Tom Cleverley’s long unbeaten home run as Watford head coach ended in thoroughly disappointing style as Cardiff beat them 2-1.

In all honesty, the Hornets created so little it’s hard to argue with the result, and that was despite having 70% possession.

Visiting keeper Ben Alnwick barely had a save to make, with Watford’s efforts to salvage something in the second half particularly poor.

It was a sweet victory for Bluebirds manager Omer Riza, who was part of Valerien Ismael's coaching staff at Vicarage Road last season and was lead coach of the Under-21s before that.

There were four changes to the team that beat Portsmouth, the most obvious being Rocco Vata replacing the suspended Kwadwo Baah.

There was a switch to a back four, with Ryan Andrews coming in for Jeremy Ngakia on the right.

Moussa Sissoko returned to the midfield with James Morris dropping to the bench, while Vakoun Bayo started in place of Daniel Jebbison.

The visitors were ahead in less than a minute as Watford once again made a poor start, but after that they pushed the visitors back and pressure finally told when Chakvetadze levelled.

However, they switched off almost immediately and despite having only 25% Cardiff went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

The second half was a frustrating and disappointing spectacle, as Watford did not manage an on-target goal attempt and the unbeaten run at Vicarage Road ended more limply than leftover turkey.

Here’s how the game unfolded:

57secs – Watford 0 Cardiff 1 (Robinson)

So much for starting faster. Robinson received the ball just inside the box stepped to the side of Porteous and then fired into the far bottom corner.

17 - Andrews' driven cross is blocked and runs to Vata, but he screws his shot over the bar.

34 - Let off for Watford as Robinson crosses from the left and Ashford misses his kick in front of goal.

38 – Watford 1 (Chakvetadze) Cardiff 1

At last, after almost constant Watford pressure, an equaliser. Great work from Vata on the right to make space for a cross, Sissoko just fails to connect but the ball runs to Chakvetadze and he controls it before slotting into the corner.

41 – Watford 1 Cardiff 2 (Robinson)

What a response from the visitors. Ashford gets in behind Larouci and intelligently rolls the ball square for Robinson to tap into the net.

Half-time – Watford 1 Cardiff 2

53 - Scare there as Cardiff counter and the ball is worked to Siopis whose low shot across the face of goal flicks wide off Pollock.

70 - Larouci's cross somehow goes between two defenders but Sissoko is caught by surprise and the ball hits him before running through to Alnwick.

75 - Nearly an utter disaster as Larouci's wayward pass lets Tanner break clear on the left, but his shot is tipped over by Bachmann.

79 - How? How did that not go in? Andrews long throw, flicked on by Ebosele and Sierralta but the diving Jebbison nods wide from inside the six-yard box.

81 - Andrews throw headed clear and Kayembe's 25-yard volley loops wide.

Watford: Bachmann; Andrews, Porteous (Sierralta ht), Pollock, Larouci; Sissoko, Louza (Ince 67), Kayembe; Vata (Ebosele 57), Bayo (Jebbison 57), Chakvetadze. Subs: Bond, Ngakia, Dwomoh, Ogbonna, Morris