Spaniard Gerard Deulofeu bagged a hat-trick as Watford hammered lowly Cardiff City 5-1 on Friday to move up to seventh place in the Premier League.
Deulofeu put Javi Gracia’s side ahead in the 18th minute after a mistake from Cardiff defender Bruno Manga but it was after the break when Watford ran away with the game.
Deulofeu made it 2-0 with a clinical finish after a swift break in the 61st minute and the former Barcelona and Everton winger completed his hat-trick after more poor defending from Neil Warnock’s side.
Deulofeu then turned creator, teeing up Troy Deeney for a simple tap-in as Watford romped into a four-goal advantage.
Cardiff, who are 17th and could fall back into the bottom three after this weekend’s games, pulled a goal back through defender Sol Bamba but Watford added further punishment with Deeney’s second in stoppage time.
WEST HAM UNITED 3 FULHAM 1
Fulham fell deeper into relegation trouble with a 3-1 Premier League defeat by West Ham United at London Stadium on Friday.
Claudio Ranieri’s 19th-placed side made the ideal start, grabbing the lead in the third minute with former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel scoring from close range after he had earlier missed a golden chance.
There was controversy about West Ham’s equaliser when Mexican striker Javier Hernandez stooped to head in from close range but replays suggested the ball went in off his arm.
Issa Diop’s first Premier League goal, with a header five minutes before the break, put West Ham in charge and they were well on top after the break.
Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini made their returns for West Ham as substitutes.
But it was not until stoppage time that the Hammers made sure of the win as Michail Antonio powerfully headed home a cross from Arnautovic.
