Match report: Brighton 2-0 Watford
Premier League: Shane Duffy and Neal Maupay scored the goals as Brighton won at their leisure in front of a heartwarmingly well attended Amex Stadium.
Over to you, Graham Potter ...
“I thought we played well first half, scored a really good first goal with Shane’s header,” the Brighton manager tells Sky Sports. “We had good attacks, good control and then a nice second goal in terms of a pressing action. It was pleasing and first half I thought we deserved the lead. We probably won the game in terms of having the scoreline at 2-0 at half-time. Of course then you have to defend because you know the oppositiuon are going to respond, which they did. And we defended well.”
On Shane Duffy: “He’s done really, really well. Both games since he’s been back he’s almost been a breath of fresh air, in terms of how he’s been with the group and how he’ss worked professionally day to day. It’s a credit to him and we just want to help him try to enjoy his football and looks like he is. That’s great for us.”
On Neal Maupay’s injury: “He’s not too bad. We’ll see how it goes over the next day or so but hopefully it’s just a few days or weeks we’re looking at. Over the next day or so we’ll get more details.”
Shane Duffy speaks ...
“It was a special day, everyone knows that with the fans back,” he says in a post-match chat with Sky Sports. “I’m delighted we’ve got off to a perfect start and in the first half especially I thought we were really good. We controlled the whole half, really, then in the second half they sort of went for it. They had nothing to lose at 2-0 down and we havew to take credit for our defending and digging in at the end.
“It’s a special place for me here and to score at the first game back, I’m delighted. It’ll take a lot to keep me away from here and unless I’m told otherwise I’m not going. I’m delighted the club has given me the chance to get me back and help me. I owe a lot to this club so I’m taking it game by game and step by step. If I can help the team in any way I will, whether it’s playing for the team or not playing. I know what I can bring to the team and I know my qualities, so I just have to hope the manager and my teammates believe in me.”
That Maupay goal: Looking at it again, I may be being a little harsh on Cleverley, who had his back to Bissouma when he received the ball from Ekong. It was a bit of a hospital pass but Cleverley should have done better before being ambushed.
Man of the match: Yves Bissouma, without question. He was outstanding throughout, caused Watford’s defence all sorts of problems and pounced to punish a dozing Tom Cleverley and set up Neal Maupay’s goal. Adam Webster and Shane Duffy also impressed for the home side, who were well worth their win.
Full time: Brighton 2-0 Watford
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeep! It’s all over at the Amex Stadium, where Brighton have won courtesy of goals from Shane Duffy and Neal Maupay. It was a fairly straightforward win over a toothless Watford side, whose much-improved second half performance wasn’t enough to help them muster anything much in the way of a goal threat. Brighton go second in the table behind Liverpool on goal difference and are firmly on course for a title tilt and Champions League qualification.
90+2 min: Brighton try to starve Watford of possession in the knockings of the game. Anthony Taylor blows for full-time and they’ve won their second game in succession.
90+1 min: Solly March is booked for time-wasting. Or preventing Watford from restarting the game. Both amount to the same offence.
90 min: Connolly draws a foul from Masina and wins Brighton a free-kick.
89 min: Mwepu plays a give-and-go through the middle, advances on Watford’s penalty area and shoots. Wide.
88 min: Etebo tries his luck from just outside the Brighton penalty area. Duffy blocks. The Irish international has played well today. His Brighton future is uncertain but he has done his prospects of staying at the club no harm with his performances over the past two games.
87 min: Masina plays the ball forward and Deeney gets the flick-on. There’s nobody up in support.
86 min: Mwepu gets booked for a decidedly robust challenge on Josh King.
85 min: Cleverley scuttles through the Brighton penalty area and unleashes a shot towards the far corner. Adam Webster blocks.
84 min: Watford appear to be playing a front five as they go in search of a late goal or two. Brighton, matching them man for man at the back, are holding firm.
