Watford took the lead less than a minute into the second half, and the Imps were furious with the manner of the goal. A throw-in appeared to be awarded the wrong way, but the hosts took it quickly and Mavididi curled an effort towards goal, which deflected off Bradley and past George Wickens. The goalscorer was then booked three minutes later for failing to retreat from a free kick.
City looked to respond, with Oyegoke and Ogbene combining well down the right after 56 minutes. Oyegoke beat Kévin Keben, but the defender brought him down with a crude challenge and was booked. Bayliss had already wasted one promising free kick with a poor delivery, and the resulting set piece was little better.
Another free kick from the left caused problems just before the hour, with Deji Elerewe collecting the ball and shooting from a tight angle, only for his effort to be blocked for a corner. The resulting delivery caused more problems, with the ball coming off Elerewe in a crowded penalty area and striking the top of the crossbar.
Both sides made changes on the hour, with Watford introducing Mamadou Doumbia and Krépin Diatta for Boadu and Omar Traoré. City responded by bringing on Rob Street and Reeco Hackett for Elder and Ogbene.
Watford fashioned an opportunity after 64 minutes, with Bravo playing the ball across the area to Kyprianou, who shot straight at Wickens from distance. City then threatened from another set piece, with a decent Bayliss delivery flicked on by House towards Coubiș, before Street saw his effort blocked.
The Imps were awarded another free kick in a promising position after 70 minutes, following some decent play involving Konak. Both sides made changes during the stoppage, with Watford replacing Mavididi and Maamma with Martín Payero and Branimir Mlačić, while Tom Hamer came on for Oyegoke. The delivery was decent, but another Street effort was blocked in the follow-up.
Draper had a half chance moments later, meeting a dropping ball but driving his effort into the ground and wide. At the other end, Kayembe produced a rare moment of quality in a game that had offered little in that regard, shooting from distance and seeing his effort deflected behind for a corner. City were struggling to create anything clear-cut, and with the clock ticking down, there was little to suggest an equaliser was coming.
With 11 minutes remaining, City made their final changes, with Adam Reach and Dom Jefferies replacing Elerewe and Bayliss. Mlačić was then booked after House got the better of him, the Watford defender pulling his shirt to prevent him getting away.
City had another half chance after 83 minutes, with a corner initially cleared before the ball was returned to the area. Draper nodded it down towards Street, but the striker mishit his effort. Watford almost took advantage of City surrendering possession a minute later, with Bravo seeing his first shot blocked by Bradley before firing the rebound over the bar.
Amin Nabizada replaced Bravo with four minutes remaining, as Watford looked to see out the game. There was still time for Bradley and Kayembe to be booked following a bout of pushing at a long throw, with frustration beginning to show as City struggled to find a way back into the contest.
City had a couple of late chances, Hackett seeing a shot blocked, House then shooting at the keeper from the resulting long throw, but it wasn’t enough.
The attendance at Vicarage Road was 15,641, including 1,141 travelling Lincoln supporters.
Bars are scaled to the best figure in this match, and each rank is against the players who actually registered that stat — "3rd/12" is third of the twelve who managed one. This is a within-match ranking, not a league-wide one, which a single match cannot give. Radar axes are scaled the same way, and are left out for goalkeepers, whose near-zero attacking figures would draw a meaningless dot.
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