WATFORD travelled back down the M6 on Saturday, August 7, contemplating what should have been after suffering a 2-1 defeat in their Coca-Cola Championship opener at Preston North End.

In short, the Hornets beat themselves. After Richard Cresswell had given the home side a first-half lead, Paul Devlin equalised just after the break. But then Devlin turned villain, conceding a needless penalty which David Healy converted.

Even then, the Hornets should still have got something out of the game. First, Andy Smith returned the favour by conceding an equally silly spot-kick, but on this occasion Andrew Lonergan saved Neil Cox's effort. Then, both Gavin Mahon and Heidar Helguson had chances to salvage a point, but neither were able to.

The first surprise of Watford's season arrived before a ball had even been kicked, with Richard Lee getting the nod over Alec Chamberlain in goal, but it was later revealed the 40-year-old was carrying a knock. Otherwise the Hornets lined up as expected.

The home side also pulled off something of a shock by naming last season's top scorer Ricardo Fuller in the starting line-up, despite the fact he is due to have an operation next week.

The visitors started strongly and nearly took the lead after just 40 seconds. Danny Webber got clear of Youl Mawene down the left, but his cross was just too far ahead of Bruce Dyer. However, Devlin kept the attack alive, finding Brynjar Gunnarsson around ten yards out, and his overhead kick was tipped behind by Lonergan.

Preston had their first chance on four minutes when a deep Eddie Lewis corner from the right was headed back by Claude Davis to Chris Lucketti, who in turn found Dickson Etuhu, but he headed wide.

Dyer didn't unduly trouble Lonergan with a shot soon after, and then the Watford striker fired wide of the near post after being picked out by a Neal Ardley pass and outpacing Davis.

Etuhu hit a tame shot at Lee after 13 minutes, and then Fuller went close with a low shot from the edge of the area that shaved the outside of the Watford keeper's left-hand upright.

The home side's next opportunity came on 18 minutes after a Hornets attack broke down; Healy finding Cresswell, whose shot was parried behind by Lee. Then Fuller struck an acrobatic attempt wide after Lewis and Healy had worked a short-corner routine down the right flank.

After a period of pressure, Preston made it count on 34 minutes. Davis swung a long free-kick into the area, Cresswell won the header and reacted quickest, spinning free and hitting a low cross-shot from a tight angle inside the far post to make it 1-0.

The home side thought they had doubled their advantage four minutes before the interval when Fuller, breaking in from the right, jinked past two defenders before hitting a shot that bounced down off the bar. Lewis beat Cox to the loose ball to turn it in, but the referee disallowed the goal for handball and booked the left midfielder.

Webber lashed a cross-shot high and wide to waste what had been a promising situation for the Hornets, who almost pulled level in injury-time when Devlin managed to wriggle free in the area and pick out Ardley, and his well-hit shot was deflected behind by Lucketti. From the resultant corner, Gunnarsson headed over, as the visitors ended the first 45 minutes of the season a goal down.

But within a minute of the restart Watford were back on level terms. Paul Mayo struck an excellent low cross from the left that was too far ahead of Dyer but Devlin, at the back post, stuck out his right leg to divert the ball into the roof of the net.

The Hornets went close again five minutes later when Mahon managed to work himself some space before finding Gunnarsson, whose shot from the edge of the area flew wide of the far post.

Watford had a let-off on 55 minutes though, when a driven Healy cross hit Mayo on the arm. Then Lewis escaped down the left before delivering a cross that was headed goalwards by Healy, but the covering Sean Dyche did well to clear a yard from the line.

The visitors made their first change just after the hour, with Helguson replacing Dyer, only for his side to almost go behind soon after when Fuller jinked his way in from the right by-line and pick out Cresswell, but his overhead kick cleared the target. Then Fuller got behind Mayo but Dyche again did well to cut out the pull-back from the goal-line. Next Brian O'Neil tried his luck from 20 yards, but his shot flew over.

But with 15 minutes remaining Preston retook the lead; Healy sending Lee the wrong way from the penalty spot after Devlin had needlessly brought down Lewis when the player was facing away from goal.

Watford immediately pitched Ashley Young into the fray, taking off Ardley, while Andy Smith replaced Eric Skora. Then Hameur Bouazza came on for Jack Smith.

But with nine minutes left, Watford let a great opportunity pass. Like Devlin, Smith foolishly bundled over Young just inside the area. Cox stepped up and went for power to Lonergan's right, but the keeper read his intentions and made an excellent save.

Another great opportunity went begging with five minutes left when Devlin cut inside Lewis and found Mahon, who opened up the shooting opportunity but dragged a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the far post with Lonergan stranded.

Preston, with Alan McCormack on for Fuller, could have made the game safe when they broke on the counter with two minutes to go. Cresswell's initial shot hit Mayo in the face, but the ball fell kindly to Healy, who screwed his follow-up high and wide.

But then Watford spurned another late opportunity to equalise. Bouazza did well to hold off Mawene on the left side of the area before delivering a low ball across the six-yard box that only required a touch, which the unmarked Helguson couldn't apply as the ball fizzed past him and with it went the Hornets' hopes of a point.

Preston North End: Lonergan; Mawene, Lucketti, Davis; Skora, Etuhu, O'Neil, Lewis; Healy, Fuller, Cresswell. Substitutes: Smith for Skora after 77 mins; McCormack for Fuller after 87 mins; Daley, Brown and Ward not used.

Watford: Lee; Smith, Cox, Dyche, Mayo; Devlin, Gunnarsson, Mahon, Ardley; Dyer, Webber. Substitutes: Helguson for Dyer after 61 mins; Young for Ardley after 77 mins; Bouazza for Smith after 79 mins; Blizzard and Chamberlain not used.

Bookings: Lewis for deliberate handball after 41 mins.

Referee: Mike Pike.