FORGET the story of the Owl and the Pussy Cat, tonight's tale was one of the Owl and the Hornet as Malky Mackay's men gave Sheffield Wednesday a nasty sting in an entertaining show in front of the television cameras.

Friday was not Wednesday's night as Watford blasted four past the Sheffield outfit in front of a crowd of over 14 thousand fans and millions watching the game unfold live on Sky Sports.

Tom Cleverley returned to the Watford squad after suffering from a knock to the head at Middlesbrough last weekend. The England U21 player took the place of John Eustace in midfield, with the former Stoke captain dropping down to the bench. Heidar Helguson was still missing for the Golden Boys while he continued to recover from his calf injury. Richard Lee was also unavailable for the 'Orns, meaning that 16-year-old Academy 'keeper Jonathan Bond continued on the substitutes' bench.

Brian Laws brought his side to Hertfordshire off the back of Saturday's defeat to Preston North End. Darren Purse captained the Owls, while Wednesday's men to look out for included Jermaine Johnson, Luke Varney and Marcus Tudgay.

As the only Friday game in the Championship kicked off at Vicarage Road, a loud cheer from the Yellow Army bellowed through the cold air. Sheffield Wednesday had the first chance of the match in the second minute of the game, showing their hosts that were not going to take this encounter lightly. Marcus Tudgay got his head to the ball deep inside the six yard box, but Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach breathed a sigh of relief as the ball went wide of his right post.

Danny Graham answered back for Watford as he whizzed through midfield, passing the ball nicely to Don Cowie, but the Scotsman just missed getting on the end of it. This first chance spurred the Hornets on as they continued to pile on the pressure with Cowie getting another chance but his cross was blocked by Lewis Buxton.

Wednesday shook the Watford crowd as Loach had to scramble for the ball to save another shot from dangerman Tudgay. A shot from Jermaine Johnson then needed a powerful clearance from captain Adrian Mariappa to ensure that the score was kept level.

Tudgay continued the onslaught of his goal, with Loach making a comfortable save for the Hornets. If the first 15 minutes were anything to go by, the match was beginning to look like the Tudgay v Loach show as chance after chance was denied by the England U21 goalkeeper. But the direction of the game took a sharp turn as Watford grew in confidence in front of the home crowd.

On 18 minutes, youngster Ross Jenkins was forced off and was replaced by John Eustace. Seconds after the substitution, Henri Lansbury received the ball from Cowie's corner but he blasted the ball just wide of the post.

Three minutes later, the Hornets capitalised on their newly-found dominance of the match as Cowie sailed in a beautiful corner, which was picked up by Eustace and crossed to his skipper Mariappa who then slammed home the ball for the Hornets.

Mariappa celebrates his goal with teammates Henri Lansbury and Danny Graham

Lansbury scored his first goal for the Hornets and Watford's second of the night in quick succession on 25 minutes.  Fellow loanee Cleverley picked out the Arsenal youngster, who played a one-two off his own feet before guiding the ball underneath Owls 'keeper Lee Grant. The Hornets now had a two goal advantage with 25 minutes on the clock. Cleverley then forced a diving save from Grant as he shot a low and forceful ball goalwards on 32 minutes.

Sheffield Wednesday replied to Watford's lead on the stroke of half time. Scott Loach was left helpless after a quick ball in from Tommy Spurr found the head of Tudgay who had been a goal threat right from the first kick. The teams returned to the dressing room after an action-packed first half with both sides having it all to play for in the second.

After a cagey start to the second half, Jon Harley came into his own on 54 minutes, as his cheeky header glanced wide of the post. Seconds later, the midfielder scored a beautiful goal, smashing the ball into the far corner after a great pass from talented youngster Lansbury.

Jon Harley watches as his goal sails in

As the clock struck 56 minutes, the crowd were pinching themselves as Lloyd Doyley had a chance off a delivery from Harley. Doyley's head directed the ball narrowly past the right hand post, as the defender threatened his first ever professional goal.

Cleverley was true to his name as he dribbled masterfully through the ball through the Wednesday defence, cutting back for Lansbury to easily score on 60 minutes. It was Lansbury's second of the evening as he thrived under the lights at Vicarage Road.

Lansbury blasts the ball home

The Hornets were in real command of the game, showing effortless skill and intelligent teamwork.

Wednesday tried to get back in the game with 71 minutes on the clock, as a challenge on substitute Akpo Sodje by Watford's Craig Cathcart resulted in a free kick for the visitors. Darren Potter took the set piece for the Owls, creating a chance for Etienne Esajas, who proceeded to slam a ball from long range that went wide of Loach's post.

Super-sub Nathan Ellington entered the field on 76 minutes, replacing Scotsman Cowie, who was given a standing ovation by the home fans in the Rookery stand after an excellent performance from Watford's number seven.

With seven minutes of normal time remaining, goalscorer Harley was substituted after a knock on the head and Scott Severin got a run out for the Golden Boys.

Lansbury runs towards the fans in celebration

Cathcart then fell to the floor after a strong block to deny the visitors a chance on Loach's goal through a shot from Spurr. The Northern Irish international got to his feet after a few minutes, shaking himself off as the minutes added up for injury time.

The fourth official indicated an additional four minutes onto Sheffield Wednesday's pain as the Hornets were comfortably passing the ball to each other, teasing their northern counterparts with their continued dominance.

As the final whistle blew on the Golden Boys' best result of the season, the crowd were all on their feet, sharing the great victory with their heroes on the pitch as the team embraced each other and clapped their faithful Vicarage Road supporters.

WATFORD: Loach (gk); Hodson, Cathcart, Mariappa (c), Doyley; Cleverley, Cowie (Ellington 76), Jenkins (Eustace 18), Harley (54) (Severin 83); Lansbury (25, 60); Graham. Subs not used: Bennett, Henderson, Bryan, Bond (gk).

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Grant (gk); Spurr, Purse (c), Beevers, Buxton; O'Connor (Miller 45), Potter, Tudgay, Gray (Esajas 45); Johnson (Sodje 62), Varney. Subs not used: Hinds, McAllister, Jeffers, O'Donnell.   

GOALS: WATFORD; Mariappa 21, Lansbury 25 + 60, Harley 54, WEDNESDAY; Tudgay 45,

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; none WEDNESDAY; none 

SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none WEDNESDAY; none.

ATTENDANCE: 14, 591 (away 781).