Sheffield Wednesday lost their fifth consecutive Championship match with an emphatic defeat by Watford.

Michail Antonio put Wednesday ahead, but Fernando Forestieri equalised with a low shot from just inside the area.

The game turned when Manuel Almunia saved a Chris Lines penalty after half an hour following Daniel Pudil's reckless challenge on Jay Bothroyd.

Goals in the second half from from Alexandre Geijo, Troy Deeney and Mark Yeates sealed the win for Watford.

The victory for the Hornets moves them to within two points of the play-offs.

On the road

Watford have scored 14 goals in their last three away games.

Owls manager Dave Jones and the home fans did not have long to wait to see their side give them early hope of a much-needed win, Antonio taking advantage of a Watford defensive error after three minutes to score his fifth goal of the season.

But the visiting side were level 15 minutes later, when Pudil found Forestieri, who in turn found the bottom corner.

The turning point came after half an hour following Pudil's foul on Bothroyd. While the QPR striker, on loan to Wednesday, was receiving treatment Lines saw his penalty saved with some ease by Almunia down to his right.

Referee Tony Bates withdrew with an injury on the hour mark, replacement Tony Harrington taking charge for the closing stages where Watford moved to a comfortable win.

Geijo headed his first goal for Watford after 67 minutes, and Deeney pounced on a loose ball to eight minutes later with his first touch after coming on as a substitute.

Yeates sealed the win for the away side with a superb long-range strike with seven minutes remaining.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones : "We're going through a very rough time. We've got to come out fighting and be strong and be brave.

"If people think somebody else will do a better job, go get him. And if he doesn't do it, then what? Go and get someone else?

"How many managers has this club had in the last 10-15 years? Ten or more? Chopping and changing isn't the right answer."

Watford manager Gianfranco Zola : "I am very happy, especially with the second half, it was a very good performance from us.

"I'm delighted with the result. First half we faced a team that played in some spells some very good football.

"They created some problems for us. To come up with a result like that the performance has to be good."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Sheffield Wednesday

  • 01 Kirkland
  • 02 Buxton Booked (J Johnson - 68' )
  • 04 Gardner (Taylor - 46' )
  • 32 Llera
  • 07 Antonio
  • 08 Lines
  • 16 McCabe (Semedo - 52' )
  • 21 Corry
  • 24 Helan
  • 22 Sidibe
  • 23 Bothroyd

Substitutes

  • 43 Bywater
  • 05 Taylor
  • 26 D Jones
  • 06 Semedo
  • 11 J Johnson
  • 18 Mayor
  • 12 O'Grady

Watford

  • 01 Almunia
  • 06 Hall
  • 18 Pudil Booked (Dickinson - 88' )
  • 27 Cassetti
  • 31 Hoban
  • 39 Chalobah
  • 40 Ekstrand
  • 07 Yeates (Murray - 90' )
  • 08 Hogg
  • 36 Geijo
  • 41 Forestieri Booked (Deeney - 74' )

Substitutes

  • 34 Bonham
  • 03 Dickinson
  • 16 Murray
  • 28 Smith
  • 38 Battocchio
  • 09 Deeney
  • 20 Vydra
Ref: Bates
Att: 18,922

Match Stats

Shots

10 11

On target

6 10

Corners

1 9

Fouls

11 15

Live Text Commentary

95:23 Full time

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

90:00 +2:50

Michail Antonio takes a shot. Save made by Manuel Almunia.

90:00 +1:03 Substitution

Substitution Mark Yeates leaves the field to be replaced by Sean Murray.

89:32

Jose Semedo challenges Troy Deeney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Yeates restarts play with the free kick. Jermaine Johnson handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Manuel Almunia restarts play with the free kick.

87:12 Substitution

Substitution Carl Dickinson on for Daniel Pudil.

85:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Miguel Llera on Troy Deeney. Fitz Hall restarts play with the free kick.

84:01

Marco Cassetti gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeremy Helan. Chris Lines restarts play with the free kick.

82:30

Assist by Troy Deeney.

82:30 Goal scored

Goal - Mark Yeates - Sheff Wed 1 - 4 Watford Mark Yeates gets on the score sheet with a goal from outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Sheff Wed 1-4 Watford.

78:31

Clearance by Miguel Llera. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Yeates, clearance by Mamady Sidibe.

77:19

Unfair challenge on Manuel Almunia by Jermaine Johnson results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Manuel Almunia.

76:13

Shot from just outside the area by Michail Antonio goes over the bar.

74:35

Mark Yeates provided the assist for the goal.

74:35 Goal scored

Goal - Troy Deeney - Sheff Wed 1 - 3 Watford Troy Deeney scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Sheff Wed 1-3 Watford.

73:05 Substitution

Substitution Troy Deeney replaces Fernando Forestieri.

73:05

Paul Corry challenges Fernando Forestieri unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Mark Yeates.

71:59

Foul by Fernando Forestieri on Miguel Llera, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Chris Kirkland.

68:43

Unfair challenge on Jeremy Helan by Nathaniel Chalobah results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Chris Lines, Fitz Hall makes a clearance.

67:40

Paul Corry takes a shot. Tommie Hoban gets a block in.

67:08 Substitution

Substitution Jermaine Johnson replaces Lewis Buxton.

66:08

Mark Yeates provided the assist for the goal.

