Watford’s play-off hopes suffered a heavy blow as they were condemned to a disappointing 3-2 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town at Vicarage Road.

Yáser Asprilla marked his first start since late December with his maiden goal in yellow to put the Hornets ahead shortly after the half-hour, but Jack Rudoni’s neat finish put Neil Warnock’s charges back on level terms close to the interval.

A bright start to the second half was undone when Matty Pearson claimed a scrappy goal and then Kian Harratt later made it 3-1, and though substitute Britt Assombalonga notched a late consolation Watford ultimately weren’t able to get anything out of the game.

Defeat at home for the first time since Boxing Day leaves the Golden Boys 11th in the Sky Bet Championship table - and six points off the top six - with just six games remaining, and an away clash at Coventry City next up on Easter Monday (April 10, 3pm KO).

Head Coach Chris Wilder made two changes to the XI that started the defeat at Luton Town last time out (Saturday April 1), with João Ferreira and Asprilla coming in for Jeremy Ngakia and the injured Keinan Davis respectively, while João Pedro was handed the captain’s armband.

Huddersfield recorded the game’s first shot - with Daniel Bachmann untroubled by Danny Ward’s tame effort in the fourth minute - but the Hornets started brightly, with Ferreira and João Pedro signalling their intent early on.

Canada international Ismaël Koné unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the box in the 10th minute, as the hosts looked to up the tempo, though back at the other end Watford survived a melee in the box following a dangerous free-kick and then a corner.

Ferreira and João Pedro both fired attempts on target close to the 20-minute mark before Imrân Louza forced a good save from away stopper Tomáš Vaclík, as Watford controlled possession and edged closer to the afternoon’s opening goal.

Defender Ryan Porteous - already on a yellow card for a foul on Rudoni - soon made an important interception to stop the lively Ward in his tracks deep in home territory, and then the Terriers threatened again with Pearson shooting wide from close range.

But seconds later the Golden Boys did take the lead with Asprilla opening his account for the club in style, the Colombian youngster smashing a low left-footed shot past Vaclík from 20 yards to make it 1-0.

Asprilla almost doubled his tally in the 39th minute, but just couldn’t quite turn in a Koné pass close to the penalty spot, and on the stroke of half-time Rudoni latched on to a loose clearance to equalise for the visitors against the run of play, leaving it all square at the break.

Ngakia was introduced to the action for the second half - in place of Ferreira - and Watford burst out of the blocks, Asprilla again coming close to notching a second with a back-heeled attempt from a Ken Sema cross.

João Pedro was next to keep Huddersfield’s backline on red alert, heading narrowly off target after Wesley Hoedt did well to find him in the danger area, but the Hornets soon found themselves trailing when Pearson finished clinically from a tight angle in the 55th minute.

Assombalonga and Ismaïla Sarr were immediately brought on - for Koné and Craig Cathcart - and then Hassane Kamara replaced Asprilla after the latter picked up a knock, as the home side switched to a back four in search of a leveller.

A string of corners and teasing crosses yielded no reward and substitute Christian Kabasele was involved in a sideline dispute with his Huddersfield counterpart Harratt as frustrations grew going into the late stages.

Harratt added to the disappointment when he grabbed a third for Huddersfield in the 82nd minute - just moments after entering the action - before Assombalonga finished well to reduce the deficit in injury time and give the home fans a glimmer of hope of rescuing a point.

The Yorkshiremen survived a couple of penalty claims at the death, and there was drama when Bachmann was sent off following two quick-fire yellow cards, with Choudhury taking the goalkeeping shirt for the final few seconds, but the visitors held firm to deny the Hornets a share of the spoils.