Team news

Pair primed for Hornets debut Tomasz Kuszczak and Marcello Trotta will be looking to make their Watford bows at home to high-flying Southampton.

Kuszczak has arrived on loan from Manchester United and will challenge Scott Loach for the gloves while striker Trotta has signed from Fulham on a month-long deal and will also be aiming to start.

Trotta's involvement could well depend on the fitness of fellow forward Troy Deeney who, having missed last weekend's 4-0 reverse at Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury, faces a late fitness test.

Midfielder Sean Murray (thigh) will also be assessed having sat out at Selhurst Park while right-back Lee Hodson is expected to have overcome illness in time to keep his place at right-back.

The Hornets have only lost one of their last 10 home matches at Vicarage Road.

Southampton will check on Frazer Richardson, Jos Hooiveld and Guly do Prado ahead of the game.

Right-back Richardson missed last weekend's 4-0 win over Derby due to a thigh injury and centre-half Hooiveld was substituted at half-time with a slight hamstring problem.

Brazilian midfielder Guly was also missing against the Rams through illness.

Versatile defender Danny Butterfield, who has not started a league game since October, is fit after a hamstring injury and could return to the squad.

Japan international Tadanari Lee climbed off the bench to score his first goal for Saints against Derby so he may have earned a place in the starting line-up.

Watford vs Southampton

Last modified 17:57 25/02/12

Lambert hits treble as Saints march on Rickie Lambert scored a hat-trick as the npower Championship's leading marksman sent Southampton to the top of the table with a 3-0 win at Watford.

Lambert struck twice in the first half before sealing his treble with a second-half penalty, taking his tally to 19 league goals, as Saints extended their unbeaten run to six games.

West Ham started the day as leaders but their stalemate with Crystal Palace provided Nigel Adkins' side with the opportunity to leapfrog them and they took full advantage.

Watford handed a debut to Manchester United loanee Tomasz Kuszczak in goal but he was culpable for the opening goal, finding himself stranded as Lambert nodded in.

The keeper could do nothing with the second goal shortly afterwards as Lambert fired home from the edge of the box.

Carl Dickinson gave the striker a chance to wrap up his hat-trick when he fouled Tadanari Lee in the box and Lambert duly obliged by blasting in the penalty.

The first chance of the game very nearly fell to Troy Deeney when Kelvin Davis' rushed clearance came straight to him but the striker was unable to control the ball.

It was an error from Davis' opposite number which led to the game's opening goal in the 13th minute.

Debutant Kuszczak had ample time to get to Jose Fonte's cross but he hesitated and was caught out of position, allowing Lambert to loop his header over the goalkeeper.

The visitors were buoyed by the opening goal and Lambert managed to double their lead just eight minutes after his opener.

Adrian Mariappa failed to clear the ball and Saints broke quickly through Morgan Schneiderlin and Adam Lallana.

The latter used trickery to create some space and laid the ball back for Lambert, who emphatically drilled the ball into the bottom corner at the first time of asking.

Lallana came off injured at the end of the first half but it did not slow Southampton's attacking juggernaut.

Japanese striker Lee should have put the result beyond doubt early in the second half but he scooped a great chance over the crossbar.

The Hornets had offered little in front of goal but they should have pulled one goal back when Mark Yeates' cross was nodded wide by John Eustace. The Watford skipper was stretching and should have let the delivery reach debutant Marcello Trotta, who was well placed.

Lee raced through 19 minutes from time only to be denied by a fine Kuszczak save, but Dickinson pushed the striker in the aftermath and referee Tony Bates awarded a penalty.

Lambert rifled the spot-kick into the top corner of the net and out of Kuszczak's reach to complete his hat-trick.