Watford 2-1 Preston North End: Two second-half goals condemn PNE to another away defeat

Preston North End suffered a third straight away defeat as they lost 2-1 to Watford on Tuesday night, despite a strong start.

Callum Lang scored the opener five minutes in on his 28th birthday after tapping it in following a save by Federico Ravaglia.Edo Kayembe equalised for Watford with just over 20 minutes remaining. The Hornets turned the game on its head on 76 minutes as Mamadou Doumbia headed home from close range. The result means North End are back at the foot of the Championship table.

Daniel Iversen was called into action inside 90 seconds as he palmed away a Rocco Vata attempt at his near post. Johnny Kenny had a go from around 20 yards out which was deflected behind for a corner.

The subsequent delivery from Alfie Devine found Jordan Thompson. His shot from the edge of the box was tipped onto the woodwork by Ravaglia before Lang followed it in for his third goal in two games. The Italian ‘keeper scrambled to clear it off the line but replays showed the whole ball crossed the white line, despite the hosts’ protests.

North End had chances to make it two inside the first 20 minutes. Callum Lang teed up Alfie Devine who struck from outside the area but it was just over, before Kenny sent in a great ball for Lang but Ravaglia blocked his low effort from inside the box.

After failing to trouble the PNE box since the second minute, Watford had a go from range as Edo Kayembe hit one from range but it was a simple stop for Iversen. Kenny saw another piledriver blocked by Hornets skipper Mattie Pollock before Devine’s fierce effort towards the bottom left corner was gathered by Ravaglia.

Watford had more of the ball as the half ended but were largely restricted to efforts from outside the area as PNE’s defence put in a monumental shift. Kayembe and Mamadou Doumbia tried but failed to break down the North End back-line before the interval.

Harry Clarke misfired a header wide of the mark with eight minutes of the second half played, but was much unluckier with his next effort. He weaved his way into the box from the right, dropped his shoulder and hit an effort low towards the bottom corner. It took a slight knick off a Watford man and was just about saved by Ravaglia, who stopped the ball from trickling underneath him.

Watford equalised on 69 minutes. Othmaane Maamma sent in a cross from the left which Kayembe converted from 12 yards out.

They were ahead just seven minutes later. A deep ball was whipped in by Iker Bravo and Doumbia latched onto it with a point-blank header from mere inches out which nestled into the bottom right corner.

Substitutes Burgzorg and Erabi saw efforts blocked by the Watford defence in the final 10 minutes as the home side held on and condemned PNE to a fifth defeat in six league games.

Attendance: 14,987 (385 PNE fans). Preston North End vs Watford: Iversen, Offiah, Storey, Gibson, Clarke, Leroy (Gibbs 75’), Thompson, Vukcevic (Mills 66’), Devine, Lang (Erabi 75’), Kenny (Burgzorg 66’). Unused subs: Nicholls, Lindsay, Small, Wiley, Moran.