Jeremy Ngakia's stunning strike clinched a 2-1 win for Watford over Bristol City to boost their hopes of finishing in the Championship play-off places.

Scott Twine had cancelled out Luca Kjerrumgaard's early opener, but Ngakia had the final say as Watford leapfrogged their hosts in the table, with Ed Still’s first away win since stepping into the dugout.

It took just seven minutes for Kjerrumgaard to punish the Robins' backline after some neat play down the left. Edo Kayembe laid it into the Dane, who rifled into the roof of the net from close range.

The returning Ross McCrorie then forced a smart save out of Egil Selvik before Saba Goglichidze struck the post with an awkward free-kick just before the half-hour mark.

But Twine equalised in the 36th minute, with Adam Randell recycling Tomi Horvat's half-cleared free-kick to set up the glancing header.

Both sides initially struggled in the second half, with Nestory Irankunda blazing a volley over the bar before Sinclair Armstrong picked out the side netting.

Ngakia stepped up with the winning moment, though, bending his sumptuous strike from the edge of the box past the helpless Radel Vitek in the 77th minute to give Watford all three points, while denting the hosts' own play-off hopes in the process.

Data Debrief: Watford turn the tide

Prior to this game, Bristol City were unbeaten in their last five home league games against Watford (W2 D3), but the Hornets earned their first win at Ashton Gate since March 2012.

But they have been strong on the road, with just one loss in their last eight away from home (W2 D4), only losing at Southampton in that time.

It was a game of few clear-cut chances, with both sides having 11 shots, of which four were on target, though Watford edged the expected goals (xG) battle by 0.99 to 0.89.

Ngakia provided the match-winning moment with his only shot, which was worth just 0.04 xG, though he was influential throughout, having the joint-most touches in the opposition box (eight) and the second-most touches (64).