WATFORD have their first win of the new season after Marlon King and Darius Henderson took their combined strike tally to five goals in three games to fire the Hornets to an impressive 3-1 victory in front of the live Sky cameras at Cardiff City on Friday, August 12.

Adrian Boothroyd's men were dominant for large periods and the only disappointment was they conceded, because a vastly-improved defensive display deserved a clean sheet.

However, Cameron Jerome's strike was scant consolation for the Bluebirds, as Watford had already scored three away from home for the second time in a week thanks to two King strikes, sandwiched either side of a Henderson header.

Boothroyd made three changes to the side which drew 3-3 at Plymouth, but lined up with the team that finished that match. Gavin Mahon and Paul Devlin were both in from the start, while Jordan Stewart replaced the injured Lloyd Doyley, with James Chambers switching across to right-back. Anthony McNamee and Al Bangura were demoted to the bench and Junior Osborne was called in as defensive cover.

Cardiff included all three ex-Hornets in their line-up Neal Ardley, Neil Cox and Jermaine Darlington while Phil Mulryne came in for Willie Boland, but star signing Jason Koumas again had to be content with a place on the bench, as he was for the mid-week victory over Leeds.

But unlike Tuesday when they fell behind early on, Watford got off to the ideal start after six minutes. A Ben Foster clearance was flicked on by Henderson to King, who jinked around Darren Purse before unleashing a superb 20-yard right-footed curling drive past Neil Alexander and into the bottom right-hand corner.

The scorer had another opportunity soon after when Devlin clipped over a cross from the right but King headed down and wide of the far post from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Hornets continued to control affairs, and they were only denied a second after 23 minutes thanks to some brilliant defending by Darlington. Devlin played a ball down the right touchline to Dominic Blizzard, who flicked on but was clearly held back as he turned. However, referee Uriah Rennie played a good advantage and the Hornets midfielder broke free to advance into the right side of the area. His centre across the six-yard box was flicked goalwards by Henderson and, although Alexander blocked it, the ball ran loose towards the far post where Ashley Young looked to have a simple tap-in, but Darlington did superbly to get in front of his ex-team-mate and clear.

Cardiff finally mustered their first attempt on the half-hour when Jerome was released down the inside right channel but he struck an angled, rising drive wide of the near post.

The Bluebirds did come more into the game after that chance, but they were still not stretching the visitors, although Jeff Whitley wasn't far wide with a shot on 38 minutes after Paul Parry had teed the ball up for the midfielder.

Two minutes later, Watford had an opportunity to extend their lead when King played a ball square from the left to Devlin, who advanced into the area before striking a low drive which Alexander dived to his right to get both hands to, but the Hornets were good value for their 1-0 lead at the break.

Cox failed to emerge for the second-half and was replaced by Glenn Loovens, but although Cardiff upped their game after the restart, it was the visitors who had the first opening after 50 minutes when Henderson pulled free at the far post to head a Devlin cross down but straight at Alexander. But within 60 seconds and with a carbon copy of that move the Hornets did double their lead. Devlin swept over a deep cross to the far post, Henderson headed down and Alexander was unable to stop the ball going inside his near post after it clipped the back of Darren Purse's head.

The home side played their hand on 57 minutes, bringing on Koumas and Alan Lee for Mulryne and Parry, before Jerome tried his luck from distance but Foster got down to the shot that was going wide anyway.

But Watford made the game safe with their third after 66 minutes. Mahon was teed up around 25 yards from goal for a shot, which was blocked but broke for King to the left side of the six-yard box, and he struck a rising left-footed effort which deflected off the shin of Loovens and past Alexander.

McNamee came on for Young after 74 minutes, but with 11 minutes left Cardiff pulled a goal back they scarcely deserved. The ball was played down the inside left channel to Jerome, who got goalside of the Hornets defence. Foster, who was always second favourite, made the decision to charge out and Jerome nicked it past him before sliding the ball into the unguarded net from the right side of the area.

Watford should have restored their three-goal cushion after 84 minutes when McNamee outfoxed Darlington on left before striking a deep cross, which King met at the far post and headed down to the unmarked Blizzard, who placed his shot too close to Alexander.

Foster had few problems in dealing with a Koumas 25-yard free-kick soon after, and then Bangura was given a brief run-out in place of Devlin, but the visitors encountered no more problems in completing a second successive victory at Ninian Park.

Cardiff City: Alexander; Darlington, Cox, Purse, Barker; Cooper, Mulryne, Whitley, Ardley; Jerome, Parry. Substitutes: Loovens for Cox after 45 mins; Koumas and Lee for Mulryne and Parry after 57 mins; Weston and Margetson not used.

Watford: Foster; Chambers, Carlisle, DeMerit, Stewart; Devlin, Blizzard, Mahon, Young; King, Henderson. Substitutes: McNamee for Young after 74 mins; Bangura for Devlin after 87 mins; Bouazza, Osborne and Chamberlain not used.

Bookings: None.

Attendance: 9,256.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)