Watford boosted by victory

Watford boosted their Premiership survival hopes as they produced a spectacular second-half display to claim their fourth league win of the season in a 4-2 victory over a jaded Portsmouth side.

Two goals from Hameur Bouazza - the first a penalty - and goals from Gavin Mahon and Tamas Priskin ensured Watford would head for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United in good heart.

Pompey had earlier taken the lead through Matthew Taylor, but their efforts in defeating United 2-1 two days ago seemed to have exhausted them, and an 81st-minute strike from substitute Arnold Mvuemba was their only happy moment in the remainder of the game.

Pompey took the lead through a wonderful strike from Taylor after 16 minutes. Priskin gave the ball away to Sean Davis, who transferred it to Taylor and he was allowed to curl a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.

However, Priskin made up for his mistake by winning the 27th-minute penalty which led to the equaliser, deceiving Djimi Traore, who tripped him. Bouazza confidently sent David James the wrong way from the spot.

Watford seized the lead thanks to Mahon's superbly-struck effort in stoppage time. Tommy Smith's cross was punched by James to Mahon, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from 20 yards for his first goal of the campaign.

Watford then scored one of their best goals of the season in the 51st minute. Bouazza burst into Pompey territory before passing to Steven Kabba, who had time to pick out Priskin at the far post and he volleyed home.

But Pompey should have halved the deficit in the 58th minute when Kanu evaded three Watford defenders inside the box before crashing a shot against the crossbar.

However, Watford scored their fourth in the 72nd minute via Bouazza. Collecting Kabba's return pass, Bouazza had his first shot blocked by James but drilled home the rebound from six yards.

In the 80th minute Mvuemba replaced Davis and the switch paid immediate dividends when the Frenchman controlled a Gary O'Neil cross and volleyed in from 12 yards.