Watford 2 Luton 0 minute-by-minute report
Two goals in the first 25 minutes set Watford up for a comfortable 2-0 win over Luton in the big derby at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets bossed the game and the visitors had very little to offer in terms of attacking, meaning the bragging rights are firmly back in Hertfordshire.
There were two changes to the team that started at Middlesbrough last weekend.
Moussa Sissoko’s hamstring injury kept him out so Tom Ince came in for his first start since New Year’s Day.
In defence, Jeremy Ngakia came in on the right with Ryan Andrews dropping to the bench.
Once the frantic opening few minutes had passed, the first half was very one-sided with Watford well on top.
Referee Mr Kitchen made a big but correct call when he awarded Watford a penalty for a foul on Mamadou Doumbia by Luton keeper Thomas Kaminski.
Tom Dele-Bashiru tucked that away and it was no surprise that the Hornets added another through Edo Kayembe after excellent work by Giorgi Chakvetadze.
The visitors had more of the ball after the break but generally struggled to put anything together of any consequence.
The longer the game wore on, the more the visitors looked unable to have an impact on proceedings, and the Hornets coasted home.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
11 – Watford 1 (Dele-Bashiru pen) Luton 0
Doumbia chased down a through-ball, Andersen tried to usher it back to Kaminski, he didn't grasp the ball and sent the striker flying. Dele-Bashiru tucked the spot kick into the corner.
15 - Great move down the left involving Doumbia and Kayembe ends with a low cross that Kaminski just beats Ince to.
21 - Larouci skips into the box but is blocked as he tries to shoot, the ball runs to Louza who checks past a challenge but then sends an effort straight at Kaminski.
23 – Watford 2 (Kayembe) Luton 0
Beautiful stuff. Doumbia sets Chakvetadze away on the left, he races into the box, past a defender and then squares the ball as Kaminski comes out, leaving Kayembe to tap into the net.
34 - Larouci dug out a cross from out on the left touch-line and Doumbia stooped to send a header wide of the near post.
44 - Corner was blocked but came to Chakvetadze, he beat a man before shooting from 20 yards but Kaminski held.
Half-time – Watford 2 Luton 0
50 - First real chance for Luton as Morris gets to the by-line and cuts the ball back but Jones volleys over the top.
55 - So nearly three as Kayembe and Chakvetadze play neat passes in the box before Louza swivels and fires just over the bar.
87 - So close to a third. Watford break quickly, Bayo lays the ball off and Chakvetadze races away. His 20-yard shot is firm enough but Kaminski palms it wide.
88 - Corner is cleared to Ince just inside the box, but his half-volley skids wide.
90+4 - Deep cross goes to the back of the six-yard box and Jones turns it goalwards, but Selvik makes his first serious saves and blocks.
Full-time – Watford 2 Luton 0
Watford: Selvik; Ngakia, Keben (Pollock 52), Abankwah (Sierralta 77), Larouci (Andrews ht); Dele-Bashiru, Louza; Ince, Kayembe, Chakvetadze (Morris 90+4); Doumbia (Bayo 77). Subs: Bond, Vata, Ramirez-Espain, Nabizada
