WATFORD claimed their fourth away win of the season this evening (Saturday) as they saw off the challenge of Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium and made another huge step to safety in the Championship.

Two goals within the first 20 minutes against what it must be said was a positive start to the game from the home outfit, struck a real blow to Rovers and their crowd.

That took the sting out of their punch for the rest of the afternoon, aside from a late flurry following Doncaster's first of the afternoon five minutes from time. 

Watford found themselves under pressure early doors but an own goal from Sam Hird and an excellent header from the hard-working and industrious Don Cowie sealed the win and gave the Golden Boys a safety comfort for the rest of the afternoon.

James Hayter's goal brought a few nervous moments at the end of the game but the 'Orns held on for a valuable three points.

That away win means the 'Orns can now look further up the table as the relegation battle hots up below them.

The Golden Boys paid their first visit to Doncaster since the 1970s this afternoon as they returned to league action after a two-week break due to international games.

Watford boss Brendan Rodgers selected the same starting XI who defended so resolutely at Ipswich a fortnight ago.

Watford's Jack Cork with John Spicer

However there were changes on the substitutes' bench. New signing Andrei Stepanov was included after he made his first Watford start for the reserves in midweek.

New loan signing Danny Rose was alongside him after he joined the Hornets from Spurs at the end of March, Rose returning to his hometown city of Doncaster.

Former Hornet James Chambers was presented with a player of the month award before the game and he took his place wide on the right, in front of the Doncaster back three.

Other familiar faces included experienced 'keeper Neil Sullivan, former Oldham man and captain Richie Wellens and frontman Paul Heffernan. 

It was the first ever visit to the Keepmoat Stadium for the 'Orns and with the end of the season rapidly approaching Rodgers has targeted two more wins - although of course he wants his men to finish the season on a high after impressive form since Christmas.

The Golden Boys had one defeat in their last five games coming into this Championship clash and after keeping a clean sheet at Portman Road they were after more of the same on the road.

The manager and staff look on

However it was the home side who looked far more settled and looked more likely to open the scoring.

During the opening exchanges they set their stall out early and put some pressure on the Watford backline.

The Golden Boys saw little of the ball and up top Tamas Priskin and Tommy Smith were unable to get hold of the ball and show what they're made of.

On three minutes, midfielder Martin Woods, who saw plenty of the ball, ran at the 'Orns after drifting in from the left flank and let fly at England under 21 'keeper Scott Loach.

Loach dealt with it well and palmed the shot away, then minutes later he was quick off his line after a precise ball through down the centre of the park.

The assistant referee had raised his flag anyway but Loach was showing confidence after his time away with The Three Lions.

Despite the bright start by the Yorkshire based outfit, it was Watford who turned a quick breakaway into the opening goal.

Cowie adds a second at the Keepmoat Stadium

Priskin skipped away down the right flank and broke into the penalty area at pace.

As he crept towards the byline it looked as if he would run out of pitch, but he clipped the ball back in with pace and it cannoned off a home defender and in past Sullivan.

The Watford players rolled away and celebrated and it looked as if Jobi McAnuff has touched it over the line initially but the own goal went to Doncaster centre half Sam Hird upon further inspection.

It now looked as if the home side would come back strong at the 'Orns but the away side tightened their stranglehold on the game by adding a second four minutes later.

Again the joy came down the right flank as Adrian Mariappa played his part, not for the first time in the afternoon as he saw plenty of the ball over the half way line and delivered some good crosses into the penalty box.

The Scotsman celebrates after his neat headed goal

The Academy graduate supported McAnuff down the right and swung in an excellent cross that Don Cowie latched on to. He got in front of his man and in slow motion his header looped into the top of the net.

Doncaster did then come back at the Hornets as they were being urged on by the home crowd inside the Keepmoat.

Rovers had a penalty shout on 23 minutes after Heffernan went to ground in the penalty area after Loach connected with it but the referee didn't accept the appeals.

Sean O'Driscoll made a change on 32 minutes by replacing the own goal scorer Hird with Dean Shiels.

There was another change three minutes later, this time for Watford, as Cowie was taken off after picking up a knock and on came loanee Rose.

