Championship: Watford 2-1 Preston

Watford's ball boys face the boot - after Hornets boss Aidy Boothroyd accused them of cheating.

Boothroyd said victory was tainted by his boys' goslow tricks when Preston had possession and the ball went out of play.

The boys are supposed to throw a new ball as soon as the old one goes out of play.

But the fourth official ditched the system late on after Lilywhites manager Alan Irvine complained the kids were playing keep-ball.

And Boothroyd fumed: "We want to win, but if it hasn't been done correctly it's not a proper win.

"The multi-ball system is there to improve the tempo of the game.

"It's been abused for us away from home and I'd hate to think people come here thinking it will be abused.

"I'll get to the bottom of it.

"It might be a case of banning it for every team - that wouldn't be a bad idea."

Watford life president Elton John last week claimed the hard-up Hornets were heading for catastrophe - but it is Preston going that way after their fourth straight defeat.

The visitors were ahead after five minutes when Adrian Mariappa missed a clearance and Sean St Ledger swept home.

But shoddy defending gave Watford space for the leveller when Tamas Priskin teed up Jon Harley.

And on 21 minutes Tommy Smith bundled through the middle for the winner after his shot was parried by keeper Andy Lonergan.

Harley could have had a brace when his close-range effort was deflected over the top and, after the break, John-Joe O'Toole thumped a 20- yard screamer just over.

Things are set to get worse before they get better for Preston, who face high-flyers Reading, Plymouth and Sheffield United after the international break.

St Ledger admitted: "Our goal changed things, but then we defended badly.

"We gave away two sloppy goals and could have easily cut out both of them."