REPORT: Danny Ings fires Southampton to win over Watford

Danny Ings scored a brace to become the club’s first 20-plus goal scorer since Rickie Lambert in 2011/12, as Southampton won 3-1 at Watford in the Premier League.

Ings tallied his 17th and 18th league goals — bringing his season total to 21 — in the process to draw within one of Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy in the race for the golden boot.

The forward scored either side of the break whilst James Ward-Prowse added a third to restore Southampton’s two-goal, which the visitors had lost three minutes prior.

Watford pulled one on back on 79 minutes when Jan Bednarek’s attempt to clear Jose Holebas’ cross found the back of his own net.

But Ward-Prowse prevented any late drama, scoring from a free-kick from 20 yards out.

Southampton, who climbed above Newcastle into 13th position on 40 points with six games remaining, rebounded from a disappointing defeat against Arsenal on Thursday.

The win is Southampton’s eighth away from St Mary’s this term with road form playing a major catalyst for their resurgence towards the top half of the table.

Watford remain relegation candidates, but occupy 16th position and just one point ahead of the drop.

Watford: Foster, Masina (Holebas 73), Dawson, Cathcart, Femenia (Pussetto 79), Hughes (Welbeck 73), Capoue, Pereyra (Jao Pedro 73), Sarr, Doucoure, Deeny

Unused subs: Gomes (GK), Mariappa, Cleverly, Penaranda, Kabasele

Goals: Bednarek (79 OG)

Bookings: Dawson (32), Doucoure (90+5), Cathcart (90+6)

Southampton: McCarthy, Bertrand, Vestegaard, Bednarek, Walker-Peters, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Smallbone (Armstrong 65), Redmond, Long (Adams 75), Ings

Unused subs: Gunn (GK), Danso, Vokins, Valery, Jankewitz, Obafemi, Tella

Goals: Ings (16, 70), Ward-Prowse (82)

Bookings: None