Watford 3-0 Birmingham City: Tom Ince scores hat-trick in Hornets win

And they continued their fine record against Birmingham, beating them for the seventh successive home league game without conceding.

The outcome rarely looked in doubt from the moment Ince fired the hosts into a ninth-minute lead, calmly finishing first time from eight yards as Chakvetadze’s pass over the Birmingham defence dropped into his path.

Ince then chipped into the side-netting from a tight angle following an overhit Chakvetadze pass before doubling the lead by converting Othmane Maamma’s cross at the second attempt.

His first league hat-trick since December 2015 was complete when he drilled home Nestory Irankunda’s pass, and he should have had a fourth when he side-footed over shortly afterwards.

Birmingham, who were without leading scorer Jay Stansfield because of injury, only threatened fleetingly, with Patrick Roberts failing to trouble home keeper Egil Selvik with their best openings.

Blues, who have won only two away games in the league since returning to the Championship this season, slip to 16th in the table.

And this defeat ensured their miserable record on New Year’s Day continued.

They have not won a league game on 1 January since winning at Mansfield in 1991 – the longest ongoing winless streak on the date of any team in England’s top four tiers.