Martin O'Neill must have no idea what to do with himself. Last night's victory over an insipid Watford lifted his Leicester City side to fifth in the Premiership. Not even he could fret about relegation from there without looking at the table standing on his head.

Ultimately Muzzy Izzet's deflected goal was enough but Leicester had to endure some nervy moments after wasting late opportunities to seal the game, the impressive Emile Heskey heading against the woodwork for the second time and Matt Elliott volleying over from close range.

Anyone who tuned in or turned up to this fixture knew they would not be short-changed on effort. No one slacks under Martin O'Neill or Graham Taylor and gets away with it.

Taylor has stressed that he sees Leicester as an example for Watford to follow and must have identified Heskey as the principal threat. The striker was surely disappointed to find himself omitted from the full England squad.

Looking quicker and stronger now he has shaken off the back injury which hampered him last season, the 21-year-old, was a constant menace. Watford just could not cope with his turn of speed.

Taylor's men threatened sporadically, but Leicester got the goal they deserved shortly before the break. Chris Day dropped Frank Sinclair's cross at the feet of Steve Guppy and his cross-shot was scrambled in untidily by Izzet.

Leicester: Arphexad, Sinclair, Elliott, Taggart, Izzet, Lennon, Savage, Oakes (Zagorakis 69), Guppy, Heskey, Cottee (Marshall 86). Subs Not Used: Gilchrist, Wilson, Hodges. Booked: Lennon, Heskey, Izzet. Goals: Izzet 44.

Watford: Day, Lyttle, Kennedy, Page, Palmer, Easton (Bakalli 71), Hyde, Robinson, Williams, Mooney, Ngonge (Gudmundsson 71). Subs Not Used: Bonnot, Foley, Walker. Booked: Hyde, Easton, Kennedy.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).