A first-half header from Matej Vydra has left Watford just 45 minutes away from claiming the Championship title against Sheffield Wednesday.

With promotion already assured, Watford started off positively at Vicarage Road and only some desperate defending from the Owls prevented Miguel Layun from handing his team an early lead.

Troy Deeney also came close before being denied by Chris Kirkland as he attempted to round the goalkeeper, before the former Liverpool stopper was in the action again to save from Vydra.

However, just after the midway point of the half, the Czech forward made no mistake after the ball fell kindly for him after another Kirkland save and he was able to nod into an empty net from eight yards.

Wednesday had barely offered anything in their attacking third, and they almost fell two behind when Deeney played in Ikechi Anya but his shot from an acute angle hit the side-netting.

Deeney was a constant threat to the Owls defence but shortly before the break, he just failed to find the far corner with a chip over Kirkland.