Championship: Troy Deeney sends Watford top and Middlesbrough move into second

Troy Deeney's double put Watford 2-0 up over Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, sending his team top of the Championship on 72 points with Middlesbrough just behind on goal difference after beating Derby County.

Watford manager Slavisa Jokanovic hailed striker Troy Deeney after his double piled the misery on Wigan Athletic.

The club moved to the top of the Championship with eight matches to go thanks to a 2-0 win at relegation-threatened Wigan.

Wigan made Watford fight all the way for their win, but in the end they were undone by the clinical finishing of Deeney.

Jokanovic was signed for Watford during Malky Mackay’s time in charge.

“He is in a good moment of form, which is good news for us,” Jokanovic said. “The first goal was really out of nothing, and he attacked the ball well.

“I am also happy with how he is working without the ball, and pressing the opposition centre-backs.”

Jokanovic believes his side deserved three points, which allowed them to take advantage of Bournemouth’s slip-up at Cardiff City and reach move to the top of the table.

“We came here with respect for the home team, and we were not sure what we were going to find from them and the pitch,” he said.

“We started the game a little bit waiting what was going to happen, and in the first half it was 50-50.

“In the second half we played with more offensive play, we scored a goal and we then could have scored more. We did score a second goal at the end, but I feel we played better and we deserved that win.”

Wigan coach Mackay agreed Deeney had been the difference between the sides in an otherwise tight encounter.

“He’s a terrific centre-forward, absolutely terrific – that’s why I brought him to Watford in the first place,” Mackay said. “I feel he’s far and away the best centre-forward in this division. He’s an all-rounder. When we played down at Watford earlier in the season, he popped up with the winner.

“Quite rightly, because of his hard work, he will end up in the Premier League – one way or another.”

Bournemouth, meanwhile, after starting the evening on top, slipped to third after a 1-1 draw at Cardiff.

Harry Arter fired them into an early lead with a heavy shot from 25 yards, but Bruno Manga powered in a header to equalise in the second half.

Middlesbrough are second on goal difference thanks to Patrick Bamford’s 16th goal of the season, which secured a 1-0 victory at promotion rivals Derby County.

Bamford struck in the 64th minute, latching on to Lee Tomlin’s through-ball and skipping past Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant before firing home.

Norwich City moved to fourth after a crazy last few seconds at Huddersfield Town.

Wes Hoolahan had cancelled out Ishmael Miller’s opener but James Vaughan appeared to have won it for Huddersfield with a stoppage-time penalty.

But Vaughan was sent off for his celebration and moments later Norwich’s Jamar Loza scored an equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw.

Andre Gray’s late goal kept Brentford in the play-off places as they sank Blackburn Rovers 3-2 at Ewood Park.

Brentford twice came from behind as goals from Chris Long and Jota nullifed strikes from Rudy Gestede and Chris Taylor. Gray bundled in his 15th goal of the season six minutes from time to snatch a dramatic victory.

Ipswich Town stay a point behind Brentford after Jay Tabb’s scuffed shot bounced through a crowd of players and into the net to sink Bolton Wanderers 1-0.

Wolverhampton Wanderers also remain in the hunt as goals from Bakary Sako, Benik Afobe and James Henry wrapped up a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

At the bottom, Blackpool were shoved closer to relegation to League One by a familiar face as they went down 3-0 at home to Charlton Athletic.

Chris Eagles, who scored for Blackpool at Charlton in December, grabbed the opener and further goals from Simon Church and Johann Berg Gudmundsson left Blackpool 18 points adrift of safety with eight matches left.

Millwall also remain deep in relegation trouble after a goalless draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

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