Watford entered the penultimate weekend of the Championship season top of the pile and with automatic promotion in their own hands.
Their 45th game of the campaign was away at struggling Brighton and it went to form at The Amex as goals from Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra settled matters on the South coast.
Read how it all unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
11.50amMorning all! Top-of-the-table Watford are agonisingly close to returning to the Premier League after eight seasons away. Let's get straight to today's team news from the Amex.
11.52amBRIGHTON XI: Stockdale; Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Halford, Bennett; Forster-Caskey, Stephens; Kayal, Carayol; O'Grady
11.53amBRIGHTON SUBS: Walton, Hughes, Calderon, Ince, LuaLua, Mackail-Smith, Best
11.55amFour changes from Chris Hughton then as Brighton look to put a stop to their five-game winless run. In come Lewis Dunk, Jake Forster-Caskey, Mustapha Carayol and Chris O'Grady.
11.57amWATFORD XI: Gomes; Angella, Cathcart, Connolly; Paredes, Abdi, Watson, Guedioura, Anya; Ighalo, Deeney
11.58amWATFORD SUBS: Bond, Layun, Tozser, Forestieri, Vydra, Hoban, Motta
12pmAs for Watford, Slavisa Jokanovic makes three changes to his Hornets side. Out go Tommie Hoban, Miguel Layun and Matej Vydra, with Matt Connolly, Ikechi Anya and Odion Ighalo coming in.
12.02pmYou wonder if Jokanovic tosses a coin each week to decide which of his superb front three to drop. Today Troy Deeney and Ighalo get the nod, but we'll no doubt see Vydra, especially if the visitors need a goal.
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© Getty Images12.04pmWhat a huge, huge day it is in the Championship. Click here to remind yourself how the table looks ahead of the 100th league meeting between Brighton and Watford.
12.06pmHow close is it at the top?! Watford are on top after 44 games, but if they lose today they could drop to fourth. A draw will also see them drop out of the automatic-promotion places if Bournemouth and Middlesbrough win. The Cherries aren't in action until Monday night against Bolton, but Boro take on Fulham at 3pm.
12.08pmWatford have won their last four league games in a row; they've not recorded five consecutive victories since January 2011 (a run of six).
12.10pmPREDICTION: Brighton aren't mathematically safe yet, but their goal difference is so much better than Millwall's six points behind that they are effectively guaranteed Championship football next season. Because of that and the fact that so much is at stake for Watford, you have to pick the visitors today - 3-0 to Watford.
12.12pmWatford's two strikers today - Deeney and Ighalo - are the only two players on the same team in the top four tiers of English with 20 goals each. Ominous, eh?
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© Getty Images12.14pmThe two teams are out on the field, but before we kick we'll have a minute's silence for the 30th anniversary of the Bradford fire.
12.16pmImpeccably observed minute's silence, let's play!
0 minKICKOFF! And we're off on the South coast.
1 minCHANCE! Are Watford are nervous? It's a great start from Brighton as O'Grady gets the ball in the box, cuts back onto his left foot and tries to get off a shot that is blocked by Angella. The ball breaks to Stephens on the edge of the area, but he takes one touch too many and is crowded out.
4 minCredit to Brighton, this has been an excellent start from the home side. You would have expected Watford to come out all guns blazing, but the Seagulls are the ones doing all the pressing in the early stages.
7 minSAVE! Here come Watford. It's taken them a little while to get going, but they have the first shot on target as Dunk's clearance inadvertently goes straight into the path of Deeney, whose controlled low shot from a tight angle is kept out by Stockdale's foot.
9 minBack the other way we go as Brighton go close. Carayol beats the offside trap down the right and fires in a cross that Forster-Caskey does really well to control with his chest on the edge of the box. The England Under-21 international takes it on first time, arrowing a volley a couple of yards wide.
11 minBrighton have had two-thirds of the ball in the early stages and are knocking it around with impressive freedom. They really do look like a side with no pressure on their shoulders. Hughton will have certainly told his players that they can enjoy themselves today.
13 minBennett tumbles in the area after getting in behind Paredes, but he went down so easily and today's referee, Mr Keith Stroud, is having none of it. Good call by the official. Had Paredes made more contact, it would have been a penalty and red card as the Ecuadorian was the last man.
15 minAlmost a calamity at the back from Brighton as Greer sells Stockdale short with a backpass. Deeney is hungry, but Stockdale outwits him with a sharp turn before returning it to Greer with a glare.
18 minGroans from the home fans as Forster-Caskey carelessly overhits a pass out to Bruno after some excellent midfield work from Kayal. Brighton's 3-5-1-1 formation certainly looks comfortable today.
20 minSTAT: Brighton have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 of their last 11 league encounters with Watford. At the moment, they certainly look like keeping out the Hornets today.
