Referee:Jonathan Moss Attendance:20,051
Match Report: Watford 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Pereyra: “This Is Just The Start”
Gracia: “The Way We Did It Was Important”
Highlights: Watford 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Gray: “We’ve Got A Good Understanding”
Another Angle: Brighton & Hove Albion
clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 1 2
RELIVE – Pereyra stars as Hornets down Seagulls
Pereyra at the double as Hornets make impressive start
Gracia: Manner of win ‘more important to us’
Formation ‘can change depending on opponents’
RATINGS: Pereyra the star in excellent team performance
Doucoure had ‘worked very hard’ despite no pre-season match minutes
Pereyra can be ‘important player’ for Hornets
Pereyra praises team display after starring role against Seagulls
Brighton manager Chris Hughton said he was left to “wonder what happened” after his side were comfortably beaten by Watford at Vicarage Road.
It was all too comfortable for Watford, who controlled the game impressively in the second half, while Brighton have plenty of work ahead after failing to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
If, as most bookmakers have predicted, this is the season Watford’s stay in the Premier League comes to an end, then somebody had better tell their players. Judging by the manner of their victory here, they have not seen the odds or have done so and been fuelled by a sense of defiance.
Watford had never previously won an opening day fixture in the Premier League yet came through this one with little alarm. Roberto Pereyra, the former Juventus winger, scored both goals on a day when Brighton rarely troubled Ben Foster in the home goal.
In many respects the question on Brighton is quite how bad they were, versus how bad we made them look. The goal is an example… someone should have been keeping an eye on Pereyra but he arrived late to fill the space on the edge of the box vacated by decoy runs to the near post. Yes, Albion were dozy but we forced the issue. Similarly in midfield, Albion were overrun and perhaps even complacent but it was in the face of our relentless and disciplined pressing that it crumpled. When we broke, particularly in the first half having regained possession deep we hurtled through the midfield; there’s maybe a concern that we didn’t capitalise but with Deulofeu’s pace and Chalobah’s awareness to return you’ve got to fancy us away from home.
A relatively stress free afternoon on the opening day. I’m happy to say that all the nerves I had before the game were put to rest fairly early on.
Watford looked sharp and hungry. The pressure that Deeney and Gray applied to the Brighton back line was telling and the visitors couldn’t cope. Capoue bossed the midfield whilst the centre back pairing of Kabasele and Cathcart gave Foster little to do all afternoon.
Saturday was to be an important day for Watford fans with the long awaited unveiling of the GT statue.
Brighton claimed their first ever Premier League point despite failing to break down 10-man Watford at Vicarage Road.
Brighton picked up their first Premier League point with a 0-0 draw at Watford on Saturday – but will feel they should have taken all three against their 10-man hosts.
While a first ever Premier League point is not to be sniffed at Brighton will wonder how they did not tick off all the mini missions they need to convince themselves they mean business at the highest echelon of the English game. Three matches in and a goal still eludes them. A confidence-boosting win is still needed as soon as possible. It was not for want of trying, here, particularly when Watford’s numbers were depleted in the 24th minute after Miguel Britos was sent off when his dangerous, hotheaded challenge left Anthony Knockaert floored.
Miguel Britos was shown an early red card after his dangerous tackle on Anthony Knockaert but the visitors were unable to capitalise on their advantage
So. August Bank Holiday, then. End of the first bit of the season prior to the first international break, first chance to take stock. End of the transfer window approaches too, a transfer window during which we’ve been linked to well over 100 players and have revised the squad significantly.
The game was flipped on its head on 24 minutes however. As Knockaert and Britos were involved in a foot-race on the right-hand-side, the Watford defender put on his best Jackie Chan impression and lept through the air, studs showing and clattered into the Frenchman. It was, without doubt, one of the worst tackles I can remember at Vicarage Road, rivaled only by Heidar Helguson on Blackburn’s John Curtis in 2001. 
Watford claimed a well deserved point against Brighton after Miguel Britos’ horror challenge had reduced them to 10-men at Vicarage Road.
clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 
Bristol City secured a memorable 3-2 victory as Marco Silva’s promising start to life at Watford came to a shuddering halt in the Carabao Cup.
After the cracking performances in the first two games of the season, it was a happy band who met at the West Herts prior to this match. Those who had been at Bournemouth were assuring those who hadn’t that the game had been as much fun as it sounded on the radio and in reports. We also took time to teach them the new chant for Doucouré.
The Hornets’ poor league cup record continued after Bristol City came from behind to book their place in the third round with a 3-2 victory at Vicarage Road. The big question going into the tie was how strong a starting eleven Silva would field and the answer was comprehensive, he would be taking the competition seriously.
clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 
Brazilian winger Richarlison was described as “a great talent” by manager Marco Silva after his first Premier League goal helped Watford to victory over Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium.
Second-half goals from Richarlison and Etienne Capoue handed Watford a deserved 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The miracle Eddie Howe has managed to pull off at Bournemouth was brought into stark relief once again with an early home defeat at the hands of a Watford side who look ready to kick on from a disappointing end to last season.
Richarlison nets first Watford goal as Hornets keep Bournemouth winless
Football, there’s nothing quite like it really is there? My weeks are always spent waiting and counting down until the next game. When someone asks me for the date of important events or vice versa, I only know when that is in relation to the football fixtures. “When do you go on holiday, mum?” “16th December, Andrew”
Jon is joined by Kelly Somers, Kieran Thievam and Colin Mace as they talk through the away win at the Cherries. How have the Hornets moved on from the home draw to Liverpool and have the new boys started to make an impact on the squad? Oh and yes, you can hear that chant and keep it stuck in your head until Bristol City at home.
