West Brom 2 Watford 1: Baggies bounce back to keep hopes alive

The Baggies edged out Watford at The Hawthorns after a goal in either half and should have been more comfortably clear but were made to sweat it in a nervy finale.

Forward Grant swept home after 11 minutes for the opener and winger Johnston added a cool second on the hour - both from wonderful assists from Tom Fellows.

Fellows, back in the starting XI, could have had another three assists but for wasteful finishing from deputising striker Will Lankshear, who was excellent but for the final touch. He still took his assist haul to 13, the most in the division.

Watford's Moussa Sissoko fired in with 15 minutes left for the dramatic finale - and goalkeeper Josh Griffiths was required in the sixth minute of stoppages to ensure no more injury time issues - but the hosts held on.

The Hornets enjoyed the lion's share of possession, something unusual against a Mowbray side, but the hosts were devastating on the counter-attack in creating several clear opportunities.

Bristol City and Middlesbrough dropped points, with Coventry in action on Monday night, as Tony Mowbray's men made ground on their play-off rivals.

All that mattered, though, was Mowbray's side put an end to three straight defeats and they did so with a largely impressive performance in which Albion were good value for the win and spurned several more clear chances. It was a perfect pick-me-up after Norwich, Sunderland and Bristol City misery.

Mowbray had this week called on his players to deliver in big moments and they did so in a strong display.

They should not have needed to hang on at the end as Lankshear, Grant and Johnston were wasteful in moments, but the latter pair were clinical in decisive instances after sumptuous work from Fellows. Lankshear - given the nod over Adam Armstrong - will rue a couple of chances but his all-round display shone.

Mowbray troops were rewarded for a very bright opening 10th minute through Grant's opener.

Fellows had already shown he was in the mood and he turned midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru inside out to lay on the goal.

The winger's dummy on the Hornets man sent him clear and towards the right of the penalty box. His instinctive low cut-back was perfect for Grant and so was the attacker's finish.

So often in recent weeks the Baggies have snatched at chances or seen them easily blocked but Grant, who was in acres of spaces, swept a cool finish into the bottom left corner.

Given the early dominance it may have been a sign of positives to come, but Tom Cleverley's visitors woke up and soon settled.

Clear chances were at a premium at either end but it remained a decent spectacle. Watford were encouraged by some less than convincing passing among Baggies ranks, though Albion's last-ditch defending proved enough.

The lively Edo Kayembe shanked off target for the Hornets before the DR Congo international smashed the post with a fierce drive from range.

Albion fashioned another opening of their own as Watford lost the ball and Grant charged into the left side of the post. It was Grant's low cross this time and Lankshear, with a good run, slid a tough chance wide across goal.

The on-loan Spurs youngster had been busy and bright in a rare start in place of Armstrong.

Isaac Price tested away goalkeeper Egil Selvik with quick-thinking from 30 yards as his low strike towards the bottom left corner required a decent parry.

Albion's Mikey Johnston was bright in the opening stages of the second half as Grant failed to control his fine pass before the winger shot at Selvik from range.

Lankshear and Fellows were at the heart of everything as their side stepped it up.

The former found Grant who linked up with Alex Mowatt for a square pass to Johnston, who fired over from the edge of the box.

Johnston lifted a glorious chance over 10 minutes after the break as Fellows once again danced around Watford's Caleb Wiley. His low cross from the byline eventually fell to Johnston, but Jeremy Ngakia's last-ditch block sent it over.

Mowbray's men were well on top and merited a second - it came on the hour.

Grant fed Fellows with a pass and the winger continued his tormenting. His blind low cut-back was on the money again for opposition winger Johnston, who made a good run and opened his body to send a left-footed first-time finish perfectly into the far corner.

Albion were rampant and Lankshear - who was otherwise excellent and deserved his standing ovation - should've put the game to bed. He spurned two chances from more excellent Fellows deliveries, denying the winger a hat-trick of assists.

And the hosts were made to sweat a few minutes later as Sissoko made no mistake hammering in at Griffiths' near post with his left foot. Imran Louza's pass was a fine one and Sissoko finished powerfully, though Griffiths may have got more on it.

That made for a nervy final 15 minutes and stoppage time after recent events for Mowbray's men.

Missed chances kept coming for the hosts. More fine Johnston work sent Grant clear but, from a tight angle, his effort was saved by Selvik. Defender Torbjorn Heggem then headed over.

Watford cranked it up in the dying stages. Ngakia helped over poorly but it remained needlessly nervy right until the death, where defender Mattie Pollock's header drew a low save from Griffiths. The final whistle came seconds later, with floods of relief.

Albion (4-4-2): Griffiths; Furlong, Bartley (c), Heggem, Styles; Fellows (Dike, 90), Mowatt, Price, Johnston (Diangana, 82); Grant, Lankshear (Armstrong, 74).

Subs not used:  Wildsmith, Frabotta, Parker, Holgate, Swift, Cole. 

Watford (4-2-3-1): Selvik; Ngakia, Abankwah (Sierralta, 64), Pollock, Wiley; Louza, Dele-Bashiru (Bayo, 78); Sissoko (c), Kayembe, Ince (Vata, 64); Doumbia (Dwomoh, 78).

Subs not used: Bachmann, Morris, Andrews, Ramirez-Espain, Akomeah.

Referee: Robert Madley