Watford made it 13 points from a possible 15 on the road this season with a 1-0 win away to Sheffield United.

The Hornets took the lead after a frantic start to the match as Marvin Sordell scored his sixth of the season on 16 minutes.

The visitors had to deal with a lengthy spell under pressure in the second half but they regained control and secured another important three points.

Watford named the same starting XI which lost to Swansea City midweek, with the returning Dale Bennett the only change to the 18-man squad.

The home side on the other hand made two alterations with Stephen Quinn and Jean Calve coming in for Leon Britton and the injured Kyle Bartley.

There was a frantic start to the match as the Hornets once again attempted to play to their now customary high tempo early on.

This resulted in Don Cowie having a shot saved from distance after just 35 seconds but United also came out of the blocks quickly, with Stephen Jordon firing a shot wide of the far post soon after.

Both sides then had great chances to score a minute apart. A lovely sweeping move from Watford saw Danny Graham knock Andrew Taylor's cross back to the edge of the area and Cowie's low shot was heading for the bottom corner before Manchester United loanee Ritchie de Laet got the block in.

Sheffield United then when straight down the other end and Scott Loach needed to tip over a half volley from Mark Yeates on five minutes.

Yeates had a lively start to the match and the home crowd were appealing for a penalty when the former Tottenham trainee knocked the ball past Lloyd Doyley and then went down after the full back made a recovery challenge.

The Sheffield United winger then picked out Jordon at the back post from a corner and fortunately for Watford, his header was blocked.

Watford have had a habit of scoring early on in matches this season and they went ahead on 16 minutes when John Eustace's ball down the line released Danny Graham and the striker's low cross picked out Marvin Sordell, who slid in to finish from close range for his sixth of the season.

The game settled down after the goal and there was not another chance created from either side until the 45th minute.

It went the Blades way as Daniel Bogdanovic picked out Richard Cresswell on the penalty spot and his header was palmed away by Loach, to ensure Watford went into the break 1-0 up.

At half time Malky Mackay brought on Troy Deeney for Sordell as the goalscorer had been suffering with illness in the build up to the match.

There was an increase in tempo once more at the beginning of the second half and United almost grabbed an equaliser five minutes in.

Yeates sent in a dangerous inswinging cross and Loach was only able to parry the ball back into his six-yard box. Fortunately the ball went inbetween the three on-rushing United forwards and was cleared.

The Blades were on top early into the half and Watford were lucky not to be punished when Martin Taylor allowed Cresswell to beat him in the air and Bogdanovic's shot from the corner of the area went narrowly over.

Yeates then sliced an effort well wide from distance and soon after that, United once again failed to punish poor Watford defending.

Johnny Ertl was allowed space to pick out the unmarked Cresswell but his header was a little tame and Loach saved.

Watford were now completely on the back foot and were desperately fending off attack after attack for a while.

Adrian Mariappa made a goal-saving block as Cresswell was set to finish Jean Calve's low cross.

A minute later Eustace blocked a Cresswell shot and then Doyley had to head over from underneath his own crossbar as the United striker was set to finish from close range after a dangerous Stephen Quinn cross.

Watford managed to regain a foothold in the match with around 20 minutes to go and had a couple of chances in quick succession.

First Birmingham City loanee Jordon Mutch had a powerful deflected shot saved by Steve Simonsen and then Watford almost grabbed a second with just over ten minutes remaining.

Cowie sent a free kick to the far post and Martin Taylor knocked the ball back across the goalmouth toward Graham. The striker's header hit the side netting from close range.

The Hornets by now had regained control and Deeney and Eustace both dragged shots wide in the final five minutes.

There was a tense moment two minutes into injury time as Sheffield United had a free kick 20 yards out but Ched Evans low shot hit the wall.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Calve, Nosworthy, De Laet, Jordon; Yeates, Montgomery, Ertl (Evans 71), Quinn (Slew 86); Cresswell, Bogdanovic.

Subs: Morgan, Britton, Andy Taylor, Wright, Lowton.

Watford: Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, M Taylor, Andrew Taylor (Hodson 71); Eustace, Cowie, Mutch, Buckley (McGinn 61); Graham, Sordell (Deeney 45).

Subs: Gilmartin, Bennett, Walker, Bryan.

Attendance: 22,433.

Referee: Colin Webster.