Bolton Wanderers eased their relegation worries in the Championship with a 2-0 win over Watford at the Reebok Stadium, thanks to first-half goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Joe Mason.
The Trotters should have taken the lead early on as Mark Davies found space between two defenders and found Mason in the area, but the striker's effort at goal was well saved by Manuel Almunia.
Watford came back at the home side immediately and Adam Bogdan was forced into make a brilliant save to deny Troy Deeney from a header as he met Ikechi Anya's cross.
Mason saw another effort for the home side cleared off the line by Marco Faraoni after the striker had rounded Almunia, before his side finally took the lead in the 35th minute when Jutkiewicz tapped home from close range after Jay Spearing's free kick was deflected into his path.
Dougie Freedman's side doubled their advantage just before the break, when Spearing released Mason through on goal, and this time he held his composure to beat Almunia to get his goal.
After half time, Bolton nearly got their third of the afternoon as Medo Kamara picked up the ball outside of the penalty area and tried an effort from distance, but it went just past the post.
Watford tried to muster a response and Sean Murray fired an effort from distance, but Bogdan was equal to it and managed to make a comfortable save.
The Trotters could have made sure of the points when Neil Danns released Mason down the middle, but Almunia was able to deny the striker a second goal of the game.
Simon Sinclair
