Troy Deeney double sinks sorry Aston Villa

Watford 3 Aston Villa 2

Deeney wrote in his pre-match programme notes that he took no pleasure in Villa’s plight.

But you would not have known it after watching him celebrate a 90th-minute equaliser, followed by a winner deep into stoppage time.

“We’ll take that — and to score two against Villa was definitely a nice feeling,” said Deeney.

Villa twice led at Vicarage Road through Ciaran Clark’s header and Jordan Ayew’s strike, which sandwiched a fine free-kick from Almen Abdi.

The beleaguered midlanders, who had Aly Cissokho sent off with 15 minutes left, could not hold out as Deeney condemned them to a club record 11th straight defeat.

WATFORD: Gomes, Paredes (Berghuis 57), Cathcart, Britos, Anya, Abdi, Mario Suarez, Watson, Jurado (Amrabat 71), Deeney, Ighalo.

Subs not used: Nyom, Prodl, Ake, Guedioura, Pantilimon.

ASTON VILLA: Bunn, Clark, Lescott, Toner, Hutton, Westwood, Bacuna, Gana (Sinclair 88), Cissokho, Ayew (Sanchez 79), Gestede.

Subs not used: Guzan, Richards, Veretout, Gil, Grealish.

Referee: Anthony Taylor