Henderson keeps Hornets buzzing
Darius Henderson scored the only goal of the game to help Watford remain at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship with a 1-0 victory over Leicester at Vicarage Road.
Adrian Boothroyd’s side had John-Joe O’Toole was sent off in the 40th minute but opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time through Henderson.
The Hornets took the lead after City goalkeeper Ben Alnwick came for a deep free-kick but spilled it straight to Leigh Bromby.
He volleyed the ball across goal and the shot seemed to be going wide but Henderson was on hand to direct the ball past Alnwick into the net to maintain their three-point lead at the top.
Bristol City claimed a one-goal victory over Scunthorpe at Glanford Park to leapfrog West Brom into second place.
Bradley Orr scored the decisive goal seven minutes from time with a 30-yard drive which flew into the bottom-left corner of the net.
The Baggies are now three points behind the leaders after they were held to a 0-0 draw at The Hawthorns by Sheffield United which slightly eased the pressure on Blades boss Bryan Robson who is set to meet plc chairman Kevin McCabe in Brussels tomorrow.
Stoke also climbed over Tony Mowbray’s side into third with a 3-2 win over Southampton at the Britannia Stadium.
A Darren Powell own goal put the Potters ahead in the 27th minute before goals from Ryan Shawcross (35) and Mamady Sidibe (44) increased their advantage.
Southampton launched a second-half comeback and a brace from Stern John (46 and 54) made life difficult for Stoke but they held on to claim the points.
Ipswich clinched a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to record only their second away win of the season.
Danny Haynes scored the crucial goal in first-half injury time to keep their bid to make the play-offs on course.
Andy Cole grabbed a hat-trick as Burnley earned a surprise 4-2 win over QPR at Loftus Road.
Gavin Mahon (14) and Patrick Agyemang (30) had put Rangers ahead but Cole pulled one back in the 41st minute.
The former Manchester United striker (56 and 86) struck either side of Ade Akinbiyi’s 77th-minute goal to give his side the points and leave them a point outside the play-offs.
Fraizer Campbell (53) ensured Hull also remained in touch after he equalised Dion Dublin’s 19th-minute goal to give his side a point against Norwich.
Jamie Mackie (76 and 85) came from the bench to help Plymouth to a 3-0 home win over 10-man Barnsley. Steven MacLean had earlier opened the scoring in the sixth minute while Tykes defender Lewin Nyatanga was sent off in the third minute.
Struggling Sheffield Wednesday earned a point after they battled to a 0-0 with promotion-chasing Charlton.
Wolves’ play-off ambitions were hit after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Blackpool while managerless Coventry also drew a blank with Cardiff at the Ricoh Arena.
Colchester midfielder Johnnie Jackson scored three minutes from time to help boost his side’s hopes of avoiding relegation as they claimed a 2-1 win over Preston at Layer Road.
A Scott Vernon penalty (68) seemed to have given United the points as Preston also had Sean St Ledger sent off, but Neil Mellor pulled a goal back for the visitors before Jackson’s late strike.
