Live Commentary: Watford 2-0 Middlesbrough - as it happened

Matchday 41 in the Championship got underway with a huge game at the top as league leaders Middlesbrough travelled to Watford.

Just two points separated the top four at the start of the day and Watford climbed to the summit with a comprehensive 2-0 win at Vicarage Road.

Read how it all unfolded in sunny Hertfordshire with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.

2.27pmIf you're a Watford fan, you'll want to click here to see the latest Championship table. Make sure you stick around on SM throughout the afternoon for our comprehensive coverage of the Championship's other eight games today. Enjoy and good afternoon!

2.24pmFor Boro, it's a disappointing performance and just three points out of a possible nine for them since impressive wins over Ipswich and Derby.

2.22pmIt's Watford who rise to the challenge with a big, big win over Boro. They move to the top of the table, but will probably drop out of the automatic-promotion places come 5pm as Bournemouth and Norwich both have winnable home games.

90+6 minFULL-TIME: WATFORD 2-0 BORO

90+4 minBOOKINGS! Jones puts both Leadbitter and Layun in the book after the latter brought down the former, who reacted by tripping the Mexican up. Silly from Leadbitter and he'll now miss Boro's next two games against Rotherham United and Wolves as it's his 10th caution of the season.

90+2 minWATFORD SUB: Final change for the hosts as Guedioura, who's had a great game in the middle, is replaced by Miguel Layun.

90 minCHANCE! Kike beats the offside trap but not Gomes, who makes a smart stop at his near post. Five minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official.

89 minGreat ball into the middle by Adomah, but there's no-one arriving at the back post to tuck it home. Boro starting to threaten, but it's probably too little too late for them.

86 minA reminder that Watford are going top of the table for three hours or so at the very least. It's a pretty good result for both Bournemouth and Norwich as they know that if they win this afternoon, they will leapfrog both Watford and Boro.

84 minBORO SUB: Final change by Karanka as he swaps Clayton for Adam Forshaw in central midfield.

84 minCLOSE! Friend has been the only Boro player to turn up today and he almost gets the goal that his performance has deserved by cutting in from the left and drilling a right-footed cross-cum-shot that fizzes wide.

81 minSAVE! As well as the free-scoring trio, Watford also have the livewire that is Guedioura. He is so close to making it three with a fabulous improvised sidefoot volley that Konstantopoulos pushes away acrobatically.

80 minSHOT! It's not really fair that Watford have Ighalo, Deeney and Vydra is it? The latter two link up well and Deeney's pop at goal from 20 yards is deflected away.

78 minDifficult chance for Kike as he meets Kalas's fierce cross and flicks a header high and wide. The ball was a little behind him and it would have been some effort had he turned it on target.

76 minSTAT: An amazing 15 of Ighalo's 19 league goals this season have come in 2015. That's more than anyone else in English league footy since the turn of the year.

74 minFriend has been battered around by Watford today and almost gets his revenge for some of the nasty tackles by bursting into the box. He's just about to pull the trigger when Hoban makes a fine saving tackle.

72 minKike thinks he's won Boro a penalty as Connolly clearly tugs him over in the box. The cross was too high for the both of them, but you have to say that Connolly was playing a dangerous game holding the Spaniard like that. Jones lets it go.

71 minWhat a big, big goal that could be for Watford. Even though Boro weren't looking threatening, at just 1-0 they always had a chance of sneaking a point out of the match. That looks highly unlikely now.

70 minBOOKING! Guedioura rightly goes into the book for a late challenge on friend, who was in the air heading the ball. It's the sort of tackle you get sin-binned for in rugby, so no surprise to see Jones brandish a yellow.

69 minWATFORD SUB: Oddly, Ighalo is taken off minutes after scoring a stunner. Vydra is a fine replacement to have and shows just how deep Watford's frontline is.

65 minOh, you beauty! Ighalo puts Watford two in front with a gorgeous left-footed strike into the top corner. Boro only have themselves to blame after Kalas tried a stupid backheel on the right and Watson came out with the ball before finding the Nigerian, who stroked the ball onto his left before pelting home. Konstantopoulos got a fingertip to it, but couldn't keep it out.

