Watford piled on the misery for struggling Hull as Michael Dawson's late own goal condemned the visitors to a painful 1-0 loss on Saturday.

Hull manager Mike Phelan is yet to register a Premier League win since taking over on a permanent basis on October 13 and his luck was out again at Vicarage Road.

Just seven minutes from stealing a point, Hull crashed to a sixth successive league defeat when Tigers captain Dawson deflected Roberto Pereyra's effort into his own net seven minutes from full-time.

Hull have gone without a league victory since beating Swansea on August 20 and they are languishing in the bottom three with a long struggle ahead as they fight to avoid the relegation.

Watford's spirited showing extended their best ever Premier League start and they have lost only one of their last seven top-flight matches.

Hull had enjoyed a rare bit of good news in midweek when they advanced to the League Cup quarter-finals, but their first top-flight meeting with Watford quickly took on a more familiar downbeat tone.

Walter Mazzarri's side were on top right from the start and threatened twice in quick succession when Younes Kaboul powered his header against the crossbar before Pereyra's curling effort clipped a post and bounced to safety.

Troy Deeney was bidding to join Cliff Holton, Ross Jenkins, Tommy Barnett and Luther Blissett as the only players with 100 goals for Watford and the burly striker flashed a low shot wide midway through the half.

Watford should have been in front before the interval, but Sebastian Prodl nodded wide from a Nordin Amrabat cross and Deeney headed over from close range after another Amrabat delivery bounced into his path.

A rare Hull attack saw David Marshall's goal kick headed on by Will Keane into the path of Abel Hernandez, who raced clear only to see his tame shot saved by Heurelho Gomes.

Amrabat remained a constant menace down the wings and the Watford star produced another fine cross that Odion Ighalo couldn't keep on target.

Just as it seemed Hull might ride their luck and take a point, the Hornets won it in the 83rd minute when Daryl Janmaat's cross was flicked on by Pereyra and took a deflection off Dawson's shoulder en route to the back of the net.