Whatever the Premier League will look like amid controversial talk of a Super League, the Hornets took a giant step to ensuring they will be part of life in the top-flight of English football with a hugely significant win at Norwich City.

In completing the double over Daniel Farke's side in what must surely rank as their performance of the season given the opposition and what was at stake, the Golden Boys are now in the box seat when it comes to that second automatic promotion spot. The celebrations when the winning goal from Dan Gosling went in and at full-time showed this team and indeed this club very much want to be in the top tier of the cherished football pyramid in this country.

There were towering performances everywhere in securing a 12th win in 15 matches, but it was kind of fitting that three players who know all about the fabric of football in this country, at a time when its very existence is being threatened, shone brightest. Tom Cleverley was magnificent and was a dynamo in midfield, running box to box, snapping into tackles and almost making it his personal mission to drag the team over the line. It was an extraordinary performance from someone who hasn't started a game since the win over Wycombe at the start of March.

Will Hughes was not far behind and, restored to his favoured position, he played with wonderful maturity and control after picking up an early booking. He really is a fabulous player and read the game and the situation beautifully. He has emerged a real leader of this group and by the end he was calming down William Troost-Ekong who was unhappy with the late use of an arm by a Norwich player.

Craig Cathcart's contribution should also not be overlooked. In only his second start since February, the Nothern Irishman was rock solid in the unfamiliar position of right back and this was an individual performance that had shades of Nigel Gibbs at St Andrew's in 1999 about it. He was so composed on the right-hand side of the back four and brought a real calmness to proceedings on what could have been a fraught night, also allowing Ismaïla Sarr to run forward carefree knowing Cathcart had the back door shut.

Xisco Muñoz also deserves enormous credit, from getting this one right tactically, freshening the team up with key and experienced heads and also using his bench very effectively. The Spaniard was right: the Luton defeat was a blip. He loved the 1-0 win he got over the Canaries at Vicarage Road as it set the tone for what was to follow, and he'll cherish this one just as much given the stakes. Sweet Caroline will have been sung loud and proud after this big, big win.

The Hornets made the sort of start that fell squarely into the blistering category. They had more attempts on goal inside eight minutes than they did in 90 at Kenilworth Road and you did wonder how the derby may have panned out had the Hornets played with this sort of intensity.

Alas, the Golden Boys pinned the Canaries in their own half for the first 15 minutes and the champions-elect didn't really get a kick. Muñoz promised we could see the Watford the fans have fallen back in love with since February and he was dead right.

Causing havoc down the right with Ismaïla Sarr making raid after raid down that channel, the Hornets swarmed all over the home side in what must rank as their most all-action start of the season, better even than the one against Bristol City. You knew the Golden Boys were at it when the returning Cleverley and Cathcart executed steals high up the field.

The chances then flowed thick and fast on the back of the highest of presses. On more than one occasion, the Hornets had every man in black in the Norwich half and regularly got five men in the box. Gosling was the most advanced of the midfielders and he had four chances inside half an hour. The Hornets only had five in total on Saturday.

Sarr was the strike weapon and it was quite the ask for Xavi Quintilla to shackle him in only his second league start since the end of October. The Senegal flier saw one with his left foot saved by Tim Krul and then another kept out from point-blank range by the Dutchman who had just brilliantly kept out one bound for the bottom corner from Ken Sema. There was also more than a decent shout for a penalty following what looked like a foul on the free-running Sarr. Quite how the visitors weren't at least a goal up at the break was mystifying.

Norwich had a little spell in the middle of the half, serving to highlight just how important it is to score when on top against sides who possess this sort of danger going forward. Todd Cantwell and Kieran Dowell looped deflected efforts over and wide; Cleverley had to make a very well-timed interception on Cantwell as he drove into the box and Adam Masina had to bravely wear one from a Dowell free-kick. It was expected that Norwich, who have lost once at home since early October, would have their moments, but no-one quite expected the visitors to have such control of the game and play so thrillingly.

Muñoz would have simply asked at half-time for more of the same and that's what he got at the start of the second. Sarr scooped one over with his left foot, Cleverley had two cracks from the edge of the box in quick succession and then Gosling, finally, got the goal the Hornets thoroughly deserved, opening up his foot and steering a centre from João Pedro first time past Krul. It was a big, big goal.

Gosling was replaced soon after having done his job and run his socks off. Nathaniel Chalobah was sent on to help see the team over the line and it was his through ball that had Andre Gray on the brink of scoring at this end of the ground for the second time in as many seasons. But Grant Hanley pulled off a superb recovery tackle to deny the substitute who had powered through the Norwich defence with a lovely well-timed run. Gray did the dirty work minutes later, tracking back to dispossess Cantwell in a move that got roars of approval from the bench and those sitting in the stands.

It was a bit hairy and nerve-jangling at the end, but promotion races always are. A 21st clean sheet of the season was just what the doctor ordered. The end is almost in sight and won't be too far away if they play anything like this in the remaining three games. Good times indeed never felt so good.