65 minGOAL! WATFORD 2-0 BORO (IGHALO)

63 minSHOT! Watson is close to doubling the hosts' lead as he swipes a half-volley towards goal. It's well-hit, but takes a deflection to spin wide of the upright.

62 minBORO SUBS: Karanka is quick to respond, sending on Kike and Tomas Kalas for Tomlin and Tiendalli.

61 minGreat defending by Friend at the back post as he heads away and wins a free kick after a dangerous corner from Tozser.

60 minWATFORD SUB: Jokanovic is the first one to make a change and it's at the back as Matthew Connolly replaces Cathcart.

59 minPIC: Here's Deeney firing the home side in front

57 minCompletely out of order from Bamford as he puts his boot towards the neck of Watford keeper Gomes, who had come out and headed the ball away from the Boro striker. Jones certainly isn't having the best day with the whistle as that should have been a booking. Bamford was never getting that and stuck a leg out in frustration.

56 minBoro win their fifth corner of the game, but again it's an easy delivery for Watford to deal with. The visitors have certainly seen a lot of the ball in the second half (75%).

53 minIt certainly hasn't been Bamford's day so far and he expresses some frustration by standing up to Cathcart after Jones had blown up for a foul.

52 minCHANCE! Ighalo with his first opening of the game as Guedioura threads a pass between two Boro defenders. The Nigerian has Amorebieta right on top of him and is only able to float a harmless shot straight into Konstantopoulos's arms.

49 minCHANCE! Decent opening for the visitors as Friend crosses low to the near post where Adomah opens his body well to direct it goalwards, but gets too much on the ball if anything to put it wide.

48 minLooking at the stats, it really was a tight first period. Possession remains at 50-50, while both sides have had five attempts on goal. Watford had the two best chances, though, and Deeney made no mistake with his attempt. Boro's only shot on target was Tomlin's volley.

46 minKICKOFF! We're back underway at Vicarage Road. No changes from either manager at the break.

1.30pmIf things don't improve soon for the visitors, Karanka will surely think about making a change. Jelle Vossen and Kike are his two best attacking options and you'd expect to see one or both soon.

1.28pmAS IT STANDS: As you can see in our tweet below, Watford are on top as it stands. If Bournemouth and Norwich deal with Birmingham and Wednesday respectively a little later, Boro will drop from first to fourth!

Here's how the Championship table looks at the break in the early kickoff. Watford's goal sees them leapfrog Boro. pic.twitter.com/hRHkcASYOY

— Sports Mole (@SportsMole) April 6, 2015

1.25pmBoro certainly need to sort themselves out. They've only had one decent chance and Tomlin planted his volley straight at Gomes. Bamford has scored five in his last six, but has been very quiet today.

1.22pmSTAT: By opening the scoring, Deeney has now been involved in 18 league goals in 2015, more than any other Championship player since the turn of the year.

1.20pmJust getting in from a nice Easter walk and want to quickly catch up on the first 45? Well, our half-time report is just what you need.

1.17pmIt's Watford who lead at the break then thanks to Deeney's 20th goal of the season nine minutes before the break. It's been a fairly cagey half, but when you give someone of Deeney's quality that space, he will punish you.

45+1 minHALF-TIME: WATFORD 1-0 BORO

45+1 minJust the one minute of added time at Vicarage Road before half time.

44 minThe Hornets have done really well after the goal to ensure that Boro haven't threatened with a quick response. It looks like they'll be going in ahead at the break.

42 minWith that goal, Watford are going top of the table as things stand. They might not finish the day on top if Bournemouth and Norwich win, but a win today would be massive as they have a fairly favourable run-in.

40 minWoodgate was at fault, but take nothing away from Guedioura's delivery. The on-loan midfielder perfectly picked out his teammate from a long way out on the right wing. He was also key for the Hornets on Friday night with a gorgeous pass to set up Ighalo for their equaliser against Derby.

