Report: Watford 1-2 Sheffield United

• Hornets slip to third league defeat in a row
• Jeremy Ngakia scores first Hornets goal
• Switch to four in defence in second-half improves attacking threat
• Chakvetadze and Vata go close but no way back
• Bachmann injury late in the game

Jeremy Ngakia scored his first Watford goal in his 83rd appearance for the club but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat against Sheffield United.

The full-back’s close-range finish levelled the game after Gustavo Hamer had struck for the Blades, but Andre Brooks’ well-placed strike settled the contest after the break.

Watford played with more vigour after a change in formation in the second-half, but they could not find a route back as they slipped to a third Sky Bet Championship defeat in a row on the Graham Taylor Matchday.

Tom Cleverley made five changes from the 3-1 defeat at QPR on New Year’s Day.

Angelo Ogbonna returned as one of three centre-backs for his first football since the trip to Luton Town in October, with Ryan Andrews also re-joining the defence at right wing-back.

In central midfield, Imrân Louza returned from injury alongside the also reinstated Edo Kayembe, while Rocco Vata was given a start on the left-wing.

Ryan Porteous, Moussa Sissoko, Tom Ince, Yasser Larouci and Vakoun Bayo all dropped to the bench as Ngakia switched over to left wing-back from his usual right, with Kwadwo Baah leading the attack.

Hornets keeper Daniel Bachmann made a crucial save in the 10th minute when Brooks was sent away by Hamer’s pass.

The Blades man tried to poke home while under pressure from Francisco Sierralta but the Austrian stopper did well to block.

Cleverley's men weren’t so lucky shortly afterwards, however, when another through-ball, this time from Callum O’Hare, cut open the Hornets backline.

Hamer was the beneficiary and he steered a finish past Bachmann to give the visitors the lead.

The Golden Boys had been unable to create an opening in the early going but hit back on 19 minutes from an unlikely source.

An excellent move saw Baah release Andrews, and the Academy product cut back a pass for Ngakia to tap home from close range.

Getting back on level terms injected some energy into the Hornets and Vata was then released down the left-wing by Louza.

The youngster hared into the box but, after a couple of stepovers, could only place his shot wide of the post.

There was a scare at the other end when Bachmann tried to turn past O’Hare following a risky back-pass from Sierralta.

United’s number 10 managed to get a toe to the ball and the Hornets were relieved to see it roll wide.

A flashpoint between Louza and the Blades’ Tom Davies saw both men booked as the half ended level amid raised tensions at The Vic, with a late Hamer free-kick being well held by Bachmann.

Giorgi Chakvetadze’s counter-attack nearly made something happen for the Hornets early in the second-half, but the Georgian lost the ball on the turn in the area.

The Blades then re-took the lead seven minutes after the break when Brooks curled home a fine low finish from the edge of the area.

Cleverley replaced Ogbonna with Bayo in an attacking switch, as the defence reverted to four at the back.

It was a move which provided a spark for the hosts with Baah, now out on the right wing, racing away and finding Chakvetadze in a strong position with a dragged back-pass.

The midfielder aimed for goal but the Blades were able to block through a combination of keeper Michael Cooper and defender Anel Ahmedhodžić.

Vata then saw a shot saved at the near post before O’Hare forced a good stop from Bachmann after United broke up field.

With the game now taking on an end-to-end feel, Vata cut inside and thumped a shot on goal which was batted away by Cooper.

Watford began to look the more likely as the game entered the final 10 minutes, with the Blades seeking to protect their lead.

A late roll of the dice saw Sissoko and Festy Ebosele introduced, and earlier change Larouci crossed for Bayo to head wide in stoppage-time.

Despite late waves of pressure, what would have been a deserved leveller did not arrive and a late injury to Bachmann - who fell awkwardly when saving a Sam McCallum shot and was stretchered off - added more salt to the wounds.

Watford: Bachmann (GK) (C); Andrews (Ebosele 82), Sierralta, Pollock, Ogbonna (Bayo 63), Ngakia (Larouci 70); Louza, Kayembe (Sissoko 82); Chakvetadze, Vata; Baah.

Unused subs: Bond, Porteous, Morris, Ince, Doumbia.