Albion manager Martin Hinshelwood pinned his faith in the kids at Vicarage Road in the quest to end the Seagull's pointless sequence.

Dean Hammond and Daniel Marney were preferred to Charlie Oatway and Gary Hart for the clash against in-form Watford.

Hammond, 19, scored and impressed on his full debut in the Worthington Cup defeat at Ipswich last month.

He came in for his first league start along side Richard Carpenter in the centre of midfield, thereby ending Oatway's ever-present record this season.

Marney celebrated his 21st birthday on Wednesday by being named the PFA Division One player of the month.

The website vote was exploited by Albion fans, but the pacey Marney has nevertheless demonstrated plenty of potential during a scoreless start to his senior career.

His role on the right flank today was more as a provider for Bobby Zamora and Graham Barrett.

Hart, relegated to the bench with Oatway, has struggled to recapture his best form after breaking a leg at Peterborough in April and suffering further injury problems earlier this season.

Zamora scored on his previous away appearance, the win at Burnley on the opening day.

Albion were desperate for something similar after Zamora marked his comeback from knee ligament damage with the equaliser in last Saturday's disastrous 2-1 home defeat against fellow strugglers Grimsby.

Albion were still without the injured Paul Kitson, Nathan Jones, Robbie Pethick and Geoff Pitcher, although knee victim Jones is on his way back.

The welshman trained on the pitch before the match.

Watford, 2-1 winners at Sheffield United last Saturday, made one change as they defended and unbeaten five match run in the League.

The fit-again Sean Dyche returned at the expense of England under 19 international Jamie Hand as boss Ray Lewington reverted from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2.

The match launched Watford's 'Save Our Club' campaign, designed to boost crowds and attract more season ticket holders via financial incentives.

The Hornets have a £9.5million over-draft following Gianluca Vialli's free-spending reign, despite raising £6million from the sale of the freehold of the ground.

Watford: Alec Chamberlain, Neal Ardley, Paul Robinson, Neil Cox, Sean Dyche, Allan Nielsen, Micah Hyde, Heidar Helguson, Lloyd Doyley, Marcus Gayle, Danny Webber. Subs: Glass, Johnson, McNamee, Foley, Lee.

Albion: Michel Kuipers, Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Daniel Marney, Adam Virgo, Dean Hammond, Bobby Zamora, Graham Barrett. Subs: Rogers, Hart, Oatway, Melton, Petterson.

Referee: Mr. P. Durkin (Dorset)