66:08 Goal scored

Goal - Alexandre Geijo - Sheff Wed 1 - 2 Watford Alexandre Geijo grabs a headed goal from close in. Sheff Wed 1-2 Watford.

65:35

Foul by Michail Antonio on Fernando Forestieri, free kick awarded. Mark Yeates takes the direct free kick,

64:27

Fernando Forestieri takes a shot. Chris Kirkland makes a fantastic save. Corner taken by Fernando Forestieri from the right by-line played to the near post, Alexandre Geijo takes a shot. Lewis Buxton manages to make a clearance. Corner from left by-line taken by Jonathan Hogg.

63:20

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mamady Sidibe by Joel Ekstrand. Jay Bothroyd takes the direct free kick.

62:27

Foul by Fernando Forestieri on Lewis Buxton, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Lewis Buxton.

58:01

Fernando Forestieri has a volleyed shot. Save by Manuel Almunia.

57:14 Booking

Booking The referee books Lewis Buxton for unsporting behaviour.

57:06

Lewis Buxton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fernando Forestieri. Nathaniel Chalobah takes the free kick.

53:56

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jonathan Hogg, Chris Kirkland makes a save.

52:15

The assistant referee flags for offside against Miguel Llera. Indirect free kick taken by Manuel Almunia.

51:13 Substitution

Substitution Jose Semedo comes on in place of Rhys McCabe.

49:10

Fernando Forestieri takes a shot. Chris Kirkland makes a fantastic save.

46:08

Alexandre Geijo takes a shot. Save by Chris Kirkland. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jonathan Hogg, clearance by Mamady Sidibe. Fernando Forestieri challenges Michail Antonio unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Miguel Llera. Michail Antonio is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Manuel Almunia restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Martin Taylor joins the action as a substitute, replacing Anthony Gardner.

45:00 +3:20 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +2:14

Nathaniel Chalobah concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Lines. Chris Lines restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +1:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alexandre Geijo on Miguel Llera. Indirect free kick taken by Miguel Llera.

45:00 +1:21

Effort on goal by Mamady Sidibe from just inside the area clears the bar.

44:45

Rhys McCabe takes a shot. Save made by Manuel Almunia.

42:41

Unfair challenge on Mark Yeates by Jeremy Helan results in a free kick. Nathaniel Chalobah takes the indirect free kick.

41:19

Paul Corry produces a left-footed shot from a long way out which goes wide right of the goal.

40:33

Jay Bothroyd fouled by Fernando Forestieri, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Miguel Llera.

39:45

Jonathan Hogg delivers the ball.

39:09

Corner from the left by-line taken by Mark Yeates, Jay Bothroyd makes a clearance.

37:46

Mark Yeates gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jay Bothroyd. Jay Bothroyd has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, Manuel Almunia makes a save.

37:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joel Ekstrand on Mamady Sidibe. Jeremy Helan takes the free kick.

36:22

Jonathan Hogg delivers the ball, save made by Chris Kirkland.

35:48

Effort from outside the area by Jay Bothroyd goes wide right of the goal.

34:45

Unfair challenge on Marco Cassetti by Michail Antonio results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Manuel Almunia.

32:59

Mark Yeates takes a shot. Anthony Gardner gets a block in. Short corner taken by Mark Yeates from the left by-line. Free kick awarded for a foul by Rhys McCabe on Fernando Forestieri. Free kick taken by Fernando Forestieri.

32:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathaniel Chalobah by Chris Lines. Fitz Hall takes the free kick.

31:17 Penalty

Penalty taken by Chris Lines is saved by Manuel Almunia. Sheff Wed 1-1 Watford.

28:45 Booking

Booking Daniel Pudil is given a yellow card.

28:33

Penalty awarded for a foul by Daniel Pudil on Jay Bothroyd.

28:13

Jay Bothroyd takes a shot. Save by Manuel Almunia.

27:02

Centre by Marco Cassetti, clearance made by Anthony Gardner. Fernando Forestieri has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

23:38

Corner taken by Mark Yeates.

22:31

Marco Cassetti challenges Jeremy Helan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Lines restarts play with the free kick.

18:47

The ball is swung over by Jay Bothroyd, clearance by Fitz Hall.

17:11

Daniel Pudil provided the assist for the goal.

17:11 Goal scored

Goal - Fernando Forestieri - Sheff Wed 1 - 1 Watford Fernando Forestieri finds the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Sheff Wed 1-1 Watford.

15:38

The ball is delivered by Daniel Pudil, save by Chris Kirkland.

9:35

Jonathan Hogg gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Corry. Anthony Gardner restarts play with the free kick.

8:41

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Fernando Forestieri by Rhys McCabe. Free kick taken by Fernando Forestieri.

4:23 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Fernando Forestieri for unsporting behaviour.

3:00 Goal scored

Goal - Michail Antonio - Sheff Wed 1 - 0 Watford Michail Antonio finds the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Sheff Wed 1-0 Watford.

2:05

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Lines, Manuel Almunia makes a clearance.

1:21

Marco Cassetti challenges Jeremy Helan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Kirkland takes the indirect free kick.

1:21

Marco Cassetti gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeremy Helan. Anthony Gardner restarts play with the free kick.

0:43

Corner taken by Mark Yeates played to the near post, clearance by Jay Bothroyd.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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