The Tigers took a giant stride towards booking their first trip to Wembley yesterday with this victory at Vicarage Road thanks to goals from Dean Windass and Nicky Barmby.

It means Hull go into this Wednesday's second leg at the KC Stadium as huge favourites to reach the Championship play-off final.

Brown is, however, determined to sound a note of caution to anyone thinking that the tie is over.

The Hull manager said: "It is still all to play for, in my opinion. I know from my own experience as a player (with Blackpool against Bradford City in 1996) how a 2-0 lead from the first leg can become a 3-2 (aggregate) defeat at home.

"I am not taking anything for granted. The third goal of the tie will be massive. If it comes on Wednesday and it is to Watford, then the tie will have been opened up again.

"I must admit I am a little disappointed. For me to say that after winning 2-0 is astounding, but I did tell the players afterwards that I was disappointed not to have got a third.

"We could have won by three, four or five goals and that would have killed the tie completely. We should have killed it off.

"We have now got another 90 minutes and it is going to be one hell of a game."

Hull's victory at Vicarage Road left the 2,000 or so visiting fans singing celebratory songs about a possible trip to Wembley for the May 24 final.

Brown, however, insists his squad has too much experience to believe the tie is over.

He added: "There will be no complacency on our part. The key to our changing room is the experience we have in there.

"Nicky Barmby and Dean Windass are Hull boys playing for Hull City and they will be guarding against complacency.

"The captain (Ian Ashbee) will be guarding against it. Same with the backroom staff. And Wayne Brown.

"There is some great experience in that changing room and no one will be allowed to take their foot off the gas."

Watford manager Ady Boothroyd admitted after watching his side's poor run of results extended to one win in 15 games that the advantage was now firmly with the Tigers.

He was, however, also critical of referee Kevin Friend for ruling out what seemed to be a perfectly legitimate 'goal' when Danny Shittu headed past Boaz Myhill in the fourth minute.

Boothroyd also felt the official had got it badly wrong again on the hour when dismissing John Eustace for a tackle on Richard Garcia that prompted a melee near the halfway line.

The Hornets' manager said: "There were decisions in the game that were wrong. The goal was a goal – I don't know why he disallowed it – and the sending-off was not a sending-off.

"The ball was on the floor and he (Eustace) went for the ball. Are we not allowed to tackle any more? We will be appealing against the red card."

Boothroyd's counterpart Brown had a rather different view of the two incidents, the Tigers' manager insisting that the referee had got both calls right.

He said: "I thought the referee had a great game. He (Shittu) looked to be climbing all over one of our defenders. The whistle had been blown before he even headed the ball.

"As for the sending-off, he headbutted Ian Ashbee. I thought it was a red card."

Brown was delighted by his side's efforts in the baking sun at Vicarage Road with Boaz Myhill, who made a string of superb saves to frustrate the Hornets, being singled out for particular praise.

He said: "I know Dean Windass and Nicky Barmby will get the headlines for scoring, but the defence were magnificent. And our goalkeeper was outstanding. He showed why he has become an international this season.

"I take my hat off to all of them for keeping a clean sheet at Vicarage Road."

Attention now turns to the return leg on Wednesday at the KC Stadium as Hull look to book a first trip to Wembley.

Shittu is a major doubt for the return leg on Wednesday after limping off with a hamstring injury, while Hull could be boosted by the return to fitness of Henrik Pedersen and Dean Marney.

Looking ahead to the tie, Hornets manager Boothroyd said: "At 2-0 and with Hull at home, it is advantage to them. But if we can go up there and score, you never know how it might change the game.

"We have the best away record in the division, while Hull have the third best home record. It should be a great game."