A fantastic strike from Matej Vydra has got Billy McKinlay’s reign as Watford boss off to a victorious start after the Hornets beat Brentford 2-1 in an entertaining contest at Vicarage Road tonight.

The hosts were in front at the break after Odion Ighalo had pounced to convert the rebound when David Button had saved his penalty after referee Graham Salisbury adjuged the Hornets front man had been tripped by James Tarkowski in the penalty area.

Ighalo had also seen a header hit the bar during a first half in which the hosts had looked impressive at times going forward. But there were also moments of concern for McKinlay’s men at the back and after starting the second half the better, Brentford levelled through Jonathan Douglas following a neat one-two with Andre Gray.

But what turned out to be the home side’s winner was a goal to savour; Vydra crashing home a superbly-struck half-volley from the edge of the penalty area that left Button grasping at thin air.

The Hornets had other opportunities to make sure of the points before they had to withstand a nervous finale when Daniel Pudil was sent off for a second yellow card and Heurelho Gomes had to make a superb save to keep out an injury-time header from the resultant free-kick.

The new Hornets head coach made three changes from Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Blackburn Rovers and also opted to switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Joel Ekstrand returned for the injured Gabriele Angella in defence, while the two other changes were on the flanks with Lloyd Dyer and, perhaps surprisingly, Diego Fabbrini coming in for Ikechi Anya and Sean Murray.

Fernando Forestieri was also ruled out of the match-day squad following the eye injury he sustained after coming off the bench at Ewood Park, but there was a place among the replacements for Bernard Mensah.

Brentford came into the game off the back of a 2-0 win over Leeds United and former Hornets academy boss Mark Warburton opted to make just the one change, as another Vicarage Road old face, Toumani Diagouraga, replaced Alex Pritchard in midfield.

There are a host of links between the two clubs and Jack Bonham was on the bench, but Tommy Smith and Richard Lee were both sidelined through injury.

The Hornets may have been playing a 4-2-3-1 shape out of possession, but it became a lot more fluid when they were attacking, as Gianni Munari was pushing on in midfield and Vydra had a degree of licence to roam in support of Ighalo.

Vydra’s potential influence soon became evident as, after Fabbrini came inside off the right flank and drove towards the area, he played a one-two with the Czech Republic international before he was challenged just as he looked set to pull the trigger.

Next, Vydra dropped off towards the left edge of the penalty area before cutting inside one attempted challenge and hitting a left-footed shot, which was deflected behind. Four Hornets corners then followed in relatively quick succession, two of which were awarded after Ighalo had seen efforts deflected behind.

The Hornets had started positively and were noticeably moving the ball forward at a quicker tempo, but they had to be careful when they lost possession, such as when Fabbrini was left on the floor and the visitors worked the ball forward, before Diagouraga dragged a shot wide from 20 yards.

But the Bees needed the wordwork to come to their rescue when Dyer took on and beat Alan McCormack for pace on the outside before standing up a cross from the by-line which Ighalo met well with his head, only to see his effort cannon back off the bar.

The home side’s next reasonable sight of goal came in the 21st minute when from their sixth corner of the evening to date, Bees keeper Button failed to deal with Daniel Tozser’s delivery from the right and the ball sat up for Vydra on the left side of the penalty area, but he was unable to keep his first-time effort down.

Pudil was the first player to be booked in the 26th minute after catching McCormack late and high. However, the Hornets were fortunate not to be undone soon after when, from another free-kick closer to their area, an out-swinging delivery picked out an unmarked Douglas towards the far post, but his effort was neither a shot nor a pull back and Gomes was able to gather.

Watford Observer:

Brentford were growing as a force by this stage as their hosts weren’t helping themselves by conceding possession too readily at times. And Gomes was forced into action again in the 32nd minute after Jota had left Juan Carlos Paredes and Ekstrand trailing in his wake as he danced into the area before hitting a rising drive which the Brazilian tipped over.

The visitors had another sight of an opening when a Moses Odubajo cross from the right was headed partially clear by Paredes, but the ball fell nicely for Alan Judge to hit a sweetly-struck volley wide from 25 yards.

Three minutes before the break though, Watford scored the goal they deserved on the balance of play, although the visitors were likely to be feeling somewhat aggrieved.

