Watford produced a stylish comeback on Boxing Day to beat Leicester City 2-1, moving to the brink of the Championship play-off places and deepening the Foxes' troubles. Jordan James fired Leicester in front early on, but Othmane Maamma's delightful strike on the stroke of half-time and Mattie Pollock's brave second-half header turned the game on its head at a raucous, chance-laden contest.
In a match rich with attacking intent and defensive uncertainty, both sides created and squandered clear opportunities. Egil Selvik recovered from a glaring error to keep Watford in the game, Imran Louza pulled the strings with two moments of incision, and Leicester were left to reflect on more missed chances and costly lapses as boos greeted the final whistle.
James Fires Leicester Ahead Against Early Flow
Watford began on the front foot, enjoying much of the early possession and looking comfortable in midfield, but it was Leicester who struck first with their very first opportunity. In the seventh minute Jordan Ayew found Jordan James just inside the penalty area after neat interplay on the edge of the box. James shifted the ball crisply onto his right foot and drove a low effort towards the bottom left corner, the shot taking a slight deflection that helped it beyond Selvik's reach.