When defenders who have not scored for two years find the net, Watford might begin to think this can be the year they return to the Premier League. Matthew Connolly has only been at the club for a month but struck a goal that proved key at a stadium that has humbled all three of their nearest promotion rivals. Watford were made to sweat for the three points during a late surge by 10-man Nottingham Forest, but left having leapfrogged Middlesbrough into third, behind Norwich in second on goal difference. Watford forward Odion Ighalo celebrates having given the Hornets the lead after just four minutes . Defender Matthew Connolly celebrates after putting Watford 2-0 up against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday . Connolly gets the better of Nottingham Forest defender Jack Hobbs to double Forest's advantage . Gary Gardner scores for Nottingham Forest to half the deficit against Watford with twenty minutes to play . Almen Abdi celebrates scoring Watford's third goal and making certain of the  points in the closing stages . Nottingham Forest (4-1-4-1): Darlow 6.5, Kane 6.5, Wilson 4, Hobbs 5.5, Lichaj 6, Mancienne 6; Burke 6.5, Osborn 6.5 (Lansbury 85), Gardner 7, Antonio 7 (Barrow 90), Akpom 6 (Walker 57, 5) Subs not used: Fox, Blackstock, Vaughan, Evtimov . Scorer: Gardner, 72 . Sent off: Wilson . Dougie Freedman 6.5 . Watford (3-5-2): Gomes 7.5; Cathcart 6.5, Angella 6, Connolly 8 (Hoban 62); Motta 6.5 (Paredes 71), Guedioura 6.5, Watson 6, Abdi 7, Anya 6.5 (Tozser 73, 5); Deeney 6.5, Ighalo 7 . Subs not used: Manuri, Layun, Vydra, Bond . Scorers: Ighalo 4, Connolly 41, Abdi 87 . Booked: Abdi, Deeney, Motta . Slavisa Jokanovic 7.5 . Man of the Match: Connolly . Referee: Paul Tierney 6.5 . Attendance: 20,723 . An automatic return to the top-flight for the first time since 2007 remains on. Watford entered this match knowing only a victory would do in their pursuit of automatic promotion. Bournemouth, Norwich and Middlesbrough all won on Tuesday night to maintain the pace at the head of this increasingly intriguing race for Premier League gold. Aware of the circumstances, Heurelho Gomes was alert from the off. Just 56 seconds were on the clock when the Brazilian goalkeeper stopped a certain goal. Chris Burke, found by Michail Antonio, drove a shot from close range but Gomes saved with his legs. Three minutes later, the visitors went ahead. Craig Cathcart flicked on Almen Adbi’s corner allowing Odion Ighalo to nod in at the far post. It was the Nigerian’s 20th Championship goal in a stellar debut season. The noise from the packed away section of 1,942 gave an impression of its significance. But this was never going to be one-way traffic. Forest have beaten Bournemouth and Boro here under Dougie Freedman, as well as Norwich when Stuart Pearce was in charge, and threatened repeatedly. In the 15th minute Antonio drew a fine save from Gomes with a strike from range, then Ben Osborn hit one that required all of the Watford No 1’s 6ft 3in frame to palm wide. By the end of the first half Gomes had made seven saves of varying quality. His most eye-catching stop came in the 39th minute when left-back Eric Lichaj caught a falling ball ever so sweetly on the volley. Nottingham Forest defender Kelvin Wilson (second right) is shown the red card by referee Paul Tierney . Watford midfielder Adiene Guedioua slides in to dispossess Nottingham Forest wideman Michail Antonio . Golascorer Connolly gets rid of any danger with an acrobatic clearance for the away side during the first half . Watford's remaining  fixtures: Birmingham (H), Brighton (A), Sheffield Wednesday (H) Watford’s attacking threat is pronounced, of course. Troy Deeney, who had 20 Championship goals before kick-off, partnered Ighalo up front. Slavisa Jokanovic was able to leave Matej Vydra on the bench. The Watford manager would have preferred any of that trio to have the chance that came Abdi’s way in the 23rd minute. Ighalo threaded a pass to set the Swiss international clean through but he almost had too much time to deliberate and only succeeded in poking his finish wide. The crowd let out a groan of disbelief. Abdi did better with a curling free-kick in the 34th minute but Karl Darlow was equal to it. The Forest goalkeeper did not do as well seven minutes later however, when Watford doubled their lead. Connolly strode forward from central defence and played in Ighalo, who was able to fire a shot to sting the palms of Darlow. As the ball fell loose Jack Hobbs’ presence seemed to make Darlow hesitate and Connolly snuck in to prod home his first goal since March 2013. Forest wideman Antonio evades the challenge of Watford defender Craig Cathcart and races forward . Antonio and Marco Motta challenge for a loose ball during Wednesday night's Championship clash . After the break, each side had a clear chance before Kelvin Wilson was sent off. In the 47th minute Darlow dived to claw round the post Ikechi Anya’s shot from Marco Motta’s cross. Three minutes later Burke should have done better than slice high and wide when found in the area by Antonio’s smart pull back from the byline. Wilson was sent for an early bath that he can stay in till next season by referee Paul Tierney on the hour mark. The Forest centre-back became embroiled in a row with Ighalo and appeared to kick out, sending the Watford striker to the floor. The three-match ban for violent conduct will end Wilson’s campaign. Ighalo manages to stay on his feet under the challenge of Nottingham Forest centre back Hobbs . Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes rolls the ball out at the City Ground . Despite the deficit, Forest struck back 18 minute from time when Gary Gardner bent an expert free-kick from 25 yards in off the bar. Forest rallied further. Antonio was guilty of an astonishing miss five minutes from time, skewing wide from six yards after Gomes had saved from Gardner to leave the net unguarded. Two minutes later Watford made the win safe. Adlene Guedioura’s 30-yard screamer was punched out by Darlow but collected by Abdi, who rifled in to the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Watford took the lead after just four minutes through Odion Ighalo . Defender Matthew Connolly doubled the Hornets' advantage . Almen Abdi scored a third following Gary Gardner's goal for the home side . Watford climbed to third, one point off top spot in the Championship .