IT was a day to remember for Wanderers centre-back Matt Mills the last time Watford visited the Reebok, as his first goal for the club set Owen Coyle’s side on the road to victory.

It was only mid-September but the vultures were already circling around Coyle as the Whites struggled to cope with life after relegation from the top flight.

They went into the game on the back of a shock League Cup first round exit at Crawley Town and a 3-1 defeat at Hull City.

Wanderers went close early when Hornets stopper Manuel Almunia had to be alert to keep out Marcos Alonso’s header.

But Mills cheered the Reebok faithful when he rose to head home Chris Eagles’ corner just three minutes in.

Skipper Kevin Davies prodded home a second prior to half time before Watford’s Mark Yeates saw his effort bounce back off the bar.

Lloyd Doyley halved the deficit before the hour mark for Gianfranco Zola’s men, but the Whites held on for a second home win of the season.