22 minHmmmmm. Is a Watford player injured? Daniel Tozser is readying himself to come on in front of the dugout. Either that, or Jokanovic isn't happy with what he's seen in the first quarter of the game.
24 minAlso warming up on the touchline is Brighton striker Craig Mackail-Smith, who will surely come on later for his last home game. He was one of several Seagulls told this week that he would not be earning a new deal at The Amex.
26 minWATFORD SUB: Tozser replaces Anya, who appears to be limping a little as he leaves the field. That will be a change of shape as Tozser is a central player and Anya hugs the touchline.
29 minGOAL! BRIGHTON 0-1 WATFORD (DEENEY)
29 minAll of Brighton's good play so far is undone as they defend horribly to gift the Championship's second-top scorer an easy chance. Halford is at fault initially for heading up, but not away. The ball eventually drops in the area and Ighalo is the most alert to flick the ball to his strike partner, who coolly moves it onto his right foot and away from the blue and white shirts before lashing across goal into the far corner.
30 minAs it stands, Watford are going FOUR POINTS CLEAR at the top of the Championship.
31 minSHOT! Stockdale's palms are warmed as Abdi takes aim from 20 yards and blasts a fierce shot straight at the Albion stopper.
34 minSAVE! Brighton's first shot on target arrives as referee Stroud plays a good advantage after Stephens is tripped right on the edge of the box. O'Grady picks up the loose ball and pings a dipping drive at goal that Gomes beats away.
35 minThe hosts have a pair of corners and from the first there's alarm bells from a Watford point of view and Gomes comes, but doesn't claim. The ball is headed back into the danger zone from the back post, but Watford just about scramble the ball away.
12.55pmBy the way, there is one other Championship game going on right now that kicked off 15 minutes after this one. At the moment, it's goalless between Yorkshire duo Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United, neither of who have much to play for in the last two weekends of the season.
39 minO'Grady in a decent position in the area, but his shot is quickly charged down. The striker's dipping shot five minutes ago remains the only Seagulls shot on target.
41 minLittle to report in the last few minutes. The game is petering towards half time and Watford will be thrilled to be in front given that they've not had a lot of the ball (37%).
43 minBOOKING! First man in the book is Brighton midfielder Kayal, who halted Abdi's progress in the middle quite cynically. A little harsh, but you can see why Stroud dished out a yellow.
45 minThere will be two minutes added time at the end of the first half.
45+2 minCLOSE! Brighton almost snatch a leveller just before the interval as Angella misjudges a floated cross and flicks the ball back to his own goalkeeper, who is so close to being beaten to the ball by Kayal.
45+3 minHALF-TIME: BRIGHTON 0-1 WATFORD
1.06pmThey don't overly deserve it, but clinical Watford are ahead at the break thanks to Deeney's 21st goal of the season.
1.08pmJust joining us and want a quick recap on the opening 45? Here's our half-time report.
1.11pmBrighton controlled much of the opening period, finishing the half with 63% possession, but it was one period of slack defending that gave Deeney the sort of chance that he gobbles up.
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© Getty Images1.14pmUPDATE: There has been a goal in the other game and it's come from the penalty spot. Chris Maguire stuck it away so it's Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Leeds.
1.17pmWatford fans, click here and enjoy the sight of being top by four points. If Boro and Norwich make a mess of their games at 3, the Hornets will be going up (as I predicted last month when there was 10 games to go).
1.20pmTwo sides back out for the second half, which will be underway shortly. No changes from either boss at the break. Remember, Tozser came on for Anya midway through the opening half, so Watford have only two changes remaining.
46 minKICKOFF! We're back underway at The Amex.
46 minUnlike the first half, Watford are out of the traps quickly as Abdi swings his left foot at the ball from 20 yards. It's a decent hit, but ricochets off teammate Ighalo before bobbling behind for a goal kick.
50 minNot the start to the half that Brighton would have wanted. They've barely been in Watford's half and just conceded a free kick in a dangerous position that Tozser usually does brilliantly with. This time, he gets under it too much and spoons it over.
52 minThe way Brighton have begun the second half, it would be a big surprise if Hughton didn't bring on the likes of Mackail-Smith, LuaLua and/or Best soon. LuaLua, especially, can be a real game-changer.
54 minCHANCE! Big, big chance for Watford to double their lead. It looks offside, but the flag stays down and Ighalo shifts the ball left of Stockdale before the onrushing Guedioura takes the shot on himself and is denied by Stockdale's sprawling frame. Fine save.
55 minFrom the resulting corner, Ighalo gets up well but can only nod wide of the target.
57 min
Greg Halford makes a clearance. #BHAvWFC pic.twitter.com/LxwtMYryAP
— BHAFC (@OfficialBHAFC) April 25, 2015
60 minBRIGHTON SUB: Here's Mackail-Smith for his last appearance at The Amex before he is released. The striker replaces on-loan Middlesbrough man Carayol, who's had a quiet game.
