Both teams showed four changes from their weekend starting line-ups, with wing-back Leif Davis absent from the Ipswich squad because of a knock and talented winger Othmane Maamma missing for Watford.
Marcelino Nunez caused early consternation for the home defence with a couple of inswinging corners, the first punched away under pressure by Egil Selvik and the second curling just past the far post as the Norwegian keeper fell backwards on his line.
The Hornets found themselves pinned in their own half, with eight or nine men behind the ball at times, and Still urgently needed to find a way to disrupt Ipswich’s passing rhythm.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between at either end until a Watford break saw Stephen Mfuni cross for Luca Kjerrumgaard who was unable to direct his near-post header on target.
Ipswich’s pressure finally told as a Nunez free-kick struck the wall and flew to Egeli, who sent a bouncing volley beyond Selvik and into the far corner.
After just a few minutes on the pitch in his Watford debut 10 days earlier, Italian midfielder Edoardo Bove was sent on for the second half in place of Giorgi Chakvetadze, a tall order to replace the team’s main playmaker.
Ipswich’s Cedric Kipre was booked for bringing down Nestory Irankunda as the Hornets began to threaten down their right flank but Nunez flashed a shot just wide from 20 yards at the other end after being given far too much space in midfield.
And Hirst sealed the points when he used his torso to force home Jacob Greaves’ cross for his first goal since early December after Jack Clarke’s initial effort had been blocked.
Bove – who suffered a cardiac arrest during a game in Italy in 2024 – was inches wide as he looked for his first goal in a yellow shirt before Ince was pulled back by Darnell Furlong in the box, but Walton dived to his left to push away his spot-kick.
There was time for one last chance for the home side but Walton beat away Irankunda’s left-foot shot in added time for the personal reward of a clean sheet.
Watford are next away to Bristol City on Friday evening, with Ipswich – who are six points behind second-placed Middlesbrough after the Teessiders were held to a 1-1 draw by Leicester – taking on Swansea City at Portman Road the following day.