A fine solo effort by substitute Yaser Asprilla in the final 10 minutes proved the decisive moment as Watford defeated Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Vicarage Road.
The Colombian had only been on the pitch for four minutes before he ruined the first game in charge for Owls boss Danny Rohl, who was able to put back Josh Windass and captain Barry Bannan into the Wednesday first XI.
The hosts made three changes from their previous game against Cardiff, with Tom Ince, Ryan Porteous and Imran Louza starting.
Jeremy Ngakia had the first effort after 11 minutes, his shot inside the area clearing the bar.
It was otherwise a dull opening half an hour, although the visitors were slightly in the ascendancy.
Indeed, it was Wednesday who went closest to opening the scoring. A cross by Jeff Hendrick found the head of Windass, who headed over from just over six yards out.
The move seemed to put some life into the contest, and Wesley Hoedt fired over from 30yards out in the 34th minute.
The half petered out after that flurry, although Porteous was booked for tripping up Windass before the half-time whistle.
Watford were looking to respond in the second half, and head coach Valerien Ismael made two changes at half time – Mileta Rajovic and Ismael Kone coming on for Vakoun Bayo and Tom Dele-Bashiru.
However, it was the the visitors who had the first opportunity five minutes after the interval. A curled free-kick from Windass found the head of Hendrick, who flicked his effort just over the bar.
Wednesday appeared to receive a boost in the 54th minute when Anthony Musaba was seemingly upended by Jamal Lewis in the box. However, after consulting with his official, referee Dean Whitestone overturned the decision.
The away side pressed for the opening though, although John Buckley could not keep his effort down just after the hour mark.
Watford started to press their way into the contest, putting Sheffield Wednesday more on the back foot, although without creating much in the way of a clear-cut opportunity.
However, with eight minutes remaining, Asprilla gave the hosts the lead with the best piece of skill in the match.
He picked the ball on the right flank from Ismael Kone and was able to work his way towards edge of the area where he fired his shot past the diving Cameron Dawson.
If anything, it was Watford who looked more likely to add further goals to the scoresheet, but they were able to see the game out with a single goal victory – and leave Wednesday without a win in 12 games.
Al-Khaleej 0-1 Al-Nassr: Ronaldo misfires on return as Laporte nets winner
Cristiano Ronaldo returned from suspension but failed to find the net as Al-Nassr secured a 1-0 win over Al-Khaleej on Saturday, with Aymeric Laporte coming up with the decisive goal.
Ronaldo was in action for the first time since being sent off for an elbow in a 2-1 Saudi Super Cup loss to Al-Hilal earlier this month, with his initial two-match ban being reduced to one on appeal.
He missed three good chances as Al-Nassr threatened to fall further behind runaway Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, but former Manchester City defender Laporte spared his blushes by nodding Marcelo Brozovic's deep free-kick into the bottom-left corner with 68 minutes gone.
Al-Nassr remain nine points adrift of Al-Hilal at the summit in spite of their win, with Jorge Jesus' team unbeaten through 28 games this season as they close in on a record-extending 18th title.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo misfires on return
Ronaldo was presented with the Saudi Pro League's Player of the Month award for March ahead of kick-off, having scored four goals in three league appearances last month.
However, his sights were off on Saturday as he failed to net despite three of the visitors' four big chances, as defined by Opta, falling his way. He led all players on the pitch for expected goals (1.27 xG), shots (five), shots on target (three) and touches in the area (nine) without reward.
Huddersfield all but relegated from Championship while League Two play-off spots decided
Huddersfield Town saw their relegation from the Championship all but confirmed after a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Birmingham City on Saturday.
The Terriers avoided a defeat that would have seen them relegated on Saturday, but even a win on the final day over promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town will not be enough unless they overcome a huge goal difference of 15 goals with Plymouth Argyle.
Birmingham remain in the other relegation place and now must beat Norwich City to stand a chance of staying up with Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Blackburn Rovers also still in danger.
At the other end of the table, the Canaries dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, leaving the door open for Hull City, who face Ipswich Town later today.
Huddersfield Town all but relegated from Championship while League Two play-off fate is decided
Huddersfield Town saw their relegation all but confirmed after a 1-1 draw with fellows strugglers Birmingham City.
The Terriers avoided a defeat that would have seen them relegated on Saturday, but even a win on the final day over promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town will not be enough unless they overcome a huge goal difference of 15 goals with Plymouth Argyle.
Birmingham remain in the other relegation place and now must beat Norwich City to stand a chance of staying up with Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Blackburn Rovers also still in danger.
At the other end of the table, the Canaries dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, leaving the door open for Hull City, who face Ipswich Town later today.
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