Watford finally won a Premier League match in 2018/19 at the 12th attempt as goals from Gerard Deulofeu and substitute Andre Gray gave them a 2-0 win at Norwich City in a bottom-of-the-table game on Friday.
The result lifted Watford two places to 18th on eight points while promoted Norwich, who are without a win since beating champions Manchester City at Carrow 3-2 on September 14, dropped to the foot of the table on seven points.
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores acknowledged the early goal was crucial and praised the club's long-suffering fans for sticking with the players.
"You score early and the team becomes more strong and more solid," he told Sky Sports. "I think for us the first feeling is that it is something special for the fans. We wanted to dedicate it to the fans because they have supported for a long time."
Goalkeeper Ben Foster, Watford's standout player in an otherwise dismal campaign up till now, said it was a weight off the players' mind to finally register their first Premier League win since March.
"It's been a while, near six months, it's ridiculous. There's only so long you can say its going to come and we're so glad it has tonight."
Spanish forward Deulofeu fired the visitors into a second-minute lead when he robbed Emiliano Bouendia of the ball on halfway, cut inside a defender and drove a crisp low shot past Tim Krul.
Gray, who came on for the injured Roberto Pereyra on the half-hour mark, had a shot blocked in the 33rd minute before Bouendia blazed his effort high and wide at the other end.
Spaniard Deulofeu then turned provider in the 52nd minute when his cross was met by Gray whose deflected back-heel beat Krul at the near post.
The visitors had defender Christian Kabasele sent off midway through the second half for a second booking but still looked dangerous on the break as Norwich failed to create chances.
Norwich's German manager Daniel Farke was furious with his team's performance.
"If you start such an important game with such a nursery mistake it doesn’t help the confidence or the mood," he said.
"We are disappointed, annoyed. We are playing in the best league in the world and you can’t make these mistakes."
