Watford 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
The Albion’s play-off hopes were given a mighty blow at Vicarage Road as Watford beat a shot-shy Albion by two goals to nil.
Ikechi Anya on 13 minutes and Argentine striker Fernando Forestieri on the hour put pay to the Seagulls’ hopes of bouncing back to winning ways after dropping points at both Derby and, more recently, Burnley.
Albion’s own Argentine, Leo Ulloa, did score for Albion with a powerful header from a Keith Andrews free kick but this was adjudged offside and disallowed.
The Seagulls now face successive home games against Yorkshire teams, Doncaster and Leeds, on Saturday 8 February and Tuesday 11 February respectively.
They then face an improving Wigan Athletic at home on Saturday 22 February six days after the FA Cup 5th round tie, also at the Amex, on Monday 17 February against Hull City.