Watford 3 Sheffield United 0: Defensive troubles haunt boss Blackwell

WATFORD took advantage of some woeful defending from Sheffield United to pick up three welcome Coca-Cola Championship points and dent the Blades' chances of reaching the play-offs.

Tom Cleverley scored his 10th goal of the season after United captain Chris Morgan and former Hornets striker Darius Henderson feebly let a ball bounce inside the area and Heidar Helguson doubled the lead after the break after more shoddy play. Don Cowie's late free-kick wrapped up the win.

The Blades had deadline-day signing Nyron Nosworthy in their starting XI alongside former Hornets striker Henderson.

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Henderson was a key part of the side which won promotion to the Barclays Premier League under Adrian Boothroyd in 2006 and immediately caused havoc on his return. He beat Taylor to the ball and his header fell at the feet of Stephen Quinn, but the Blades midfielder could not keep his shot down.

James Harper swung in a dangerous ball from the right and Morgan powered a header goalwards from no more than five yards only to see Scott Loach somehow palm the ball to safety.

Cleverley put the Hornets ahead with a scruffy goal in the 39th minute. Taylor launched a long ball forward to the edge of the penalty area and as Henderson, Morgan and Derek Geary all let the ball bounce Cleverley nipped in to head over Bunn.

Helguson punished more slack defending to clip in the second before Cowie sent in a devilish delivery from close to the left touchline and despite three players attacking the ball nobody made a connection and the ball flew straight into the net.

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Watford: Loach, Mariappa, DeMerit, Taylor, Doyley, Lansbury, Cowie, Jenkins, Eustace, Helguson, Cleverley. Substitutes: Lee, McGinn, Graham, Harley, Bennett, Hoskins, Bryan.

Sheffield United: Bunn, Geary, Morgan, Nosworthy, Stewart, Montgomery, Harper, Cresswell, Ward, Quinn, Henderson. Substitutes: Bennett, France, Evans, Yeates, Williamson, Fortune, Camara.

Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire)