West Brom rode their luck at Vicarage Road to clinch their first away win of the season thanks to Lee Hughes' second half header.
The Baggies may have been fortunate to claim the points, but there will be no complaints from their travelling fans who witnessed only two victories away from home in the last 12 months.
Boss Gary Megson said: "Yes we rode our luck and Watford put us under pressure in the first half. But if we have any ambition for a successful season and realise the expectation we have of winning away from home." The Baggies boss expected pressure from Watford but even he admitted: "We were put under too much pressure and we had to change things at half time." Watford dominated the first 50 minutes but seldom looked likely to break down a stubborn Baggies rearguard.
Hornets boss Ray Lewington said: "Albion allow you to have a lot of the ball in your own half and sit back and invite you onto them. You have to try and work your way through them but it was not often we looked like scoring." The nearest to a first half goal came when Neal Ardley's corner was met by Neil Cox whose powerful header was tipped over the bar with a fine save from Russell Hoult.
Megson brought on Jason Koumas but, before he wasted their best opening to date, James O'Connor was forced to clear a Marcus Gayle header off the line.
Then Koumas was sent clear by Hughes but Alec Chamberlain frustrated him with a good stop.
Two minutes later West Brom were ahead when a poorly cleared corner fell to Andy Johnson. His shot bounced off Cox to give Hughes an easy header from six yards.
The impressive Thomas Gaardsoe was there to block a shot from Watford's Danny Webber and O'Connor again cleared off the line but, although Watford produced a number of shots, they rarely looked like grabbing an equaliser.