Vydra, who was playing well in his freer role, set Ighalo away inside the area with a through ball and as the striker got the ball on to his left foot he went down under the challenge of Tarkowski. Referee Salisbury certainly took his time to make the decision but ultimately decided to point to the spot.

Ighalo took the spot-kick himself but his effort was too central and Button was able to save, only to let the ball squirm from his grasp and the Hornets front man was already closing to convert the rebound and net his first Hornets goal to make it 1-0.

Presumably as a result of what happened with the penalty decision, Ighalo and Tarkowski became involved in a flare up after play had restarted and both were booked.

Brentford had the first opportunity after the restart as Jota released the supporting Jake Bidwell on the left side of the 18-yard box and he flashed a left-footed drive across goal and not too far wide of the far post.

Fabbrini became the third player in yellow to see that colour card after tugging back Judge and after the resulting free-kick had been played forward, Odubajo’s cross from the right was met by a first-time half-volley from the other side of the area by Jota, but he pulled his effort wide.

Gray warmed Gomes’ gloves with a stinging snap-shot soon after as the visitors continued on the front foot and with their next attack of note they equalised in the 57th minute.

Douglas pushed forward and after working a neat give-and-go with Gray, he steadied himself before hitting a low finish which Gomes got a hand to but was unable to keep out.

Watford Observer:

McKinlay immediately made his first change before play restarted, as Fabbrini was replaced by Anya but not too much else of note happened before Warburton made his first change ten minutes later as Pritchard came on for Jota. But that was all to change barely 60 seconds later as the Hornets retook the lead in stunning fashion.

Following a cross into the Brentford area, a game of head tennis ensued before the ball dropped on the edge of the penalty area and Vydra connected magnificently with a right-footed half-volley that left Button grasping at thin air as it ripped past him and into the top corner to make it 2-1.

Having gained the upper hand again, Watford could have put clear daylight between themselves and their opponents as they regained possession and launched a sweeping counter-attack that saw Anya cut the ball back into the area, behind Ighalo but into the path of Vydra, but his first touch was too heavy and Button was able to claim.

Instead of being 3-1 to the good, the Hornets were a touch fortunate not to be pegged back to a 2-2 moments later when a cross from the left fell for Odubajo at the far post, but he got his attempted finish wrong as he was closed down.

Both sides then made their second change next – Abdi coming on for Ighalo, before Nick Proschwitz replaced Diagouraga a few minutes later.

Some of the Hornets most promising moments had come on the counter-attack and they had another opportunity with seven minutes remaining when Anya and Vydra combined before the former had angled drive deflected not too far wide of the far post.

Watford Observer:

Anya had another opportunity after more neat build-up play from the hosts, this time from the opposite side of the area, but Button was able to hold his left-footed drive.

The Hornets looked set fair to pick up their fourth home win of the season but two minutes into injury time the complexion of the game changed again when Pudil brought down Odubajo towards the right side of the Hornets area and was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

McKinlay immediately replaced the excellent Vydra with Tommie Hoban but with Button coming up for the set-piece, Pritchard swung the a delivery into the area and Gomes needed to make an excellent reflex save, plunging away to his right to keep out a downward header.

There was still time for McCormack to pick up a yellow card for shoving Abdi off the ball before Watford almost added a third on the counter; Anya coming inside two challenges in the area before his mis-hit shot to the back post was headed back into the danger zone by Munari and Dyer’s effort was blocked.

Watford: Gomes; Paredes, Ekstrand, Cathcart, Pudil; Munari, Tozser; Fabbrini (Anya 57), Vydra (Hoban 90), Dyer; Ighalo (Abdi 73). Not used: Bond, McGugan, Murray, Mensah.

Brentford: Button; McCormack, Tarkowski, Craig, Bidwell; Diagouraga (Proschwitz 78), Douglas; Odubajo, Judge, Jota (Pritchard 67); Gray. Not used: Bonham, Dean, Tebar, Toral, Betinho.

Bookings: Pudil for a foul on McCormack (26); Ighalo for a clash with Tarkowski (43); Tarkowski for a clash with Ighalo (43); Fabbrini for a foul on Judge (50); Pudil for a foul on Odubajo – sent off (90); McCormack for a foul on Abdi (90).

Attendance: 15,502 (1,931 away).

Referee: Graham Salisbury.