Albion remain rooted to the bottom of the First Division after their tenth straight League defeat.

Another disastrous individual error proved expensive for the Seagulls at Vicarage Road.

Michel Kuipers was the culprit this time with an uncharacteristic mistake which gifted in-form Watford the points.

The big Dutch keeper failed to hold Allan Nielsen's long range shot in the 40th minute.

Heidar Helguson beat Kuipers to the loose ball to head in his third goal in as many games.

It was a sadly familiar story for the Seagulls, with all their hard work undone by a blunder.

Manager Martin Hinshelwood went for youth in a bid to arrest the slide.

Teenager Dean Hammond made his full League debut in midfield in place of Charlie Oatway, while 21-year-old Daniel Marney was preferred to Gary Hart on the right flank.

Albion escaped early on, courtesy of an incredible miss by Nielsen.

Kuipers' decisive boob came minutes after he had made a fine reflex stop from on-loan Manchester United striker Danny Webber.

Bobby Zamora and Graham Barrett were dangerous throughout up front for Albion.

They had the Seagulls' best chances, but Barrett shot straight at Alec Chamberlain in the first half and Zamora did the same after the break.

Albion have now failed to score in seven out of twelve League outings and they have only kept one clean sheet, which is relegation form.

They now have a two week break before trying to put things right against Sheffield United at Withdean.

A crowd of 15,305 at Vicarage Road, Watford's biggest of the season, included former Portsmouth manager Graham Rix.