83 min: Sarr lofts a cross into the Brighton penalty area. Sanchez fumbles but the ball doesn’t break kindly for anyone in a Watford shirt. Yves Bissouma is on hand to tidy up.
81 min: Brighton substitution: Jakub Moder on for Adam Lallana.
80 min: Lurking in the penalty area, Alexis Mac Allister pounces on the ball after Daniel Bachmann fails to hold on to a shot and tries to chip it into the goal from a tight angle. He misses the target.
78 min: Watford substitution: Troy Deeney on for Ken Sema. Cucho Hernandez moves to the left wing, while Josh King drops deeper to leave Deeney up front.
77 min: Masina plays a crossfield pass to Sarr, who stands the ball up in the Brighton penalty area. Robert Sanchez leaps to claim it.
75 min: Under pressure in his own penalty area, Lewis Dunk is coolness personified as he chests an incoming cross into the gloves of his goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
73 min: Solly March does well to recover and put a stop to the gallop of Ismaila Sarr, who had got in behind him.
72 min: Brighton substitution: Enock Mwepu on for Leandro Trossard.
71 min: Emmanuel Dennis is penalised for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister, then further incurs the wrath of Brighton fans by kicking the ball back against the player lying prone on the deck.
69 min: Cucho Hernandez tees himself up for a long distance volley at goal. It’s an ambitious, dipping effort that doesn’t quite dip enough. Over the bar.
68 min: A low Emmanuel Dennis cross from the right is too close to Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
67 min: King is first to a dropping ball from a booming clearnace, outmuscling his marker. He charges forward and plays a low diagonal to Dennis. Offside.
66 min: Watford substitution: Josh King on for Craig Cathcart.
64 min: Shane Duffy is booked for a nasty challenge on Dennis.
64 min: Robert Sanchez dives low to his left to keep out a Tom Cleverley daisycutter from distance.
63 min: Anthony Taylor produces the first yellow card of the game. Adam Webster is the recipient for a cynical tug on Emmanuel Dennis as the Watford striker tried to break upfield.
61 min: Brighton win a corner. Wesbter attacks Gross’s delivery but Watford clear. In the stands, Brighton’s fans sing loudly in praise of Solly March.
60 min: Watford pass and probe, trying to play their way through the Brighton defence. Their hosts aren’t having it and defend stoutly.
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57 min: Solly March tries to pick out Connolly in the Watford penalty area but the striker appears to leave the ball for an imaginary teammate behind him. The visitors clear.
56 min: Trossard picks up a pass inside on the edge of the Watford penalty area and is given all the time in the world to shoot. He fires high over the bar.
56 min: Trossard has an effort from distance blocked on the edge of the Watford penalty area by Kabasele.
54 min: After a bright start to the second half by Watford, Brighton appear to be back in control. Trossard tries to play Connolly in behind from deep but his attempted delivery over the top is cleared.
52 min: Aaron Connolly misses a sitter from about 10 yards out after the ball broke his way off a Watford defender from a Gross cross. He connects with it but sends it wide. An awful, awful miss.
51 min: Hernandez plays a crossfield ball towards Sarr, who is beaten to it by Dunk, who had a head start. The Brighton defender plays the ball back to his goalkeeper.
49 min: Sarr gets in behind Dunk to connect with a ball from deep but it appears to bounce off his shoulder and float wide. Again, better from Watford after a fairly dismal first half performance.
48 min: Emmanuel Dennis is played in behind and tries to drill the ball across the face of goal from the right. He fires it straight at Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who gathers without fuss. Better from Watford.
47 min: Alexis Mac Allister is penalised for some indiscretion or other near the halfway line.
Second half: Brighton 2-0 Watford
46 min: Brighton kick off, with Aaron Connolly on for Neal Maupay. Cucho Hernandez is on for Watford in place of Imran Louza.
