Vivaldo Semedo's late winner against Norwich moved Watford into the Championship play-off places.

A game of few clear-cut chances looked to be heading for a draw until substitute Semedo found the back of the net with a deflected strike in the 90th minute.

The result moved Javi Gracia's side up to sixth in the table following their third straight win, with their unbeaten run now stretching to six matches.

Norwich remain in the relegation zone after their run of four games without defeat came to an end.

Watford's Max Alleyne was denied by the post midway through the first half in an otherwise quiet opening 45 minutes at Carrow Road.

The hosts were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second period and Josh Sargent's ball across the face of goal was excellently cut out by Marc Bola to prevent a tap-in.

Sargent - in the starting XI at the expense of top scorer Jovon Makama - might have done better after latching onto Kenny McLean's pass not long after the hour mark, but his low strike lacked power and was gratefully collected by Egil Selvik.

Norwich goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic then came to his side's rescue with a smart stop to keep out Mattie Pollock's header from Tom Ince's corner.

A draw might have been a fair result, but Watford's substitutes had other ideas as they combined for the winning goal, which owed much to Nestory Irankunda's superb assist.

The winger's brilliant burst of pace took him past three Norwich defenders before he found Semedo inside the box. His shot took a telling deflection and found its way into the bottom corner.

Makama nodded wide from close range deep into injury time as Norwich tried to force a leveller.

Philippe Clement's team are now four points from safety.

Watford boss Javi Gracia told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"I love working at Christmas! It's something I never thought that I could say. It's something amazing to get three wins in a row.

"This spirit, the team with all the players involved as well, it's something to be proud of.

"The most important [thing] is they believe they can do it, they believe the way they are training and they believe the way they are competing. This way they are much better as a team."

Norwich City boss Philippe Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"The most horrible way [to lose]. It wasn't the most open, attractive game, because two teams defended really well.

"We defended really well in our pressing to avoid that Watford could play their normal game with a lot of quality on the ball, a lot of possession.

"You see also we have more possession than them in this game and we were also the team who made the best chances.

"In the moment that you feel it's a good box match - two good boxers fighting with each other. We were pushing them back and they were in the ropes.

"Then one transition where they were extremely lucky, because this ball isn't on target or [Vladan Kovacevic] is in the corner to make an easy save. Because of [the deflection] the ball ends up in the opposite corner. We were really unlucky today."