Tom Cleverley enjoyed the perfect start to life as Watford's Interim Head Coach as an Emmanuel Dennis strike sealed all three points against Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

Dennis pounced on a defensive error shortly before half-time to hand the Hornets their first Sky Bet Championship victory in five attempts.

Struggling Birmingham did enjoy significant spells of pressure but the visiting defence was expertly marshalled and held firm, giving the new man a hugely important win in his first match in charge.

Cleverley made two changes from the 2-1 defeat against Coventry City last weekend, with Mattie Pollock named as Ryan Porteous’ partner in the centre of defence in place of the suspended Wesley Hoedt.

Jamal Lewis also missed out at left-back due to a foot injury, leading to a start for James Morris.

Daniel Bachmann remained in goal and wore the captain’s armband in Hoedt’s absence, while Giorgi Chakvetadze was fit to start after being forced off at half-time against Coventry with an ankle knock.

Formation-wise, the new boss kept faith with the Hornets’ familiar 4-3-3 shape, while the former Under-18s Lead Coach named academy right-back Albert Eames among his substitutes.

Jordan James nodded a header over the bar for the Blues in the opening action of the half before Kōji Miyoshi fired wide from the edge of the box when handily placed.

Watford grew into the game with an effective spell of passing but they could not fashion a chance and Ethan Laird grazed the top of the bar with a header from a corner at the other end.

It was the hosts who continued to look the more likely and the Hornets were grateful that Juninho Bacuna’s shot from a cutback was blocked by Porteous before it could find the target.

Watford were living dangerously and a Jay Stansfield cross was just about cleared to send Yáser Asprilla away on a swift counter-attack.

The Colombian could only manage a weak shot, however, when a pass to Chakvetadze looked like a better option.

Cleverley’s men perhaps found some encouragement from the move as Tom Dele-Bashiru bent a shot over the top before Dennis helped on Ryan Andrews’ cross and sent it wide.

With half-time approaching, an Emanuel Aiwu header from a Miyoshi corner was well held by Bachmann, and the same player was then caught napping at the back as the Hornets took the lead in the 44th minute.

Dennis took full advantage to dispossess the Blues man as he dithered in the danger zone, before slamming a finish past John Ruddy.

An energised Dennis even had time to try and double Watford’s advantage but Ruddy got down to tip his half-volley around the post.

From the resulting corner, Asprilla sent a shot into the side netting as the Hornets went in with a half-time lead in an away game for the first time this season.

The Hornets started the second-half brightly and Pollock came close to heading in from a corner, with his effort bundled away near the line.

Asprilla then whipped in a cross which Lee Buchanan could only head over the top of his own bar.

Birmingham wasted a glorious chance to level when a strong run from Stansfield into the box eventually saw the ball fall to Ivan Šunjić, who sliced wide from close range with the target begging to be hit.

A fine run by Asprilla saw him keep the ball in play when close to the goalline but the angle was too tight and Ruddy was able to save.

As the game became more open, Bacuna tried his luck from range but was unable to test Bachmann.

The Austrian was certainly needed moments later, however, as he batted away Miyoshi’s powerful effort two-handed to keep the Hornets in front.

Cleverley made a change up front on 63 minutes with Vakoun Bayo introduced for goalscorer Dennis.

It was a switch which nearly had instant results as the striker latched on to Edo Kayembe’s pass before angling a shot only just wide of the far post.

A strong Porteous challenge was needed to stop a James run in its tracks before Miyoshi missed the target from the right-hand side of the area.

Birmingham began to raise their intensity and Watford needed to weather the storm during a frantic period.

Tom Ince and Matheus Martins came on for Chakvetadze and Ismaël Koné in a bid to shift the momentum but Aiwu then headed a corner wide.

Kayembe and Bayo combined again with the ball ending on the roof of the net as the Hornets looked for calm in the final five.

A defensive switch saw Asprilla withdrawn for Francisco Sierralta but Blues sub Tyler Roberts was next to go close as he shot straight at Bachmann.

Seung-ho Paik thundered a volley over the bar as Watford held out to begin the Cleverley era in the best possible fashion.