In between the substitutions there was another chance for the 'Orns after some nice skill by Priskin down by the corner flag.

Danny Rose is introduced for his Watford debut

He turned Lockwood inside out and made for the area. With a defender struggling with him he went to ground much to the annoyance of the home crowd.

If the Hungarian had carried on he would have had an opportunity at goal and the support of his teammates in the box, but instead the home crowd were quick to let him know their feelings on the matter.

On 37 minutes there was a double scare for the Golden Boys as firstly Loach saved from a stinging low shot from the outside of the penalty box and then from the rebound another drive came in that Mariappa did well to chip away to safety. 

Sub Rose, playing against his hometown club, made a good introduction by teasing Chambers down the left flank and delivering a great cross on 41 minutes. His ball fizzed in across the area but no one was there to force a save from Sullivan.

Shiels was impressive when he came on for Doncaster too and his skill on the ball was causing some problems for the Golden Boys.

In time added on he curled a shot round Loach's post but it offered another indication that there was much more to come from the home side after the break and that the Hornets would have to carry on defending for their lives at the back.

The 'Orns come together following Cowie's header

After the break Shiels continued to look dangerous and he was the first man to test Loach with a well placed low shot that the Nottingham-born stopper did well to get to.

Rodgers made his second change of the afternoon just under 10 minutes in as Priskin was taken off and replaced by will Hoskins.

Within a minute he was in at goal after Rovers gave the ball away cheaply, with defenders breathing down his neck and Sullivan making himself hard to beat, the former Rotherham striker dragged his shot wide of the post, despite his excellent position.

Rose was tripped over outside the box on 56 minutes and Smith and McAnuff stood over the resulting free kick.

Smith touched it to McAnuff and he smashed the ball at goal, but he hit a defender en-route and for a split second it looked as he would make it 3-0.

That interception was a vital one and the ball flew out of play for a corner kick to the Hornets. It was a well struck free kick from McAnuff and looked to be perfectly placed to increase the Golden Boys' lead.

Cowie on the bench after limping off

Kazenga Lua-Lua came on for the home team on the hour mark and he tested the gloves of Loach after a long range shot from 25 yards out.

The Hornets still looked positive going forward and hadn't been troubled too much after the break from the expected onslaught from the Yorkshire side.

Doncaster were still probing away, but Jay DeMerit and Mike Williamson at the heart of defence were still standing strong and were comfortably dealing with whatever Doncaster had to throw at them.

Rose was proving to be a continuing threat during the second half down the left flank. His pace made a great outlet for the 'Orns as they looked to stretch the game and tire the home team.

Again he run at speed down the left and delivered an excellent cross that Hoskins will be disappointed with as he had time to compose himself in the area.

Rose was involved at the other end of the pitch in the 75 minutes as sub Lua-Lua was rightly booked for a late tackle on the Tottenham loanee.    

The game looked to be heading to a 2-0 win but a goal from substitute James Hayter sprung some life into Rovers and the crowd.

Hayter found space down the right and cut inside and curled a lovely shot round the body of Loach to set up an intriguing last five minutes.  
 
DONCASTER (3-1-4-2): Sullivan; Mills, Hird (Shiels 32), Lockwood; Wellens (c) (Lua-Lua 60);
Chambers, Wilson (Hayter 81) , Woods, Roberts; Heffernan, Spicer. Subs not used: Guy, Van Nieuwstadt.

WATFORD (4-4-1-1): Loach; Mariappa, M Williamson, DeMerit (c), Doyley; Cowie (Rose 35) (Harley 90+3), Jenkins, Cork, McAnuff; Smith; Priskin (Hoskins 54).  Subs not used: Lee (gk), Stepanov.

BOOKINGS: DONCASTER ROVERS; Lua-Lua (professional foul 75). WATFORD; none.

SENDINGS OFF: DONCASTER ROVERS; none. WATFORD; none.

GOALS: DONCASTER ROVERS; Hayter (85). WATFORD; Hird (OG) (13), Cowie (17).

ATTENDANCE: 12,126 (1,356 Watford supporters).

REFEREE: G Laws.