Watford came from a goal down to beat Preston North End 2-1 at Vicarage Road to bounce back from two successive Championship defeats.

Second-half goals from Edo Kayembe and Mamadou Doumbia were enough to secure the three points for the Hornets, who trailed at the break thanks to Callum Lang's early strike.

Preston had numerous chances to double their advantage when leading but were denied by wasteful finishing and a good performance from Watford goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia.

The win takes Watford into the top half of the Championship table, while Preston drop to the bottom of the standings after local rivals Burnley picked up a point at Wrexham.

Watford, who named 11 different nationalities in their starting line-up, went close to opening the scoring early on but Rocco Vata's strike was beaten out at his near post by Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen.

Preston made their hosts pay soon after when Jordan Thompson's shot from outside the box could only be pushed on to the post by Watford keeper Ravaglia and Lang bundled the ball in from close range.

Alfie Devine had a chance to double Preston's lead but he swept his effort over the bar and the visitors really ought to have scored a second when Lang could only find Ravaglia following a fast, incisive counter-attack led by Johnny Kenny.

The forward went close again when his deflected effort curled just wide and, at the other end, Kevin Keben could only head an effort well off target from just a few yards out.

Watford captain Mattie Pollock spurned a good opportunity to equalise early on in the second half, firing over left-footed on the turn, and his side were very lucky not to be two goals down moments later.

Preston defender Harry Clarke danced his way inside and his deflected effort looked to be creeping in but for an excellent fingertip save by Ravaglia to turn the ball on to the post and back into the grateful hands of the Italian.

Othmane Maamma, a half-time substitute for Watford, got to the byeline to create havoc in the Preston box as Devine's scuffed clearance landed straight at the feet of Kayembe, who capitalised by firing the Hornets level.

Delano Burgzorg was prevented from putting Preston back in front by a smothering Ravaglia save before Doumbia was in the right place to head home a pinpoint cross from another half-time substitute, Iker Bravo, inside the six-yard box to turn the game on its head.

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"You get what you deserve regardless of performance levels. We should have been out of sight and I felt really comfortable right up to them scoring.

"It's very similar [to other performances this season]. That's the frustrating bit. Bristol City was similar.

"People I've just seen up there asked, 'How have you not seen that out?' But those goals [conceded] are really poor and unless we as a group sort that, we're not going to get what we deserve from games."