Both the Watford goals were the result of clever thinking and equally smart delivery by the outstanding Imran Louza and means his side are now just a point and two places outside the play-off spots thanks to a third win in a five-game unbeaten run.
The prospect of an away win looked unlikely when James set the tone for an exhilarating afternoon with a shrewd finish, shifting the ball to his right foot and shooting low into the far corner after some neat team interplay on the edge of the box
Both sides wasted good opportunities thereafter before the visitors got back on terms just before the break through Maamma’s delicious first-time finish with the outside of his right boot following Louza’s lay-off.
The parity was well deserved, Watford having gone close through Luca Kjerrumgaard and also seeing a Pollock header ruled out for offside from a corner.
But Leicester, who have now picked up just 14 points from their past 13 games and were booed off at the end, will be rueing a glorious chance to go 2-0 ahead when Watford keeper Egil Selvik made amends for his dreadful clearance by pushing away Stephy Mavididi’s low strike.