Watford 2-1 Preston: Mamadou Doumbia winner condemns Paul Heckingbottom's North End suffer fifth defeat in six

Callum Lang had shot the visitors ahead in the sixth minute as the visitors threatened to overrun the Hornets, who hit back with two second-half goals in seven minutes from Edo Kayembe and Mamadou Doumbia.

Injuries meant that Watford boss Alessio Dionisi was limited to eight substitutes - including two goalkeepers.

But the Hornets made a lively start, with winger Rocco Vata breaking into the box from the left only to see his shot blocked by Preston keeper Daniel Iversen.

The visitors replied by scoring from their first attack.

Johnny Kenny, in his first start for Preston, won a corner on the left, Alfie Devine's kick found Jordan Thompson just outside the D via a smart stepover by Leo Leroy and the midfielder fired in a shot that home keeper Federico Ravaglia could only push on to his left-hand post.

Lang pounced on the rebound to score from close range despite Ravaglia's efforts to scoop the ball to safety - Lang's third goal in two games.

Preston should have gone 2-0 up in the 18th minute. Kenny sprinted down the left with the home defence nowhere and his perfect cross found the feet of Lang, who fired straight at Ravaglia.

Nevertheless, the visitors continued to look by far the better, more composed side as they dominated the first half.

Dionisi rolled the dice at the break, sending on Othmane Maamma, Iker Bravo and Leicester loanee Stephy Mavididi in place of Rocco Vata, Martin Payero and Amin Nabizada.

However, as the second half wore on, it seemed that Preston would stretch their unbeaten run at Vicarage Road to five games.

The Hornets threatened very little, and their first raid after the break came in the 55th minute when skipper and centre-back Mattie Pollock ventured upfield only to fire over the bar.

There should have been more woe for the Vicarage Road faithful just before the hour when Preston wasted another great chance.

Lilywhites defender Harry Clarke was allowed to take a stroll through the home box but scuffed his shot, allowing Ravaglia to push the ball against the post before scrambling it to safety.

Preston should have been at least 3-0 up, and they paid dearly for those misses when Kayembe equalised in the 69th minute.

Maamma had been switching wings and his time he danced in from the left before his low cross set up a gleeful Kayembe for the leveller.

Preston lost the plot as Watford seized the lead seven minutes later. The threat this time came down the right as Bravo crossed for striker Doumbia to head home from a narrow angle.

What the result means and next fixtures...