In his pre-match press conference Slaven Bilic called for his game-changing players to deliver the goods. Step forward Joao Pedro.

The Brazilian scored both goals as Watford beat Huddersfield 2-0 to extend their unbeaten away run to four games, and they did it with a bit to spare.

Although the home side started brightly, once the Hornets found their stride midway through the first half they got on top and carved out enough chances to fully justify their victory.

Pedro had missed a golden opportunity just before the break but made no mistake when teed up by a fine 50-yard driving run from Tom Dele-Bashiru.

There were numerous other chances but Pedro eased any nerves five minutes from time when he headed home a Ken Sema corner.

It was perfect reward for the large contingent of travelling Watford fans who overcame train strikes, arctic weather and the last weekend before Christmas to witness a well-deserved and relatively comfortable victory.

The Hornets made two changes to their starting line-up, with Bacuna coming in for his debut and Sarr returning.

Watford made their customary slow start but Huddersfield didn’t offer much in the first 20 minutes either, two long-efforts from Ward and a header over from Ruffells their only openings.

The home side picked up a couple of early bookings, both Hogg and Diarra shown yellow for fouls on Pedro.

Watford’s first threat arrived after 20 minutes when Davis stayed onside but saw his shot inside the box blocked.

The striker then appeared to be bundled over just inside the box but referee Mr Doughty wasn’t interested.

The Hornets were starting to click more and when Sarr won the ball 40 yards out in the 31st minute he surged towards goal and then let fly with a swerving effort from distance that Nicholls was behind but still chose to palm round the post.

The home dug-out was convinced they should have had a penalty when a Rudoni cross hit Ngakia on the arm but the referee was well placed and waved appeals away.

Helig headed wide at the back post from a corner but then Watford moved up a gear in the last 10 minutes and should have been ahead.

In the 38th minute Ngakia crossed from the right of the box, Sarr got a slight touch and Pedro nipped in between two defenders but prodded the ball wide from six yards.

Three minutes after that Sarr burst forward, steadied and then moved the ball left into the path of the overlapping Kamara. He left fly from an angle and Nicholls was forced to save with his legs.

Two minutes before the break Dele-Bashiru won the ball and set Pedro away through midfield. The Brazilian surged forward and then curled a pass out to Davis on the right. The striker checked inside past a tackle but then curled a shot wide of the back post.

Six minutes after the restart Watford could easily have been ahead. Bacuna hit a low cross from the right which just evaded Sema. The ball ran to Sarr beyond the back post and he drove it back towards goal where Nicholl was still getting up and facing the wrong way, but managed to grab the ball.

However they finally made the breakthrough in the 54th minute. Dele-Bashiru took the ball from just outside his own box, drove 50 yards and then passed to Pedro on his right. The Brazilian steadied himself, checked inside and then hammered a shot past Nicholls.

Seven minutes later Kamara stole the ball and raced into the box before slipping a pass into the path of Sarr, but his drive was deflected wide of the near post.

It could so easily have been two in the 71st minute. Sarr met Sema's corner with a firm header which Nicholls kept out by instinctively throwing up his arm.

Five minutes later Thomas hit a deep corner which Rudoni headed goalwards but Bachmann held above his head

Sarr cut in from the left in the 79th minute and hit a shot which Nicholls fumbled but kept out

But in the 85th minute Watford put the game to bed. Sema swung over a corner from the left and Pedro rose to send a header over Nicholls and into the far corner.

Right at the death Rhodes wasted a great chance when he shot over the bar when unmarked and eight yards out.

Watford: Bachmann; Ngakia, Kabasele, Cathcart, Kamara; Bacuna (Asprilla 66), Dele-Bashiru; Sema, Pedro, Sarr (Gaspar 90+1); Davis (Bayo 90+1). Subs: Hamer, Troost-Ekong, Morris