WATFORD ensured their Championship survival with a convincing 3-0 win over Reading at Vicarage Road

The Hornets were sent on their way on the half hour mark as Danny Graham opened the scoring and they then added two further goals after half time to see off the visitors.

It was a win that was thoroughly deserved for the home side as they were started strongly and continued with their momentum into the second half.

Malky Mackay made three changes for the visit of Brian McDermott's Reading at Vicarage Road.

In came Lloyd Doyley, Don Cowie and Heidar Helguson, while Dale Bennett and Stephen McGinn dropped down to the bench with Ross Jenkins missing out altogether due to injury.

Graham scores the first

The Royals contained plenty of familiar faces in their line-up with Jobi McAnuff in the starting XI, while Grzegorz Rasiak and Brynjar Gunnarsson were on the bench with Nigel Gibbs on the touchline, he was recognised by the Club before the game as he picked up the Hall of Fame award.

The home crowd was in good voice leading up to kick-off after the End of Season Awards had been presented before the game.

It was a sunny day in Hertfordshire and the visitors had brought with them a sizeable contingent from Berkshire.

The first opening of the match was created by the Golden Boys as Henri Lansbury sailed in a free kick. Captain John Eustace rose highest in the penalty area but he could only direct his header the wrong side of Adam Federici's post.

Shortly afterwards Eustace was the first player in the referee's notebook after a late challenge on former Golden Boy McAnuff brought the wide player down, although the Watford players were shocked after it looked as if McAnuff had taken the play out of play, but there wasn't agreement from the assistant referee and the tackle was suitably punished.

The striker finishes the game off with the third

Just after the quarter of an hour mark Watford created another opening but Gylfi Sigurdsson blocked Martin Taylor's shot on the line after a deep ball into the area from a Watford corner.

The Hornets continued to create the better chances as the half progress.

Next up Lansbury hit a free kick from the best part of 25 yards out that had Ferderici's scrambling across his goal, but the ball just slipped wide of the post at the Vicarage Road End.

On 27 minutes the Hornets were lucky not to concede a penalty as Taylor clumsily challenged Shane Long in the box and the striker went tumbling to the floor.

Referee Kevin Friend waved away the appeals from the Royals and almost immediately the Golden Boys went down the other end and opened the scoring.

Lee Hodson's low throw-in was flicked on by Helguson inside the penalty box to the back post, where Graham had found a bit of space.

He got his head to the ball and flicked it past the dive of Federici to grab the first goal of the afternoon.

Happy Hornets

Reading came straight back at the Hornets though and Jimmy Kebe was extremely unlucky not to get a boot to McAnuff's good delivery from the left flank.

It was a high-temp game now with Reading pushing forward looking for their equaliser and Watford still managing to put the visitors under pressure.

Graham had put in a terrific hard-working performance in attack, as he did a lot of running down the channels trying to stretch The Royals.

Two minutes of time was added on at the end of the first half but the scores stayed the same and the 'Orns went in 1-0 up at half time.

The second half started perfectly for the Golden Boys as they doubled their lead within two minutes of the re-start.

Mariappa and Loach at the end of the game

It came in front of The Rookery Stand as Cowie's ball in from the right made its way through a crowded box and Helguson smashed the ball home past the dive of Federici.

The goal lifted the Vicarage Road crowd and some of the nerves that had been around the stadium.  

The Hornets extended their lead on 55 minutes to further ease the jitters around WD18.

Graham can again be commended for his work-rate as it brought about the goal.

A long ball had been played over the head of Reading left back Andy Griffin.

The defender looked to have plenty of time to deal with the threat, but Graham closed him down and soon Griffin had slipped after playing the ball in the penalty area.

Graham latched onto the ball and hit a low shot past the Reading stopper to send Vicarage Road wild.

Graham came close to completing his hat-trick on 66 minutes but he couldn't keep his effort down.

A long ball had been played forward and Helguson had one tremendously well to flick the ball on into his path, but the former Carlisle man was again unable to keep his shot down.

Taylor celebrates at the final whistle

Watford continued to look for goals and Taylor saw his shot inside the area blocked after a nod-down from Graham at the far post.

Graham squandered further chances late on as his volley flew high over Federici's crossbar.

Both teams made a number of changes in the final 20 minutes, but the win sent the crowd home happy and ensured the Hornets will be playing Championship football next season.

WATFORD: Loach; Hodson (Bennett 72), Taylor, Mariappa, Doyley; Cowie, Eustace, Lansbury, Harley; Helguson (Sordell 73), Graham. Subs not used: Lee (gk), McGinn, Hoskins, Bryan, Mingoia.

READING: Federici; Bertrand, Mills (c), Khizanishvili, Griffin; Kebe (Robson-Kanu 69), Tabb (Rasiak 52), Sigurdsson, McAnuff; Howard, Long (Church 62). Subs not used: Gunnarsson, Karacan, Hamer (gk), Pearce. 

GOALS: WATFORD; Graham (30, 55), Helguson (47). READING; none.

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; Eustace (professional foul 10), Graham (ungentlemanly conduct 28), Taylor (ungentlemanly conduct 65). READING; Griffin (ungentlemanly conduct 52), Khizanishvili (professional foul 90+4).

SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none. READING; none.

ATTENDANCE; 15,949 (2,082 Royals).

REFEREE: K Friend.