It has been a game of short tempers and Grealish gets booked for kicking the ball against Sarr's head.
90' +4
Douglas Luiz tries to weave his way through challenges in the box, but he loses out under pressure to Kabasele.
90' +2
T. Deeney gets yellow.
Deeney drags Douglas Luiz to the ground in the Watford half and goes into the book.
90'
There will be five minutes of added time.
85'
A. Masina enters the game and replaces C. Cathcart.
Masina replaces Cathcart. That will see Dawson move inside next to Kabasele.
84'
I. Sarr gets yellow.
Sarr is booked for standing in the way of a Villa free-kick.
WIDE! Hourihane sees his first cross blocked, but the second finds its way into the area. The ball is cleared as far as Grealish, but he places his effort wide of the target.
78'
SAVE! Hourihane goes for a blast from distance, but he can only drill his attempt straight at Foster.
75'
Grealish has to be careful as he lets his frustration get the better of him by tussling with Capoue. Referee Hooper opts against any further action against the midfielder.
74'
É. Capoue gets yellow.
Capoue is booked for pulling back Grealish.
Minute
Description
73'
Kodjia replaces Lansbury in the final third for the visitors.
72'
J. Kodjia enters the game and replaces H. Lansbury.
71'
I. Sarr has scored a goal for Watford! Assist by É. Capoue.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! SARR MAKES IT THREE!! 3-0!!! Watford are cruising their way towards the three points despite being down to 10 men. Grealish is robbed of possession by Capoue and goes down. The referee plays on and Deeney collects before sending Capoue on his way down the left flank. Capoue lifts a cross to the back post where Sarr charges forward to make contact, diverting a low strike past Heaton into the right corner of th net. The challenge on Grealish is checked by VAR, but the goal stands, much to the fury of the Villa skipper and his manager.
Capoue wins the ball from Grealish and then surges down the left flank to tee up Sarr to score.
69'
Smith is fuming on the sideline. Whether it is about the penalty decision or the fact that Watford played on with Targett on the deck remains to be seen.
67'
Penalty goal scored by T. Deeney for Watford!
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! DEENEY CONVERTS!!! 2-0!! The 10 men of Watford extend their lead as their skipper holds his nerve from 12 yards. He goes the same way he did in their win over United last week, going for power straight down the middle. Heaton dives to his right and can only watch as the ball crashes into the back of the net.
66'
F. Guilbert enters the game and replaces M. Targett.
Guilbert replaces Targett at left-back for the visitors.
Targett is helped from the pitch by the Villa physio in the aftermath. There is a long wait for Deeney to take the spot-kick.
60'
C. Dawson enters the game and replaces N. Chalobah.
Chalobah is withdrawn by Pearson after only bringing on the midfielder at half-time. Dawson replaces him to slot in at right-back.
57'
A. Mariappa gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
Mariappa goes in for a 50/50 challenge with Lansbury and catches him late. He receives a second booking and a red card from referee Simon Hooper. There was not a great deal of contact there, but enough for midfielder to draw the foul.
56'
SCRAMBLE! Watford go on the surge for a second as Doucoure makes a charge into the box. However, he cannot find space to shoot. Deulofeu and Chalobah are equally frustrated as the ball pinballs around the area before the visitors clear the danger.
51'
A. Mariappa gets yellow.
Mariappa pulls down Grealish on the counter and goes into the book.
Deulofeu and Deeney go for the one-two in the box, but the ball just evades the run of the winger. Capoue keeps the attack alive with a cross to the back post, but Mariappa cannot guide his header towards goal under pressure from Grealish.
49'
Watford keep the pressure on as Sarr lines up a strike from the edge of the box, but Douglas Luiz diverts it out for a corner.
46'
A. El Ghazi enters the game and replaces Jota Peleteiro.
N. Chalobah enters the game and replaces W. Hughes.
Jota makes way at the break for El Ghazi.
Hughes did suffer an injury at the end of the first half and is replaced by Chalobah.
We're back underway at Vicarage Road.
45' +3
HALF-TIME: WATFORD 1-0 ASTON VILLA
45'
There will be two minutes of added time.
44'
Watford upped the ante just at the right time and were able to strike just before the break. A huge boost for Pearson ahead of his half-time teamtalk.
42'
T. Deeney has scored a goal for Watford!
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! DEENEY SCORES THIS TIME!!!! 1-0!!! Watford take the lead through their skipper as he pounces from close range to convert a low strike through Heaton. Konsa gives the ball away on the edge of the box straight to Doucoure. He launches a powerful low strike across Heaton towards the bottom-left corner. Heaton makes the stop, but Deeney is the first to react. He slides a low effort at goal that squirms under the Villa keeper's body and into the net.
