in the first half but it is a tough one because I know there is so much more in that dressing room.

"We all have to respond and bounce back and start working out a way to win football matches."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Watford

  • 01 Almunia
  • 05 Taylor Booked
  • 12 Doyley
  • 33 Nosworthy
  • 07 Yeates
  • 08 Hogg
  • 16 Murray (Hodson - 89' )
  • 18 Pudil
  • 22 Abdi
  • 10 Iwelumo (Beleck - 82' )
  • 20 Vydra (Dickinson - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 30 Bond
  • 02 Hodson
  • 03 Dickinson
  • 13 Beleck
  • 11 Forsyth
  • 21 Anya
  • 25 Garner

Birmingham City

  • 01 Butland
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 06 Davies
  • 16 Gordon (Morrison - 82' )
  • 23 Spector
  • 07 Burke
  • 08 Mullins
  • 10 Ambrose (Gomis - 56' )
  • 22 Redmond
  • 09 King
  • 19 Zigic (Lovenkrands - 56' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 05 Pablo
  • 12 Morrison
  • 14 Gomis
  • 15 Elliott
  • 11 Lovenkrands
  • 17 Rooney
Ref: Stroud
Att: 11,022

Match Stats

Shots

10 8

On target

3 3

Corners

5 2

Fouls

9 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:19 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +1:43

Steve Beleck is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jack Butland takes the free kick.

88:26 Substitution

Substitution Lee Hodson replaces Sean Murray.

85:05

Steve Beleck gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Curtis Davies. Free kick taken by Curtis Davies.

84:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Hogg on Curtis Davies. Strike comes in from Ravel Morrison from the free kick.

81:10 Substitution

Substitution Steve Beleck replaces Chris Iwelumo.

81:10 Substitution

Substitution Ravel Morrison is brought on as a substitute for Ben Gordon.

79:18

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Curtis Davies misses to the left of the goal.

78:45

Free kick crossed by Christopher Burke.

78:45 Booking

Booking Booking for Martin Taylor for unsporting behaviour.

78:08

Martin Taylor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marlon King.

77:03 Substitution

Substitution Carl Dickinson on for Matej Vydra.

76:23

Marlon King is ruled offside. Manuel Almunia restarts play with the free kick.

74:43

Foul by Mark Yeates on Morgaro Gomis, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Spector.

72:42

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Daniel Pudil, Almen Abdi takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

72:02

Unfair challenge on Sean Murray by Curtis Davies results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Mark Yeates, Ben Gordon manages to make a clearance.

70:30

Chris Iwelumo concedes a free kick for a foul on Curtis Davies. Jack Butland takes the free kick.

69:54

Jonathan Spector challenges Sean Murray unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Manuel Almunia.

67:24

Shot from just outside the area by Christopher Burke misses to the right of the target.

62:36

Effort from just outside the area by Nathan Redmond goes over the bar.

61:28

Hayden Mullins takes a shot. Blocked by Almen Abdi.

59:11

Matej Vydra fouled by Morgaro Gomis, the ref awards a free kick. Nyron Nosworthy takes the free kick.

55:18 Substitution

Substitution Peter Lovenkrands joins the action as a substitute, replacing Nikola Zigic.

55:18 Substitution

Substitution Darren Ambrose leaves the field to be replaced by Morgaro Gomis.

55:18

Effort from outside the area by Sean Murray goes wide right of the goal.

54:17

Nikola Zigic takes a shot. Save by Manuel Almunia.

52:27

Headed effort from inside the box by Almen Abdi misses to the right of the target.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +1:17 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:28

Sean Murray gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Ambrose. Jack Butland restarts play with the free kick.

44:59

Christopher Burke takes a shot. Save by Manuel Almunia.

42:48

Corner from the right by-line taken by Christopher Burke, Nyron Nosworthy manages to make a clearance.

36:00

Hayden Mullins challenges Almen Abdi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Almen Abdi.

35:12

Marlon King concedes a free kick for a foul on Martin Taylor. Manuel Almunia takes the direct free kick.

34:18

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Matej Vydra misses to the left of the goal.

31:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Martin Taylor by Marlon King. Manuel Almunia takes the direct free kick.

30:29

Mark Yeates has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.

29:45

Shot by Sean Murray from a long way out goes over the target.

28:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Redmond on Lloyd Doyley. Sean Murray takes the free kick.

25:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Butland by Chris Iwelumo. Direct free kick taken by Jack Butland.

24:07

Mark Yeates takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

23:30

Unfair challenge on Chris Iwelumo by Curtis Davies results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Chris Iwelumo.

16:38

The assist for the goal came from Jonathan Hogg.

16:38 Goal scored

Goal - Matej Vydra - Watford 2 - 0 Birmingham Matej Vydra fires in a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Watford 2-0 Birmingham.

15:28

Corner taken by Sean Murray, Jack Butland makes a save.

11:43

Corner taken right-footed by Christopher Burke, Curtis Davies produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

8:57

Almen Abdi has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

8:07

Martin Taylor takes a shot. Jack Butland makes a save.

7:45

Short corner taken by Sean Murray.

7:10

Inswinging corner taken by Sean Murray from the left by-line, Darren Ambrose manages to make a clearance.

6:30

Corner from the right by-line taken by Daniel Pudil, clearance by Nathan Redmond.

3:04

Matej Vydra provided the assist for the goal.

3:01 Goal scored

Goal - Almen Abdi - Watford 1 - 0 Birmingham Placed penalty scored by Almen Abdi. Watford 1-0 Birmingham.

2:04

Matej Vydra fouled by Steven Caldwell, the ref awards a Penalty.

0:55

Chris Iwelumo challenges Curtis Davies unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jack Butland.

0:20

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Curtis Davies by Chris Iwelumo. Steven Caldwell takes the free kick.

0:00

The match begins.

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