Vakoun Bayo scored four second-half goals in an astonishing individual display as Watford scored five times after the break to crush Sheffield Wednesday and end a run of five consecutive away league defeats.
The Hornets had not won away from home in the Championship since their opening-day success against Millwall and were second best before the break – and fortunate to be going in level at 1-1 despite taking the lead through a neat close-range finish by Ryan Porteous.
Michael Smith’s clever volley deservedly levelled for the Owls, but Tom Cleverley’s side destroyed their hosts in the second half.
Penalties by Tom Ince and Bayo, in the space of six minutes, put Watford in control.
Bayo then headed home home a fourth away goal before Pol Valentin offered the faintest hope of an unlikely comeback with a far-post volley that got the score back to 4-2 with eight minutes remaining.
An exquisite chip completed Bayo’s treble and he took his season tally from one in 11 league games to five in 12 to seal an incredible victory and take the Hornets up to fifth in the Championship table.
There was no sign of the extraordinary second half to come after a first period where Wednesday had the better of things and restricted their opponents to a solitary attempt on target.
The Owls, chasing a first win at Hillsborough in five games, were the stronger starters and D’Shon Bernard twice missed decent headed chances.
The defender nodded an effort wide from Marvin Johnson’s cross and, soon after, he was also off target after a smart run helped him create space from a Shea Charles free-kick.
Watford led against the run of play, however, Porteous turning the ball home at the near post after some fine wing play by Kwadwo Baah on the left.
Smith’s cleverly controlled volley levelled the scores, but Ince’s confident penalty sent James Beadle the wrong way to restore Watford’s lead seven minutes after the interval.
But Bayo then took centre stage, scoring four goals in a remarkable 30-minute spell.
