As if they have not had enough salt in recent wounds, Aston Villahad their latest disappointment rubbed in by a Birmingham fan fulfilling his wish of scoring in front of the Holte End. Troy Deeney, having equalised against Manchester United last week only to score a late own goal, experienced only unmitigated joy as he headed home the clinching goal against his old enemy.

The Watfordcaptain scored five minutes from the end of regulation time on a day when his team survived the loss of Heurelho Gomes to a worrying head injury that forced the addition of 10 minutes’ stoppage time.