Neal Maupay: It will be interesting to see if Brighton’s striker comes out for the second half after injuring his right shoulder while landing awkwardly after contesting a ball with Etebo. I can’t say I fancy his chances but you never know.
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Half-time: Brighton 2-0 Watford
Peep! Brighton are well worth their two-goal lead at the break. Shane Duffy headed them in front with his first goal in 18 months, before Neal Maupay doubled their lead when the excellent Yves Bissouma teed him up after robbing an unsuspecting Tom Cleverley of possession just outside his own penalty area.
45 min: There’s a break in play as Neal Maupay receives treatment for what looks like quite a serious shoulder injury. With the obvious caveat that I’m no doctor, it looks like he might have fractured or broken his collar bone. He looks thoroughly fed up but is soldiering on for the time being. He’ll be assessed further at half-time.
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43 min: That was woeful from Watford, who were caught napping. Tom Cleverley received a pass and was robbed of possession by Bissouma. He played it forward to Maupay just inside the Brighton penalty area and the striker made no mistake with only Bachmann to beat.
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GOAL! Brighton 2-0 Watford (Maupay 41)
Neal Maupay fires home after Yves Bissouma had set him up by robbing Watford of possession as they tried to play out from the back.
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40 min: Unhappy with the number of overloads Brighton are getting down that right flank, Watford manager Xisco Munoz is gesticulating furiously in his technical area. He’s gone full Jonny Cash today and is looking very dapper in a black suit with matching T-shirt.
38 min: Not for the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or even sixth time in this half, Webster and Gross combine down the right flank for Brighton. On this occasion Gross is unable to get his cross in.
35 min: The camera cuts to Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis, just to remind everyone watching he is on the pitch. He hasn’t had a sniff of the ball yet.
33 min: Kabasele gets caught on the ball on the edge of his own area, with Trossard pouncing. He plays it inside to Maupay, who dinks a through ball in behind and wide instead of taking a shot.
32 min: Brighton corner. The inswinger is headed straight up in the air by Troost-Ekong and Watford eventually clear.
30 min: Watford’s main threat is Ismaila Sarr but they have been unable to get him on the ball as often as they would like. He gets on it for the second time but is dispossessed as he cuts inside.
28 min: Gross and Webster combine down the right again before playing the ball inside to Bissouma. He charges through the penalty area but runs into a red wall of resistance. The ball rolls out of play for a goal-kick.
27 min: Brighton ping two crosses in quick succesion into the Watford penalty area from the right. The first is cleared, the second goes out for a goal kick.
26 min: Etebo gets to his feet and is passed fit enough to continue.
24 min: More specifically, he blasts it satraight into the face of Ogenekaro Etebo, flattening the midfielder in the process. There’s a break in play as he receives medical attention.
23 min: Brighton free-kick, straight in front of goal from about 25 yards out. Yves Bissouma lines it up and blasts the ball into Watford’s defensive wall.
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20 min: Watfortd throw-in, deep in Brighton territory. From that they win another, then another on the opposite side of the pitch. Masina eschews the long throw option and Watford finally work the ball out to Sarr on the right wing. His attempted cross is dreadful.
19 min: Watford lose the ball just outside their own penalty area, succumbing to Brighton’s high press.
17 min: Tom Cleverley loses the ball on the edge of the Brighton penalty area and Brighton gallop forward. Watford win the ball back and counter the counter. It’s end to end stuff at the Amex. End to end!!!
16 min: Another excellent delivery from Gross is headed clear from the edge of the Watford six-yard box.
15 min: Webster plays a crossfield diagonal ball to Solly March, who wins a corner for Brighton.
13 min: Ismaila Sarr blazes high over the bar from distance after Watford had won the ball inside the Brighton half.
11 min: Unwanted at Brighton last season and shipped out to Celtic where he had a disastrous season, Shane Duffy heads his side into the lead. He’s only in the team because of injuries to other players and may not be at the club when the transfer window closes. Hats off to Pascal Gross, whose delivery to the near post was excellent.
