Watford rekindle playoff hopes with win to dent Wrexham promotion push

Edoardo Bove celebrates after scoring Watford’s third goal to clinch their victory.

Photograph: Steven Paston/PA Edoardo Bove celebrates after scoring Watford’s third goal to clinch their victory.

Photograph: Steven Paston/PA
Watford inflicted Wrexham’s first league defeat of the year with a 3-1 victory to maintain their Championship playoff push.

Goals from Marc Bola and Edo Kayembe did the damage for the Hornets and, although Max Cleworth pulled a goal back, Edoardo Bove scored his first Watford goal in stoppage time.

The hosts made four changes from their defeat at Stoke, with Mattie Pollock, Luca Kjerrumgaard, Nestory Irankunda and Pierre Ekwah, for his full debut, coming in.

Wrexham made one change from their Welsh derby victory against Swansea, with Ryan Longman replacing Issa Kaboré.

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Watford had the brighter start, and a curled effort from Giorgi Chakvetadze in the 11th minute from the edge of the area hit the crossbar.

They took the lead after 18 minutes following a break from their own area, with Chakvetadze running from his own half before backheeling to Bola who struck past Arthur Okonkwo.

The goal had a tinge of controversy when Wrexham’s Ollie Rathbone fell in the Watford area but the referee, Adam Herczeg, awarded nothing.

Irankunda almost turned goalscorer himself in first-half stoppage time when he volleyed his effort just the wrong side of a post.

Saba Goglichidze almost added a third soon after the interval when he put his header from a Chakvetadze free-kick wide.

However, Wrexham gave themselves a lifeline just four minutes into the second half after Cleworth turned in a Rathbone corner.

Pollock had to clear a Dominic Hyam header off the line from a Lewis O’Brien corner as Wrexham looked for the equaliser.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Watford had to rely on another clearance off the line, with Pollock denying a Cleworth header.

After six minutes of added time was announced, Wrexham pushed hard for the equaliser.

However, the last word fell to Watford.

A shot from Bola ricocheted off the crossbar and substitute Bove was on hand to turn in the rebound.