38 min

37: And with that, Deeney becomes the first #watfordfc player to score 20+ goals three seasons in a row pic.twitter.com/wciyxbDxVA

— Official #watfordfc (@watfordfcsays) April 6, 2015

37 min"DEENEY, DEENEY, DEENEY!" chant the home fans as Watford break the deadlock. It's a poor goal for Boro to concede as Woodgate misjudges Guedioura's cross to leave Deeney all alone at the back post. The striker brings it down and shoots through Konstantopoulos's legs from a tight angle with his left foot.

37 minGOAL! WATFORD 1-0 BORO (DEENEY)

35 minThere's certainly been an ebb and flow to this game. Boro started better, then Watford had their spell and now it's the visitors again who are pressing. Tomlin's shot is blocked for another Boro corner and this one is a cracking delivery from Leadbitter, but there's no-one coming in at the back post as Deeney stoops to head away inside his own six-yard box.

33 minCHANCE! Boro's best chance of the match as Friend picks out Tomlin with a cross. It's an awkward height for the number 10, but he controls it well with a sidefooted volley that is straight at Gomes. Either side and that's the opener.

32 minGood from Cathcart as he sticks with Bamford and manages to divert the forward's shot out for a corner. Leadbitter with the delivery and again it's dealt with by the home side.

30 minHalf an hour gone then and the game has gone much how I thought it would. Both teams are wary of exposing themselves and have hardly thrown caution to the wind. Watford have had the only real chance when Anya was denied by Konstantopoulos, while Boro have had just one shot at goal.

27 minDeeney does well to hold off the attentions of a red shirt before playing a one-two with Ighalo. Guedioura is in space on the right, but the striker goes for goal and drags his 20-yard effort wide.

26 minBOOKING! Hmmmm. There seems to be talk of poor refereeing every week this season and although this isn't a horrific decision, you have to wonder why Jones has booked Reach. He's let four tackles go that were worse than the winger's trip and inexplicably books the Boro man.

24 minCHANCE! And now Watford win their first corner, with Tozser's fierce inswinger headed wide by Angella. Much better from the visitors midway through the opening period.

22 minCHANCE! First real chance of the game as Tiendalli slips over to allow Anya away. The wing-back exchanges passes with Deeney before taking the ball well in his stride and firing a low shot that Konstantopoulos keeps out with his foot. Woodgate was sliding in and did enough to put Anya off a little.

20 minIt's felt like an even start and the stats back that up. The possession count is 50-50 and both sides have had one off-target shot. Boro are winning the corner battle having had two while Watford still await their first.

18 minJones is again lenient as he lets Angella get away with a clear pull-back on Bamford. That sort of offence is almost always an instant booking, but the ref is certainly trying to not be card-happy today.

15 minThe referee today, by the way, is Premier League regular Mike Jones.

13 minSHOT! Boro now have their first attempt as Leadbitter lines up a free kick that must be about 40 yards out. He thinks that Gomes is a little out of position, but it's an audacious effort and the Brazilian keeper makes a comfortable save. The free kick was awarded for an Ighalo heel-clip on Tomlin that the former is a little lucky not to have been booked for.

11 minDeeney with an inventive outside-of-the-boot pass looking for Anya down the left, but Konstantopoulos is alert and off his line quickly to beat the Scot to the ball.

10 minFirst attempt on goal is by Watford as Anya crosses to the back post where Deeney rises well to meet it but can only head over.

7 minUp the other end, Ighalo is played through but then shepherded onto his left foot before being tackled by Woodgate. The latter is 35 now, but still impressing and put in a man-of-the-match display in Friday's win over Wigan. Once of Real Madrid still seems a funny thing to say.

5 minAnother corner for the visitors, who have made a bright start, but again it doesn't result in a chance.

4 minFirst bright bit of play near either area as Adomah plays a one-two before winning a corner. Leadbitter's delivery comes to nothing as Ighalo and Guedioura manage to hook it clear.

3 minVery little to speak of in the early stages with both sides feeling each other out. Both teams possess some of the best strikers in the league and you feel that whoever shines out of Deeney, Ighalo and Bamford will win the game.

0 minKICKOFF! Boro get us underway at a sun-soaked Vicarage Road. It's a glorious day for football, let's hope for a quality game.