61 minBOOKING! Cathcart is the first Watford player to be cautioned following a nasty late challenge on O'Grady. Free kick in a good position for Brighton...
63 minHere's a picture of Deeney celebrating the opening goal. He's deadly when presented with a chance.
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© Getty Images65 minWATFORD SUB: Jokanovic makes his second change, with Ighalo off for Vydra. No surprise really, Ighalo hasn't had much luck today.
66 minBOOKING! Both of Watford's centre-backs are now in the book as Angella scythes down Mackail-Smith on the right. Decent place to put the ball in, but it's a poor, poor delivery.
68 minSHOT! For a man of Abdi's technical quality, this is a great chance as Vydra dinks it over to the Swiss midfielder, whose dipping drive is well-struck but too high to trouble the target.
69 minSHOT! You feel that Watford will get a second soon. Vydra has seen plenty of the ball in the few minutes he's been on the pitch and again tees up Abdi. This time he goes for placement, but arcs a shot a yard or so wide of the post.
72 minBrighton win a couple of corners, but neither comes to anything as Watford defend them well. By the way, Brighton centre-back Lewis Dunk is the club's top scorer this season. When you compare that to the firepower Watford have got, it's easy to see why the Seagulls have underwhelmed this term.
74 minHalf-chance for Brighton as Bruno's raking long throw is met by Greer, who meets it well but can't get enough power on the header to worry Gomes.
75 minAt the other end, Deeney is presented with a chance but Greer is out quickly to meet him and blocks it behind for a corner.
78 minBRIGHTON SUB: LuaLua replaces Forster-Caskey and Brighton will soon make their third change as well because Bruno is down injured.
79 minBRIGHTON SUB: Calderon is the man to replace Bruno is a Spanish like-for-like swap down the right.
81 minWATFORD SUBS: Okey doke, both sides have now made all three changes as Fernando Forestieri takes Abdi's place for the visitors.
84 minCLOSE! Brighton so close to an equaliser as Calderon floats over a cross from the right that O'Grady meets powerfully. Gomes scrambles across his goal, but he can't get there and breathes a huge sigh of relief as the ball drops inches wide.
86 minInto the final five we go then and Brighton have struggled today like they have all season in front of goal. The lack of a real goalscorer has really dented their season.
87 minBOOKING! That is an awful, awful tackle from Deeney. Watford waste a good chance on the counter and he sprints back to halt Bennett's progress with a late and high lunge.
88 minFrom the resulting free kick, O'Grady meets Stephens's delivery but can't angle his header on target. Not long to go now.
89 minCHANCE! Huge opportunity for Brighton to dent Watford's promotion hopes. Calderon cuts back for the unmarked Stephens, who produces a tame effort from the edge of the area that Gomes holds easily.
90 minBOOKING! Another terrible challenge from a Watford player as Guedioura goes in very high on Dunk. Completely unnecessary.
90+1 minThe fourth official signals that there will be FIVE minutes of added time.
90+2 minBOOKING! Yellow card number six today and a second to Brighton as Stroud indicates that Stephens has committed one too many foul.
90+3 minCHANCES! It's an end-to-end finish at The Amex as both sides have great chances to score the second. First, Mackail-Smith beat the offside trap but was a little tentative and couldn't beat Gomes to the ball. The ball breaks to Bennett, but his effort with Gomes stranded on the floor is weak and blocked. Watford streak down the other end but make a mess of a three-on-two situation as Forestieri lazily passes straight to a blue-and-white shirt.
90+5 minGOAL! BRIGHTON 0-2 WATFORD (VYDRA)
90+5 minGAME OVER! Watford are ever nearer to the Premier League as they score the simplest of the goals on the counter-attack. Deeney finds Vydra in acres of space in the middle and he brings it down well before slotting home from 12 yards.
90+7 minBOOKING! Time for another booking and it's Greer's 11th of the season as he wipes out Vydra, who was about to burst through on goal.
90+7 minFULL-TIME: BRIGHTON 0-2 WATFORD
2.13pmJubilant scenes among the Watford players - they know how huge today's win is. They weren't at their best, but the clinical duo of Deeney and Vydra put away their clear chances when they came. Five wins in a row for Watford.
2.16pmHere is your latest Championship table after a 2-0 win for the Hornets. As you can see, Jokanovic's side are four clear at the top and will be promoted this evening if Middlesbrough lose to Fulham and Norwich fail to beat Rotherham. That is unlikely, so if Watford are to be confirmed as up they will probably have to see off Wednesday at home next week.
2.18pmWednesday, by the way, are currently in action against Leeds and the it's the latter who lead 2-1 going into the final moments.
2.19pmAnyway, that's all we've got time for on this commentary. Keep your eyes peeled for live updates on the Fulham-Boro game kicking off in about 10 minutes. Sports Mole is where you need to be for all of today's action. Enjoy!
