ISHMAEL Miller and Kevin Phillips won the battle of the in-form double acts as awesome Albion stunned leaders Watford.

The Baggies' front two both netted inside two first-half minutes to take their tallies to nine apiece this term and end Watford's eight-month unbeaten league run on home soil.

Martin Albrechtsen crowned the visitors' impressive Vicarage Road display by making it 3-0 in the 49th minute with his first goal in 14 months.

Watford's 15-goal strike partnership of Marlon King and Darius Henderson were kept quiet by a rock solid back-four superbly marshaled by Bostjan Cesar on his away league debut.

The Baggies fought like Trojans to keep their first clean-sheet of the season on their Championship travels.

The win - only Albion's second on the road - saw them close the gap on the table-topping Hornets to six points.

Zoltan Gera made his first start in four games as he replaced Chris Brunt in Tony Mowbray's midfield.

On-loan striker Roman Bednar was named in a first-team squad for the first time since his summer arrival from Hearts after shaking off a spate of niggling injuries while Leon Barnett was recalled to the bench.

Hornets boss Aidy Boothroyd named an unchanged XI, meaning former Baggies hitman Nathan Ellington had to settle for a subs' berth.

Ex-Watford men Paul Robinson and Phillips received generous applause from the home support before kick-off on their return to their old stomping ground.

But that's where the pleasantries ended as the hosts pumped the ball immediately forward, with midfielder John Joe O'Toole firing the first shot of the game well wide of the left-hand post.

Watford were forced into a change as early as the tenth minute when Jay DeMerit was stretchered off after clashing with Miller in his own penalty area. Adrian Mariappa replaced the American at centre-half.

Chances were at a premium during the opening stages - but Albion soon threatened.

Albrechtsen headed Jonathan Greening's right-wing free-kick back across goal and James Morrison stole in - only to see his right-foot flick drift just over.

At the other end, a quick Hornets corner saw Adam Johnson find Tommy Smith in space out on the right.

The former Derby winger crossed to the back post where Henderson climbed above Albrechtsen and his downward header was well clutched by Dean Kiely on the goalline.

The hosts threatened again in the 27th minute when Danny Shittu's goalbound header from Jordan Stewart's long free-kick deflected off Henderson and flew wide.

In the 29th minute, Johnson's left-wing cross rebounded out to Smith on the edge of the Baggies box and his first-time effort was headed away by Robinson.

Seconds later, the impressive Gera collected the ball on the right and cut inside Johnson before curling a left-footed shot just wide of the left-hand angle of post and bar.

But Miller went one better in the 33rd minute by firing Albion ahead - scoring for the fourth successive game.

Miller flicked the ball on for strike partner Phillips who nicked the ball past Mariappa and powered into the box.

The ex-England international's shot was brilliantly blocked by Watford keeper Richard Lee but Miller controlled the rebound and blasted it past two defenders on the goalline.

From the re-start, Albion regained possession and a long period of keep-ball resulted in Robinson bursting past Lloyd Doyley and pulling the back for Gera, whose first-time effort from 15 yards bounced down off the crossbar.

There was some suggestion the ball had crossed the line - but it mattered not.

Morrison seized on the rebound and his ferocious 15-yard drive was diverted into the net by Phillips' leg to make it 2-0 in the 35th minute.

The Baggies were buzzing, although on-loan Middlesbrough wing wizard Johnson went close to pulling a goal back a minute before the break when he curled a 20-yard free-kick just wide of the right-hand upright.

Albion started the second half brightly and Morrison got the better of Doyley in the 48th minute to surge forward, only to delay his pass to Miller too long and allow Shittu to intercept.

But it was 3-0 just a minute later.

Albrechtsen powered in to head Greening's right-wing free-kick past Lee's despairing dive.

Albion were now in complete control and went close again when Miller's tame effort was fumbled by Lee.

The Watford shot-stopper redeemed himself by clutching the ball at the second attempt, denying the predatory Phillips a simple tap-in.

Mowbray handed Roman Bednar his Albion debut in the 63rd minute as he replaced Miller. It was part of a double change, with Chris Brunt coming on for Morrison.

A mix-up in the Albion defence saw Doyley's long punt hand Henderson a glorious opportunity in the 65th minute, but the Hornets striker screwed his shot horribly wide.

Watford rallied during the closing stages and Smith headed just over from Johnson's left-wing cross.

Boothroyd threw on Ellington in the 72nd minute in place of Henderson - but it was Albion who threatened next.

Greening drove forward and slotted the ball through to Phillips who would have been in on goal had he been able to take the ball in his stride.

At the other end, Ellington found himself in space 30 yards out and saw a ferocious right-footed drive flash just past the right-hand post.

The Baggies broke again in the 80th minute and Bednar would have been better served squaring to give Brunt a tap-in but came back inside on his right foot and fired a tame effort against Mariappa.

Four minutes from the end, patient build-up play by the Baggies resulted in Robinson finding the unmarked Koren at the far post.

The Slovenia international headed back into the danger area where Jordan Stewart just managed to scramble the ball away to safety before Bednar could pounce.

Brunt came close to making it four in the final minute when he ran onto Gera's diagonal ball and drilled a low shot just past the far post as Albion ran out comfortable winners.

WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee; Doyley. DeMerit (Mariappa 10), Shittu, Stewart; Smith, Mahon (Williamson 66), O'Toole, Johnson; King, Henderson (Ellington 72). Subs not used: McAnuff, Priskin.

ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Albrechtsen, Cesar, Robinson; Gera, Koren, Greening, Morrison (Brunt 63); Miller (Bednar 63), Phillips (Teixeira 81). Subs not used: Barnett, Pele.

GOALS: ALBION - Miller (33), Phillips (35), Albrechtsen (49).

BOOKINGS: WATFORD - Shittu (foul 21), O'Toole (foul 45); ALBION - Greening (foul 19), Cesar (foul 57).

REFEREE: M Jones (Chester).

ATTENDANCE: 18,273.

ALBION STARMAN: Zoltan Gera.

PIC: GOAL GLEE...Morrison congratulates goalscorer Miller

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