Watford were given tough introduction to the Premiership by Egil Olsen’s Wimbledon.

AS THE sun set on last season’s opening afternoon Graham Taylor, the Watford manager, stood on the touch line at Fratton Park, wearing shorts and a smile, after his freshly-promoted team had beaten Portsmouth with the help of an outrageous own goal. Newly promoted once more, Taylor was left content after his enthusiastic side contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of a draw with a similarly comical self-inflicted blow.

BSAD report: At Vicarage Road, excitement crackles in the air like static. For a spine-shivering moment loitering in Occupation Road, I can vividly recall the mood before our First Division debut against Everton all those years ago. This feels the same, and it’s impossible to believe that we’re anything other than invincible. I hadn’t been aware of waiting for the Premiership kickoff – life seems full to overflowing right now, summer seemed too short – but suddenly impatience overwhelms everything.