39'
Hughes latches on to a loose ball 25 yards from goal and he pulls the trigger on a left-footed strike that he slices well wide of the target.
38'
Sarr charges down the right flank and fires a low ball towards the near post that just evades Doucoure and travels into the hands of Heaton.
36'
Grealish is late on Sarr down the right flank and he hands Watford a free-kick in a decent position.
34'
The finishing from both sides has prevented a breakthrough as of yet. Villa have had the best opening, which will give Smith encouragement.
26'
Space opens up for Jota on the edge of the box as he turns to strike on his left foot. However, his effort is charged down by a wall of yellow shirts.
23'
Both teams are in need of an injection of quality in their play. There's a lack of clinical edge on the pitch at the moment.
21'
Targett loops a free-kick into the box from the left for the visitors. Elmohamady makes contact with a header and guides it towards the middle. Cathcart misses his clearance, but the ball falls into the hands of Foster.
19'
Sarr and Mariappa provide a threat down the right flank, but Targett repels a cross from the former before clearing ahead of Mariappa as he tries to latch on to the loose ball in the box.
18'
Capoue swings his cross deep to the back post, but the visitors are able to clear their lines with relative ease.
17'
Deulofeu twists and turns in the left inside channel to carve out room for a strike at goal. He gets the better of Elmohamady, but he sees a low cross blocked behind by Konsa.
14'
Capoue collects 30 yards from goal and tries an ambitious strike at goal, only to see his effort blocked by Konsa.
12'
Watford win a corner on the right flank and Hughes whips his delivery in with pace, but Hause makes an important clearance ahead of Kabasele.
10'
Doucoure tries to work a throughball to Sarr, but the winger is in an offside position down the right flank.
8'
Villa win a corner down the right flank that Hourihane whips deep to the back post on his left foot. Foster has a nervy moment as he almost fumbles the ball, although he is able to gather on the second attempt.
7'
Targett's delivery is cleared straight to Deulofeu, who leads a counter up field. He goes for an offload towards Sarr, but Douglas Luiz makes the interception to break up the attack.
6'
Grealish surges down the left flank and he wins a free-kick after being tripped by Mariappa.
5'
The home side have made a strong start to the game and are putting the visitors on the back foot.
3'
Watford break with menace down the left flank as Deulofeu cuts inside. He offloads towards Deeney and looks for the return flick, but Konsa gets enough on the ball to divert it away from danger.
1'
We're underway at Vicarage Road.
Villa claimed a vital win over Norwich City in their six-pointer on Boxing Day at home. Conor Hourihane came off the bench to score the only goal of the game to lift Dean Smith's men to within one point of safety. The Midlands outfit are still in trouble in the bottom three, but the triumph over the Canaries ended a winless run of five matches. It could be the start of an important run for Villa to pull themselves out of the mire.
Watford have found life under Nigel Pearson since his arrival at the club. The Hornets claimed a 2-0 victory over Manchester United last time out on home soil, while they were solid on Boxing Day to earn a point against Sheffield United on the road. As a result of their improvement, Watford have moved off the bottom of the Premier League table and can take a huge stride towards shifting out of the relegation zone with a win this afternoon.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Watford and Aston Villa at Vicarage Road.
WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Ben Foster; Adrian Mariappa, Christian Kabasele, Craig Cathcart, Kiko Femenia; Etienne Capoue, Will Hughes; Ismaila Sarr, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Gerard Deulofeu; Troy Deeney.
WATFORD SUBS: Heurelho Gomes, Craig Dawson, Adam Masina, Nathaniel Chalobah, Andre Gray, Domingos Quina, Isaac Success.
ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Tom Heaton; Ahmed Elmohamady, Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause, Matt Targett; Henri Lansbury, Douglas Luiz, Conor Hourihane; Jota, Wesley, Jack Grealish.
ASTON VILLA SUBS: James Chester, Marvelous Nakamba, Trezeguet, Anwar El Ghazi, Frederic Guilbert, Orjan Nyland, Jonathan Kodjia.
Aston Villa will be concerned once again about their defending at the back. They've made one mistake and have been punished, albeit Deeney should have scored a minute earlier. Wesley missed a golden opportunity to put them ahead and you cannot afford to spurn those type of chances in a battle at the foot of the table.
The relentless Premier League fixture list continues on New Year's Day as Watford host Wolves at Vicarage Road, while Aston Villa travel to face Burnley at Turf Moor.
Thanks for joining our commentary this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye.
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