Watford promoted to the Premier League: Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra puts finishing touch to Hornet's promotion

Watford began the day in pole position and ended it as the first team over the line in the tightest Championship race in recent times.

Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra scored the goals that took Watford to a fifth consecutive win in the 12.15 kick-off at the Amex. And it was Rotherham’s Jordan Bowery and Fulham’s Ross McCormack who scored the late goals, against Norwich and Middlesbrough, that returned the Hornets to the Premier League after an eight year absence.

Slavisa Jokanovic said his side faced a cup final next week against Sheffield Wednesday, immediately after beating Brighton. Not now, although should Bournemouth get a point against Bolton tomorrow, the title race would remain open.

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Watford learned promotion had been secured on the bus home, the defender Gabriele Angella relaying the news of Boro’s defeat and Norwich’s draw from his mobile phone to his ecstatic team-mates. “The atmosphere on the coach was very nice, we did our best and fought to the last so we are very happy,” said the Watford striker Odion Ighalo.

“When we finished our game we were watching on our phones, listening to the results, sometimes it did not go our way. Today, we were waiting and waiting until the last minute, then you could see the celebrations on the bus. We work hard together as a team and we are in the Premier League. But we have a job to do and make sure we are the champions.”

Watford carried out their task in a professional manner, the first meaningful effort falling to Deeney after seven minutes who, despite looking offside, forced keeper David Stockdale to save his low shot with his feet. Brighton could have taken the lead two minutes later, when Joe Bennett flashed his shot from outside the box just wide of Heurelho Gomes’ post.

The deadlock was broken after 29 minutes through a close-range Deeney effort from six yards after an Ighalo cross. Brighton had failed to clear their lines at least twice. The hosts almost responded immediately through Chris O’Grady, whose shot from outside the box was palmed away by Gomes. Watford continued to look sharpest of the sides after the restart, and Stockdale was needed to block from the feet of Adlene Guedioura at the far post.

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O’Grady was unfortunate not to get a late equaliser when his header from an Inigo Calderon cross went just wide anddeep into stoppage time, Deeney found a completely unmarked Vydra who scored in front more than 3100 travelling fans.

The result left manager Chris Houghton unhappy. “This was a disappointing one because when you’re putting in decent levels of performances you’re desperate to get something out of it, particularly when it’s our last game of the season at home and television is here.”

Line-ups:

Brighton (3-5-1-1): Stockdale; Greer, Dunk, Halford (Mackail-Smith, 60); Bruno (Calderon, 79), Forster-Caskey (LuaLua, 78), Bennett, Kayal, Stephens; Carayol; O’Grady

Watford (3-5-2): Gomes; Angella, Cathcart, Connolly; Parades, Abdi (Forestieri, 81), Watson, Guedioura, Anya (Tozser, 26); Ighalo (Vydra, 65), Deeney

Referee: Keith Stroud