Ken Sema doubles up as Watford edge out West Brom in thriller

Ken Sema scored twice – including a heavily-deflected winner – as Watford beat West Bromwich Albion to move back into the Championship playoff spots.

Slaven Bilic’s 200th game as a manager in English football could hardly have been more entertaining as his current club pipped the one he took up to the Premier League in 2020, and sacked him before the year was out. Ismaïla Sarr was also on target for Watford on a night when Conor Townsend and Jed Wallace were the scorers for Albion, who remain 10th.

Watford opened the scoring with their first attack of note in the 23rd minute. Hamza Choudhury’s pass played Mario Gaspar in on the right side of the box and his cross was seized upon by Keinan Davis. West Brom goalkeeper, Josh Griffiths, got a hand to the striker’s partially-blocked shot on the turn but Sema was perfectly placed to blast home the loose ball from unmissable range.

Ryan Porteous almost made it 2-0 soon after but the defender’s overhead kick dropped just wide. The visitors responded with a move that saw John Swift fire over from Wallace’s cross after the referee, Tim Robinson, had allowed play to continue when Wesley Hoedt felled Marc Albrighton. The Dutchman was subsequently booked.

Carlos Corberán made a double change at the break, with Jayson Molumby and Grady Diangana replacing Nathaniel Chalobah and Albrighton, and a goal was coming for the visitors. Townsend was the man who scored it after Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann had batted away a fine strike from Swift. Molumby appeared to have been pushed over from the corner that followed but the substitute still managed to get the ball to Townsend to flick home from close range.

Watford almost regained the lead immediately when Sarr burst through only to see