Ismaila Sarr put the visiting side into a deserved lead in a clash of the bottom two but Watford couldn’t get the crucial second goal when they were on top, leaving Danny Ings and Ward-Prowse to catch them out with a sting in the tail late on.
Watford started best, seizing on the anxiety around St Mary’s, as they threatened with shots from Sarr and Gerard Deulofeu.
At the other end, Ryan Bertrand and Nathan Redmond combined but were thwarted by Ben Foster in the Hornets’ goal.
Watford made the breakthrough after 24 minutes. A mistake at the back from Jake Stephens allowed Sarr to nip in behind the Saints rearguard and apply a cool finish for his first Premier League goal.
Watford were well worth the lead at half-time and the boos were beginning to ring out around St Mary’s as Southampton initially struggled to make inroads after the break.
Hasenhuttl summoned Sofiane Boufal and Shane Long from the bench just before the hour and his side duly responded to the attacking reinforcements.
Long almost levelled when his shot was tipped on to the crossbar by Foster but it wasn’t long before the home side got on terms.
Moussa Djenepo rescued an overhit cross from Boufal and his quick feet took him almost into the six-yard box before his cutback was bundled home by Ings.
That left Southampton with 12 minutes to find a priceless winner but they needed barely four.
Etienne Capoue fouled Pierre Hojbjerg 25 yards from goal and Ward-Prowse, so often the go-to man for Southampton, answered the call with a curling shot that found the top corner despite the despairing hand of Foster getting a touch.
Six minutes of added on time at the end were endured by the home support but their side held firm, taking just their third league victory of the season and easing the pressure somewhat on manager Hasenhuttl.
Southampton move above Norwich into 18th place, still two points adrift of Everton and Aston Villa who both play on Sunday, while Watford are now seven points from safety.
Southampton 2-1 Watford
Ismaila Sarr put the visiting side into a deserved lead in a clash of the bottom two but Watford couldn’t get the crucial second goal when they were on top, leaving Danny Ings and Ward-Prowse to catch them out with a sting in the tail late on.
Watford started best, seizing on the anxiety around St Mary’s, as they threatened with shots from Sarr and Gerard Deulofeu.
At the other end, Ryan Bertrand and Nathan Redmond combined but were thwarted by Ben Foster in the Hornets’ goal.
Watford made the breakthrough after 24 minutes. A mistake at the back from Jake Stephens allowed Sarr to nip in behind the Saints rearguard and apply a cool finish for his first Premier League goal.
Watford were well worth the lead at half-time and the boos were beginning to ring out around St Mary’s as Southampton initially struggled to make inroads after the break.
Hasenhuttl summoned Sofiane Boufal and Shane Long from the bench just before the hour and his side duly responded to the attacking reinforcements.
Long almost levelled when his shot was tipped on to the crossbar by Foster but it wasn’t long before the home side got on terms.
Moussa Djenepo rescued an overhit cross from Boufal and his quick feet took him almost into the six-yard box before his cutback was bundled home by Ings.
That left Southampton with 12 minutes to find a priceless winner but they needed barely four.
Etienne Capoue fouled Pierre Hojbjerg 25 yards from goal and Ward-Prowse, so often the go-to man for Southampton, answered the call with a curling shot that found the top corner despite the despairing hand of Foster getting a touch.
Six minutes of added on time at the end were endured by the home support but their side held firm, taking just their third league victory of the season and easing the pressure somewhat on manager Hasenhuttl.
Southampton move above Norwich into 18th place, still two points adrift of Everton and Aston Villa who both play on Sunday, while Watford are now seven points from safety.