Gerard Deulofeu hat-trick fires Watford to win at Cardiff

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:24 am

Spaniard Gerard Deulofeu bagged a hat-trick as Watford hammered lowly Cardiff City 5-1 on Friday to move up to seventh place in the Premier League.

Deulofeu put Javi Gracia's side ahead in the 18th minute after a mistake from Cardiff defender Bruno Manga but it was after the break when Watford ran away with the game.

Deulofeu made it 2-0 with a clinical finish after a swift break in the 61st minute and the former Barcelona and Everton winger completed his hat-trick after more poor defending from Neil Warnock's side.

Deulofeu then turned creator, teeing up Troy Deeney for a simple tap-in as Watford romped into a four-goal advantage.

Cardiff, who are 17th and could fall back into the bottom three after this weekend's games, pulled a goal back through defender Sol Bamba but Watford added further punishment with Deeney's second in stoppage time.