12.29pmHere come the teams out of the tunnel at Vicarage Road. What a huge game this is for both sides.

12.27pm

3 - Troy Deeney has scored in each of his last three appearances against Middlesbrough at Vicarage Road. Pest.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 6, 2015

12.25pmH2H: Two goals were shared when these two last met back in October, with Deeney cancelling out Kike's opener at the Riverside Stadium. Back then it was a clash between second and third and both sides have maintained their top-six place since. Watford have won four of their last six home games against Middlesbrough and are unbeaten in four against the Teesside outfit. Karanka's side might have an impressive defensive record this season, but they have conceded at least once in each of their last 10 trips to Vicarage Road.

12.23pmYou feel that there is more pressure on the home side today. They have picked up just one point from their last two games against fellow promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town and Derby County and their overall record against sides around them is poor. Boro, meanwhile, have a fine record against sides near the top having recently played Ipswich and Derby themselves and won both. However, they were outclassed by Bournemouth in their last game against one of their rivals two weeks ago.

12.20pmPREDICTION! As you'll see on our new-look, even more in-depth preview, I have gone for a 1-1 draw in this game. Both sides would probably take a point and hope to pick up wins in their final five games of the season. The biggest thing is not losing, so a draw seems the most likely outcome. It's very possible that this could be a Premier League fixture next term.

12.17pmThis is the first of nine games in the Championship today and all of the other promotion hopefuls are in action, with Bournemouth playing Birmingham City and Norwich City hosting Sheffield Wednesday. You would expect the Cherries and Canaries to both win at home against mid-table sides with nothing to play for, so that puts even more pressure on Watford and Boro to win.

12.15pmRight, let's look at the table then. It's an incredibly tight race for the automatic-promotion places and the final two playoff spots as the top eight have split into two groups of four in recent weeks. Watford and Boro are fourth and first respectively and just two points separate them.

12.13pmIt's a gorgeous day in Hertfordshire!

The Boro team are warming up ahead of kick-off in just over half-an-hour. https://t.co/zMOC2bX0i4

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) April 6, 2015

12.11pmCertainly a big test for Tiendalli and Amorebieta against the second-best attack in the league. Karanka has his defence well-drilled, though - they are by far the tightest backline with just 30 goals conceded in 40 games.

12.10pmLike opposite number Jokanovic, Aitor Karanka makes three alterations to his lineup from Friday's 1-0 win over Wigan Athletic. On-loan defenders Dwight Tiendalli and Fernando Amorebieta come in for their full debuts in place of Tomas Kalas and Ben Gibson, while further forward Lee Tomlin gets the nod over Jelle Vossen.

12.08pmBORO XI: Konstantopoulos; Tiendalli, Amorebieta, Woodgate, Friend; Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Reach; Tomlin; Bamford
Subs: Ripley, Gibson, Whitehead, Vossen, Kalas, Kike, Forshaw

12.06pmMotta was sent off at the iPro, so is serving a one-game ban, while Layun and Vydra drop to the bench. Jokanovic rarely starts with all three of his strikers (Vydra, Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo), but he did on Friday and it's no surprise to see one of them dropped today. Vydra opened the scoring three days ago, but is the one sacrificed as Jokanovic puts an extra man in midfield in a 3-5-2 formation.

12.05pmNo surprise to see some changes from Slavisa Jokanovic, with Watford having played less than three days ago on Good Friday night at Derby County. Out go Marco Motta, Miguel Layun and Matej Vydra, with Juan Carlos Paredes, Ikechi Anya and Daniel Tozser coming in.

12.03pmWATFORD XI: Gomes; Cathcart, Angella, Hoban; Paredes, Tozser, Watson, Guedioura, Anya; Deeney, Ighalo
Subs: Bond, Munari, Layun, Pudil, Vydra, Abdi, Connolly

12.01pmHappy Easter Monday folks! I hope that you're feeling like Bruce Bogtrotter this morning after devouring your eggs yesterday and are ready for some tasty Championship action. Let's get to the teams...

Live Commentary: Watford 2-0 Middlesbrough - as it happened

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