Football: Henderson strikes twice to boost promotion drive

SOUTHAMPTON 1

WATFORD 3

Watford increased the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United last night when they completed a Championship double over Southampton at St Mary's.

The Hornets have moved to within three points of Neil Warnock's shaking Blades and on this performance could very well snatch that second automatic promotion place behind the champions-elect Reading.

Adrian Boothroyd, the Watford manager, will complete his first year in charge at Vicarage Road in eight days' time and the former Leeds assistant manager must be pinching himself just how well his managerial baptism has gone so far.

George Burley the Southampton manager, opened his spell in charge of the Saints on Boxing Day at Watford where he suffered a 3-0 reverse, but any thoughts of revenge here were quickly dispelled. Watford took the lead on three minutes when the captain Gavin Mahon converted Marlon King's low cross.

Southampton, who have won only two League games under Burley, rarely threatened the Watford goal, although Chris Baird sent two efforts over the bar. Watford were showing the confidence of a team that had lost just once in 11 League games and Darius Henderson put them 2-0 up on 67 minutes when he headed home King's cross. Five minutes later Mahon nodded on Young's free-kick for Henderson to claim his second with a header.

The home side finally scored on 85 minutes, when a chipped cross from Kamil Kosowski found Peter Madsen unmarked at the near post to head home.

Southampton (4-4-2): Smith' Ostlund, Kenton, Higginbotham, Brennan' Wright (Kosowski, 80), Baird, Chaplow (Jones, 45), Surman' Madsen, Rasiak. Substitutes not used: Miller(gk), Blackstock, Cranie.

Watford (4-4-2): Foster' Doyley, Demerit, Mackay, Stewart' Eagles (Bangura, 66), Mahon, Spring, Young' King, Henderson. Substitutes not used: Chamberlain (gk), Carlisle, McNamee, Chambers.

Referee: I Williamson ( Berkshire).

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