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Referee:Michael Oliver Attendance:26,929

Match Report: Southampton 2-1 Watford

Watford beaten by Southampton in relegation scrap

Watford’s survival hopes take major blow with Southampton defeat

VAR officials were not given angle to disallow Southampton handball, claim Watford

Quique Sanchez Flores ‘not sure’ if he will keep Watford job

Watford players rated after being turned over by Southampton

Will Hughes ‘disappointed’ by inconsistent VAR after Watford lose to Southampton

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores said he “suffers” for the fans, players and owner after defeat at fellow strugglers Southampton.

Both teams were languishing at the bottom of the table heading into the vital game at St Mary’s, and it was Watford who got themselves ahead in the first half as Ismaila Sarr (24) coolly finished for his first Premier League goal.

Hasenhüttl’s substitutes woke up Southampton, with Sofiane Boufal and Shane Long introduced approaching the hour mark, but in the buildup to Ings’s equaliser Moussa Djenepo appeared guilty of handball. It is understood the Premier League recognises the goal should have been disallowed by the video assistant referee but, at the time, the VAR did not have conclusive evidence; it is understood it took broadcasters eight minutes to find the definitive angle.

It soon got better for the long-suffering home support, who had witnessed just nine home wins in two and half seasons. Hojbjerg charged forward and was clipped just outside the area. Ward-Prowse whipped a 20-yard shot towards the top right corner which Foster could get a hand to, but not keep out.

With family commitments ruling out a trip to St Mary’s, Jon, Jas, Mike and Jordi gathered at Mike’s to watch Watford lose their must win fixture with fellow strugglers Southampton. It’s fair to say any pre-match optimism had well and truly evaporated by the final whistle; download the podcast to see if the team think the Hornet’s survival hopes have disappeared too.