Darren Fletcher added another chapter to Stoke's stranglehold as Watford's bogey team at Vicarage Road.

With manager Mark Hughes clinging to his job, after a coded vote of confidence from chairman Peter Coates in midweek, Fletcher stepped up to the plate to save his boss.

Unadventurous, unapologetic and unrepentant behind his 5-4-1 formation, Hughes had enjoyed back-to-back wins on his last two visits to Vicarage Road.

And the Potters' resistance here suggests 'Sparky' is not ready to entertain the firing squad yet.

From the first time Stoke managed to break out of their own half, they made the crucial breakthrough from a well-worked corner.

Fletcher scores (
Image:
Tony Marshall)
Mame Biram Diouf in action (
Image:
Alex Morton)

Xherdan Shaqiri's flag-kick found Fletcher, making his 101st consecutive Premier League appearance – the longest current sequence in the division – and the former Manchester United midfielder had enough space to pick his spot, cushioning his volley from 20 yards beyond Heurelho Gomes.

Watford, so resilient against Arsenal and often inspired – if short-changed – at Chelsea in their last two outings, were dreadful for 45 minutes.

When the winter nights draw in, the Hornets will find it is no good turning on the style when the aristocrats are in town if they can't string two meaningful passes together against the peasants.

Troy Deeney of Watford and Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City (
Image:
Tony Marshall)

That's not to suggest that Stoke's execution of their game plan was anything but polished and efficient, but the Potters' confidence is as fragile as a Wedgwood tea set falling out of a tree and Watford should have been level 11 minutes after the restart.

Richarlison, the Premier League's most-fouled player, sustained another collection of bruises here, but he should have done better than to shovel Andre Carrillo's header back across goal into the side netting.

And after snatching at two gilt-edged chances at Chelsea last week, Richarlison fluffed another simple far-post header as Watford finally worked up a head of steam.

Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford and Joe Allen (
Image:
Alex Morton)

Stoke's retreat was not unbroken, however, and Joe Allen dragged a great chance to make it 2-0 wide from 15 yards.

And substitute Saido Berahino, who has not scored since February 2016, was foiled by Gomes when clean through in a one-on-one.

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Image:
Tony Marshall)
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Image:
Alex Morton)

Welcome one and all

Watford look to continue their spiky early-season form when they host Mark Hughes’ Stoke side this afternoon.

The Hornets sit in sixth place in the Premier League, but will be without playmaker Roberto Pereyra, who has a hamstring problem.

He joins the likes of Younes Kaboul, Sebastian Prodl, Isaac Success, Nathaniel Chalobah and Craig Cathcart on the sidelines.
The visitors are without Bruno Martins Indi, while Peter Crouch is a doubt.

The Potters have been toiling in recent weeks and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, as they start the weekend in 17th place.

“We have been in these situations before, says Mark Hughes. “We slipped into the bottom three just before facing Manchester United in my first season here, but went and won that game and ended the season ninth.

“That was the moment that turned our season around, and we need another moment like that. Hopefully it comes this weekend.”

After almost securing a famous win against Chelsea last weekend, Watford boss Marco Silva is preaching patience.

“We achieved our first home win in the last game against Arsenal. It’s important. We need to improve and it’s a difficult match.

“We need to be patient, organised and need to play with the same confidence as last time.”

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Image:
Getty)