Lack of size proves costly

The result, protested Watford's manager Graham Taylor, borrowing from his England management archives, might have been different if Brian Deane had been playing for Watford and not Middlesbrough.

"If Brian had been on the end of some of our crosses he might have produced something," he shrugged. "We lack a physical presence. It is difficult to think of a side in the Premiership without a six-foot plus centre forward, and I know Manchester United are exceptions. Tommy Smith could have a big future in this game but it is difficult when you are looking to a 19-year-old to be your saviour."

This was the club's ninth defeat in 11 matches and their sixth on the spin, and even before November Taylor is talking about the season's end. "A sprint finish always comes in handy," he said. "Who would have thought that we would have won promotion last season when there was just 10 games to go?

"But the important thing for me now is not to lose my nerve. If I get negative now, or lose my nerve or my rag, I cannot blame players if they do the same thing. At the end of the match I told them `Well played', and I thought they did battle well."

Taylor does not have a contract with the club but has verbally agreed to sign a new three-year deal. Before that, he is waiting to see the make-up of the new-look board following the recent restructuring which could secure the immediate financial future of the club.

Middlesbrough took the lead in the third minute when Juninho, on the left, crossed for Deane to get in ahead of his colleague Hamilton Ricard with his header, although Watford's Mark Williams got the final touch that put the ball past Alec Chamberlain.

They went 2-0 up in the 19th minute when Christian Ziege crossed from the left for Juninho to score. Watford pulled one back in the 54th minute when the impressive Smith cut inside two defenders before shooting past Mark Schwarzer.

A period of sustained pressure in the second half looked likely to salvage a point for Watford before Middlesbrough broke away once more for Paul Ince to settle the match by scoring via the inside of the right post.

"I would say the little man is virtually back to his best," said the Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson of Juninho before suggesting that Paul Gascoigne would have a battle to regain his place. This was the first time this season that a fit Gascoigne had failed to make even the bench.

Watford: Chamberlain, Gibbs (Easton 75), Williams, Page, Robinson, Hyde, Palmer, Johnson, Miller, Wooter, Smith. Subs Not Used: Ngonge, Day, Gudmundsson, Bonnot. Booked: Williams. Goals: Smith 53.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Fleming, Vickers, Pallister, Cooper, O'Neill, Juninho (Stamp 77), Ince, Ziege, Deane, Ricard (Armstrong 45). Subs Not Used: Beresford, Campbell, Gavin. Booked: Ziege. Goals: Williams 2 og, Juninho 18, Ince 83.

Referee: A Wiley (Walsall).