w-INCE from Hornets

BIRMINGHAM

- By ALEX DICKEN

City's miserable away days have continued into the New Year after a Tom Ince hat-trick handed Watford a resounding 3-0 victory over Chris Davies’ team.The promotion-chasing Hornets dished out a beating to continue their good form and put more space between Blues and the top-six battle.

Ince should even have added a fourth goal when he fired over an open net inside the six-yard box with 20 minutes remaining.

He still collected a deserved match ball for his first Championship hat-trick for 10 years and 17 days, since he netted a treble for Derby against Bristol City in December 2015.

Ince’s hat-trick showcased his full range of talents. His first goal arrived after nine minutes when he delightfully cushioned his volley off a Giorgi Chakvetadze cross into the bottom corner.

Chakvetadze found him again in the 20th minute, but this time Ince's clipped shot struck the side-netting from a tight angle.