Referee:Michael Oliver Attendance:26,929
Match Report: Southampton 2-1 Watford
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clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 
Jose Holebas’ late strike denied Southampton a first Premier League win of the season at St Mary’s as Watford came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Despite Watford enjoying some good fortune to equalise, manager Javi Gracia also felt aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when Ryan Bertrand appeared to foul Nathaniel Chalobah. “There were different situations that were difficult for the referee but it was a clear penalty,” he said.
The man at the centre of it all was Simon Hooper, the referee who up until the 57th minute was getting on with his duties with little fuss. But then came the meltdown. First, he failed to award Watford a clear penalty following Ryan Bertrand’s rash tackle on Nathaniel Chalobah and, six minutes later, decided to ruled out a second Southampton goal for what turned out to be a wholly incorrect reason.
The visitors found a way back eight minutes from the end. Southampton failed to deal with a cross from the left, a deflected clearance and there was Jose Holebas to lash home, via a deflection off Cedric, from just inside the penalty area. Southampton were unable to contain their frustrations.
“Tell you what Matt, the next time we come here, let’s not park in Portsmouth…?” Paul’s an affable sort of bloke, not one for unnecessary or exaggerated protest and in fairness he has a point. Our reserved parking space is actually only half a mile or so from the ground as the crow flies but with the River Itchen in the way it’s a good two miles as the Watford fan trudges. This seemed like a reasonable idea without the filter of the pissing rain, and on the way into Southampton the prospect of snarled traffic put us off from looking for something a bit closer. As it is we arrive damp and tired, and that classic football fan’s war wound, the burn on the roof of the mouth thanks to a hastily inhaled balti pie, doesn’t brighten the outlook. Loz materialises, over from gadding it in Spain, this helps, but as the teams come out it’s absolutely hammering it down.
Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s silence to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War which was accompanied by a rendition of The Last Post. The only other sound that could be heard was the rain on the roof of the stand.
I thought Watford were a bit sluggish in the first half, sloppy in possession and just generally a bit lackluster. Second half however we were much improved, the introduction of Deeney shortly before halftime I think was crucial. If you take away just one trait, one characteristic of this Watford side so far this season it’s that they never give up. We pushed Southampton right until the end and threw the kitchen sink at grabbing a winner. The team spirit that Javi has created in this side is infectious.
Jack Stephens marked his 24th birthday with his first goal for Southampton as they progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 home win over Watford.
Injury-hit Watford struggled to create but nearly forced a replay, Christian Kabasele heading wide in added time.
It was an afternoon of disgruntlement in the stands. While a portion of Southampton’s supporters maintained their burgeoning FA Cup tradition of voicing disapproval with Mauricio Pellegrino’s substitutions, jeering when the Argentinian replaced Sofiane Boufal with Maya Yoshida in the second half, that burst of dissent felt mild in comparison to the moment when Christian Kabasele and José Holebas had to be pulled away from a disagreement with a few Watfordfans after an otherwise forgettable game.
The general sense of malaise was compounded here by conceding inside four minutes and, while there was mostly sarcasm in the fans’ appraisal of a team that have now lost nine out of their last 13 matches, the scenes on the final whistle were angry.
More than one person mentioned yesterday that I usually find something positive to say about games. Sadly, I cannot find anything good to say about that game either on or off the pitch. 
I felt sorry for Gracia after his first game in charge. A ridiculous number of injuries and a fan base that appear to be turning against the players with every game. The new-manager bounce we so badly wanted and needed had the complete opposite effect and as supporters we have ourselves to blame too, we weren’t at the races.
To mark the first anniversary of GT’s passing Roy Moore of the 1881 organised a show of scarves as the teams came out of the tunnel.
clips of Jon Marks BBC 3CR commentary Goals: 
Abdoulaye Doucoure bundled home a controversial 90th-minute equaliser as Watford fought back from 2-0 down to draw with Southampton.
The midfielder diverted the ball in with his arm a minute before full-time as Watford came from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw.
It would have been understandable had Pellegrino exploded, railed against the officials, damned the system and spoken of injustice. But he didn’t. He even managed to spare some sympathy for the referee, Roger East, who evidently missed the nature of the game’s decisive and defining touch.
With Friday being the first anniversary of Graham Taylor’s passing, this game took on a greater significance than normal.
As the teams walked out onto the pitch, Vicarage Road became a sea of scarves held aloft by both Watford and Southampton supporters.
Warmingly, as well as the scarves creating a stunning tableau in the home stands there are Saints scarves aloft in the away end. I’d like to think that these represented solidarity as well as a statement of pride in their own team. Being proud of what and who you are doesn’t obligate you to hate anyone that’s something different whatever the current political climate might imply.
