Decisive figure converts set piece to lift Watford | OneFootball

Luca Kjerrumgaard settled the game in the 74th minute with a close-range finish, as Watford beat Stoke City 1-0 at Vicarage Road.

He had signalled his threat earlier, steering a left-footed effort over the bar from a corner (24.).

After the restart he drew a strong save with a rising strike from outside the box, testing Viktor Johansson (61.). Then he timed his run to the back post to sweep in Hector Matthew Kyprianou's headed pass from a set piece (74.).

Kjerrumgaard finished with three attempts, two on target, and three touches in the box. He also made five recoveries and won two aerial duels, underlining his all-round centre-forward work for the Hornets.

Set pieces suited him, with both his standout moments arriving from dead-ball situations. That emphasis kept Stoke's defence under pressure and allowed the Hornets to control key territory in the second half.

The Hornets rise from 14th to 10th in the Championship. Stoke drop from seventh to eighth. The Hornets visit Leicester next, while Stoke host Preston.