THE first part of Watford's festive double-header against the top two ended in defeat with Brian Deane's header midway through the second-half giving Leicester City a 2-1 victory and the double over the Hornets at Vicarage Road on Saturday, December 28.

After Heidar Helguson had deservedly given the Hornets the lead, Matt Elliott grabbed a quick-fire equaliser that had more than a suspicion of offside about it. Watford were never able to get their game going after the break, and rarely threatened to cancel out Deane's goal until a late rally saw Micah Hyde and Neil Cox both go close.

Ray Lewington made one change from the side that drew 0-0 at Wimbledon on Boxing Day, with Paolo Vernazza replacing Gavin Mahon, who was left out of the 16. Allan Nielsen was once again on the bench, with Gifton Noel-Williams, Dominic Foley and the recalled Anthony McNamee.

Micky Adams opted to keep faith with the same starting XI that was beaten 2-1 at home by Ipswich Town on Thursday; Leicester's first defeat in ten.

And it was the Foxes who nearly went in front inside two minutes when Wayne Brown's header back to Alec Chamberlain from the right side of the area fell short of the Hornets' keeper, and Paul Dickov nipped in, but he clipped his shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Two minutes later, another mistake from Brown left Paul Robinson with little hope of getting to the ball, and Jamie Scowcroft latched on to it on the right side of the area, only to shoot badly wide.

Watford nearly created their first decent opening after eight minutes when Neal Ardley clipped the ball over the defence, but Ian Walker got to it ahead of the on-rushing Helguson and Tommy Smith. Two minutes later, Robinson fired in a cross from the left, but Vernazza glanced a header well wide of the far post.

The Hornets gradually began to push on, and after 17 minutes Marcus Gayle headed an Ardley free-kick wide after Andy Impey had been penalised for handball near the left-hand corner.

Jermaine Pennant should have done better after 24 minutes when Alan Rogers' slip on the left side of the area left him with a clear run on goal from a Hyde through ball, but a poor second touch meant the best he could manage was a low cross from the byline which was scrambled behind. Then Helguson stooped to head an Ardley cross wide after Pennant's initial ball into the box hadn't been properly dealt with.

Watford continued to have the upper hand, and Smith was the next to try his luck, firing an angled drive over after Helguson had won a flick on. An even better chance came Smith's way shortly after when Pennant opened up play by spreading the ball across to Robinson, who in turn found Helguson. The Icelandic international then switched play back to the left where Smith chested the ball down inside the area before clipping it just over from an acute angle.

However, Watford's useful attacking play was rewarded after 29 minutes. A Vernazza through ball sent Pennant streaking clear on the right, and his perfectly weighted cross into the six-yard area was tapped home by Helguson, who then celebrated his seventh of the season in hilarious fashion, jumping up and down and waving his arms around like a madman.

Leicester had a chance to reply immediately when Muzzy Izzet's free-kick from the left was headed just over by Deane.

But the visitors did equalise in bizarre and controversial circumstances after 33 minutes. An Izzet corner from the left was headed clear by Hyde at the near post towards Vernazza, However, the Hornets' midfielder completely missed his kick, allowing Billy McKinlay to hook the ball back in for Elliott with at least two players clearly offside in front of goal to rifle an angled shot inside Chamberlain's near post from eight yards out.

Watford came within inches of regaining the lead six minutes later when an Ardley free-kick from the left was headed on by Cox and Helguson, jumping fairly with Ian Walker, saw his close-range header clip the bar.

Deane volleyed a difficult chance wide from a Rogers cross shortly before the interval as Leicester finished the half the stronger.

After an even start to the second-half, Lewington decided to change things around on 56 minutes, bringing on Noel-Williams for Smith.

Rogers didn't unduly trouble Chamberlain with a 30-yard attempt soon after, and Leicester then made a double change on the hour, bringing on Callum Davidson and Nicky Summerbee for McKinlay and Jordan Stewart.

The Hornets had a sniff of an opportunity on 62 minutes when an Ardley ball was flicked on by Helguson but Vernazza was beaten to it in the area by a defender.

But Leicester took the lead after 65 minutes when an Izzet corner from the right was met by the head of Deane on the edge of the six-yard box, and he guided the ball down inside the unprotected far post.

Helguson wasn't far away with a header from an Ardley free-kick five minutes later, before a magnificent save prevented Leicester from moving into a 3-1 lead. A ball from the right missed the head of Deane, but Watford didn't clear their lines, allowing Dickov to fire in a shot which Chamberlain managed to scramble off his line.

McNamee replaced Vernazza with 15 minutes left as Watford sought a way back, and then Foley came on for Helguson.

The Hornets somehow failed to equalise with nine minutes left when a low McNamee cross from the left found Foley, whose shot was blocked. However, the ball broke lose to Hyde, who slipped the ball beyond Walker, only for it to cannon back off Heath on the line and back into the arms of the grateful keeper.

Watford then had a penalty appeal turned down after claiming a Pennant cross had struck Rogers' arm, and Pennant then went for glory and missed after spinning Scowcroft on halfway and sprinting clear down the right.

Another chance came and went in stoppage time when an Ardley corner from the left hit McNamee in the area, and, after creating the space for a shot, Cox curled the ball wide from the penalty spot.

Watford: Chamberlain; Ardley, Cox, Gayle, Brown; Pennant, Vernazza, Hyde, Robinson; Smith, Helguson. Substitutes: Noel-Williams for Smith after 56 mins; McNamee for Vernazza after 74 mins; Foley for Helguson after 80 mins; Nielsen and Lee not used.

Leicester City: Walker; Impey, Elliott, Heath, Rogers; Scowcroft, McKinlay, Izzet, Stewart; Deane, Dickov. Substitutes: Davidson for McKinlay and Summerbee for Stewart after 60 mins; Benjamin for Dickov after 82 mins; Lewis and Flowers not used.

Bookings: Impey for a foul on Pennant after 39 mins; Heath for a foul on Noel-Williams after 73 mins; Hyde for a foul on 75 mins; Izzet for a foul on McNamee after 90 mins;

Attendance: 16,017.

Referee: David Pugh (Merseyside).

December 28, 2002 18:00