West Brom 3 Watford 0: Baggies mathematically secure safety - with wait on hearing outcome

Albion mathematically secured their Championship survival with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Watford - but for the outcome of an independent commission hearing into a financial breach.

James Morrison’s remarkable form as boss has inspired the Baggies to within touching distance of retaining their second-tier status.

And but for the EFL charge of alleged profit and sustainability breach hanging over the club it would have been the night Albion banished now-distant fears of League One once and for all.

Morrison’s men swatted aside abject mid-table visitors Watford with total ease to back up Saturday’s crucial 2-0 success at Preston.

Isaac Price and Daryl Dike netted in the first period before Danny Imray added a third with his first Albion goal with 20 minutes left.

The hosts were never threatened and it somewhat fitting that another big result on the way to survival comes on the 24th anniversary of the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace which lifted the Baggies to the promise land of the Premier League in 2002.

Irritatingly there remains the outcome of the hearing into the Baggies’ alleged breach, which is expected imminently, to take care of. Albion maintain their innocence in that regard, but the expectation is any penalty would only be minor.

Owner and chairman Shilen Patel could afford a smile and to sit comfortably in the directors’ box as Morrison’s incredible transformation of the side continued.

Oxford were beaten, as were Portsmouth, as Albion climbed to 18th and eight points clear of the drop with two matches left.

The first 10 or 15 minutes were relatively low-key inside The Hawthorns, with just a few hundred hardy Watford souls to have battled the midweek traffic the atmosphere lacked some ‘to and froing’.

Morrison’s side mustered a couple of strikes from 25 yards from Price and Josh Maja but they were easily fielded by Egil Selvik. Danny Imray had been lively with some early right-sided raids.

The Hornets showed very imagination or aspiration early on but quickly found a bit of the ball with the Baggies unconvincing around their own box once or twice.

But any fears of after the lord mayor’s show on the back of Saturday at Deepdale were put to bed in the 20th minute.

The opener was a very well-worked goal from Morrison’s men.

Maja, not for the first time, showed more glimpses of his old self with a classy take and turn in the centre circle to feed Imray on the right.

The Palace loanee’s first-time low cross was pinpoint. Dike tried a flicked touch but couldn’t make contact - it mattered not.

On came the charging Price to sweep a powerful low drive into the net with his first touch. It was a classy finish.

Watford issued a warning in reply as Max O’Leary had to be near his best with a fine reaction save to keep out Nampalys Mendy’s volley from range.

Albion were on top and looked like they could click through the gears at will.

Maja spurned a chance when opting for a flick rather than a strike before Alex Mowatt, who continued his good form from Deepdale, drilled well wide across goal. Dike climbed well to head wide shortly after.

Morrison’s men looked comfortable for 1-0 but it would get even better before the interval.

Jayson Molumby, once again in a hybrid right-sided role, won a fortuitous free-kick down the right after the ball struck his hand a second before.

Price’s delivery clearly clipped Watford’s one-man wall on the arm but referee Anthony Backhouse smartly played on as, from an awkward position in the six-yard box, Dike crouched to strain his neck muscles and send a smart header into the roof of the net.

It was awkward but very smartly finished for 2-0 and welcome daylight.

Results elsewhere as the evening progressed has Morrison’s men looking very well placed.

The second half was played almost at pre-season tempo with Watford not in the least bit interested in a response. Albion, to their credit, were not in the mood to allow it.

There was a let off as the unmarked Luca Kjerrumgaard headed straight at O’Leary on the hour. His effort was as tame as his side’s performance.

Watford fans chanted “have a shot, have a shot”, while the Baggies faithful unloaded criticism at the EFL before taunting their relegated neighbours with “Wolverhampton we’re waiting for you”.

Any very minor jitters were firmly put to bed with 20 minute left as right-back Imray got in on the act.

The excellent Molumby’s deep cross from right was kept alive by the head of Price. Maja was unable to turn goalward but it fell kindly for Imray who thrashed in his first Baggies goal from six yards.

That really was job done in terms of the evening.

Morrison was able to get more minutes into the fit-again Karlan Grant and the lesser-spotted Tammer Bany, who added to just a handful of minutes this term.

All that was left for the Baggies to bask in all-but wrapping up safety.

There remains a question mark or asterisk around that statement, but Morrison’s men are doing the business on the field to ensure that any potential EFL sanction will be redundant.

Albion (4-4-2): O'Leary; Imray, Phillips, Campbell, Styles; Molumby (Grant, 74), Mowatt (c), Diakite, Price (Bany, 82); Maja (Jimoh-Aloba, 82), Dike (Heggebo, 74).

Subs not used: Griffiths (gk), Gilchrist, Taylor, Bostock, Sule.

Watford (4-2-3-1): Selvik; Petris (Ngakia, 63), Pollock (c), Abankwah, Keben; Mendy, Kayembe; Irankunda (Louza, 45), Chakvetadze (Baah, 63), Maamma; Kjerrumbaard (Doumbia, 75).

Subs not used: Baxter (gk), Ince, Bove, Bola, Nabizada

Referee: Anthony Backhouse