City blew away the misery of five successive defeats as an Eoin Jess hat-trick led them to a 4-3 win over Watford this afternoon.

The fans hailed boss Jim Jefferies throughout a performance which will have lifted the cloud of uncertainty that had been hanging over his future.

Loan star Matt Etherington opened the scoring before leading scorer Jess took over. But Watford, who had Patrick Blondeau sent off, ensured a few tense moments with goals from Tommy Smith (2) and Heidar Helguson.

Under-pressure boss Jim Jefferies received another pre-match blow when Ashley Ward and Andy Myers both failed lunchtime fitness tests.

With Gary Locke suspended for collecting five bookings, resources were again stretched - amplified by the bench which contained teenagers Lewis Emanuel and Danny Forrest.

But the home crowd, taking advantage of the decision to slash ticket prices, were treated to their first glimpse of on-loan winger Matt Etherington who made an immediate impact coming on in the last 20 minutes at Millwall on Tuesday.

City were desperate to bury a dismal run of seven defeats in their last eight games against a Watford who had won only once on their travels.

Watford won an early free-kick in a promising position after Robert Molenaar upended Heidar Helguson. Stephen Glass curled it over the wall but Gary Walsh got across to palm it round for a corner.

And City got the start they wanted with a goal from their first attack of the game in the sixth minute.

Gunnar Halle cut out a poor clearance from Paul Robinson before arrowing a perfect cross to the far post where Etherington nodded the ball firmly past his former Tottenham colleague Espen Baardsen.

The sense of relief around the ground was obvious - City were in front for the first time since they beat Grimsby here four weeks and five games ago.

Three minutes later Etherington was on the ball again, weaving past two tackles before being blocked in the Watford penalty area. The 20-year-old was operating wide in a 4-3-3 formation, with Robbie Blake and Eoin Jess, pictured, switching between the same role on the right.

Tommy Smith, who played such a big part in City's Worthington Cup demise, gave the home side a timely warning after 18 minutes with a fierce cross-shot that flew across Walsh's goal.

Patrick Blondeau went into the book for a foul on Etherington. Jacobs, back after missing the last three games, curled the free-kick into the Watford area where Baardsen punched away.

Watford were opened up again by a glorious pass from Whalley which found Etherington lurking near the far byline. He thumped a low shot towards the near post which Baardsen parried, before Issa could hook the rebound away from the in-coming Tod.

A firework thrown from outside the ground landed right in front of the tea bar beside the Symphony Stand. But there was plenty to keep eyes glued to the action as City forced a corner which Baardsen claimed from David Wetherall.

Whalley tried an ambitious one-two with the lively Blake which was cut out on the edge of the Watford area but City continued to probe against a defence that looked shaky.

The home side created problems of their own when Molenaar decided to pass back to Walsh under pressure rather than clear up the field. It brought an angry arm-waving reaction from Jefferies' number two Billy Brown in his perch halfway up the main stand.

Molenaar was having to work hard to contain Watford's front pairing of Smith and Heidar Helguson and the Dutchman just got a toe to a through ball from Filippo Galli to steer it away from Helguson's path.

The 1,200 away fans could be heard for the first time as Watford started to come into things and a sliced clearance from Molenaar won them a corner nine minutes before the break.

But City doubled their advantage straight away.

Halle was again the provider as he galloped down the right before cutting the ball across the box. JESS collected it 15 yards out and side-footed a shot past Baardsen's left hand into the net.

It was a sixth goal of the season for Jess, the leading scorer, and soothed a few local nerves.

The City defence were riding their luck a bit but it made a welcome change to see them getting the rub of the green.

Halle, put in plenty of work on the right, won another City corner. Whalley's kick was overhit but Etherington whipped it back in where Galli was forced to knock it behind once more. This time the kick was better and although Galli again won the header, Watford made a meal of getting the ball away.

Half-time: City 2, Watford 0

Life got even better for City 90 seconds into the second half with a third goal.

Jacobs crossed early from the left, Tod brought it down well and slipped a neat touch to JESS who smartly steered the ball home from ten yards.

The noise now cascaded down from the Carlsberg Stand as the supporters relished the prospect of three much-needed points.

Halle was reeling off some great crosses and another was just beyond Etherington who claimed in vain that he had been pushed to the floor by Blondeau.

Watford were desperately in need of a lifeline and after Molenaar had blocked Helguson to concede a corner, Gianluca Vialli threw on all three substitutes. Nordin Wooter, Ramon Vega and James Panayi came on for Galli, Glass and Fisken.

But the visitors were looking a shadow of the team that had caused the Bantams so many problems at Vicarage Road 18 days ago. Smith apart, they had rarely threatened and were constantly frustrated by an efficient offside trap.

Cox just took the ball off Tod's head from a cross by Jess before Baardsen dived to his left to hold a swerving drive from Jess. Smith responded with an effort straight into Walsh's body.

But Watford pulled one back in the 62nd minute with two of the substitutes involved in the move.

Panayi crossed low from the left, Wooter stepped over it fooling the home defence and HELGUSON whammed it home from ten yards.

But far from panic, City restored their three-goal cushion two minutes later - with a helping hand from Lady Luck.

Tod headed Etherington's cross into the six-yard box where Robinson got to it ahead of JESS. But the defender's clearance pinged off the Scot's knee and back into the net.

Watford were growing more frustrated and Cox was shown the yellow card for a nasty foul on Etherington.

Play was stopped as Whalley received treatment - and another chorus of support for Jefferies reverberated around the ground. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the early weeks of the season when City were sweeping everyone before them and a total change from the uncomfortable recent matches.

But Watford briefly punctured the singing with a second of their own with 15 minutes to go. Helguson's strong run created space in the City ranks before he slipped the ball to his left where SMITH drilled home a goal his individual efforts had warranted.

The home fans, though, quickly picked up their rhythm again and Blake straight away thumped another shot into Baardsen.

But nerves were tingling again two minutes when Molenaar was adjudged to have pulled Panayi back and Watford were awarded a penalty. SMITH sent Walsh the wrong way from the spot and the visitors were back to 4-3.

Jess was replaced after 87 minutes by Lee Makel, leaving the field to a well-earned standing ovation.

As the fourth official indicated five minutes of added time, a fan wearing only his pants and boots provided some light relief from the tension.

Watford were reduced to ten men when Blondeau was sent off after another late tackle on Etherington.