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GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Watford (Duffy 9)
Brighton lead! From a corner, Shane Duffy heads into the top corner.
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8 min: Brighton are focussing most of their attacks down the right flank, while Watford are happy to stay compact and give them the freedom of the wings. Adam Webster overhits a cross which Solly March just about manages to prevent going out for a throw-in on the far touchline.
7 min: Maupay tries to run on to a ball over the top from deep through the centre. He darts between the centre-backs, Troost-EKong and Kabasele, but the delivery is slightly overhit and Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann comes out to gather.
5 min: Brighton clear Cleverley’s inswinger and attack on the break themselves. Imran Louza puts a stop to their gallop.
4 min: Watford hit Brighton on the break and win themselves the first corner of the game.
3 min: Neal Maupay tees up Yves Bissouma with a pull-back to the edge of the penalty area. He blazes over the bar.
2 min: Pascal Gross and Adam Webster combine down the right flank. Gross gets a cross into the Watford penalty area but his delivery is headed clear by Tom Cleverley.
1 min: A good start from Brighton, who win the ball and drive forward, putting Watford on the back foot immediately. The visitors are wearing red shirts, shorts and socks. Brighton wear their customary home kit of blue and white striped shirts, blue shorts and white socks.
Brighton v Watford is go ...
1 min: Watford get the ball rolling, the players having taken a well-received knee greeted with applause.
Not long now: The teams are out on the pitch and the last of the pre-match formalities are under way. Tom Cleverley skippers Watford, while Lewis Dunk wears the armband for the hosts.
Today’s Premier League results
- Liverpool 2-0 Burnley
- Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle
- Crystal Palace 0-0 Brentford
- Leeds United 2-2 Everton
- Manchester City 5-0 Norwich City
- Brighton v Watford
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Those teams: Graham Potter makes two changes, with Adam Lallana and Alexis Mac Allister coming into the side that beat Burnley, with Steven Alzate and Enock Mwepu making way. Watford manager Xisco Munoz brings Imran Louza into his line-up in place of the injured Juraj Kucka.
Brighton v Watford line-ups
Brighton (3-5-2): Sanchez, Webster, Duffy, Dunk, March, Mac Allister, Lallana, Bissouma, Gross, Trossard, Maupay.
Subs: Connolly, Mwepu, Moder, Alzate, Zeqiri, Steele, Caicedo, Richards.
Watford (4-1-4-1): Bachmann, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Masina, Etebo, Sarr, Cleverley, Louza, Sema, Bonaventure.
Subs: Foster, Ngakia, Rose, King, Deeney, Fletcher, Hernandez, Sierralta, Baah.
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Today’s match officals
- Referee: Anthony Taylor.
- Assistants: Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn.
- Fourth official: John Brooks.
- VAR: Paul Tierney.
- Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.
Early team news
Brighton manager Graham Potter may have a trendy new beard but he won’t have defender Dan Burn or midfielder Moises Caiedo available today as both players are suffering from knee injuries. Tariq Lamptey and Danny Welbeck are also likely to miss out with hamstring issues. Joel Veltman is back after a period of Covid-related self-isolation and could replace Shane Duffy in the heart of Brighton’s defence. Irish striker Aaron Connolly could return to the squad after missing last weekend’s game for personal reasons.
Watford have been dealt a significant blow with the news that Juraj Kucka, their new signing from Parma, has been ruled out for three months with an injury he picked up in his debut for the club against Aston Villa last weekend. Midfielder Will Hughes is likely to miss out again, having been demoted to the club’s bomb squad due to a contract stand-off, with Aston Villa and Crystal Palace both believed to be interested in acquiring his services. Strikers Joao Pedro and Josh King are also out.
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Premier League: Brighton v Watford
Something’s got to give! Both hosts and visitors arrive at the Amex Stadium with 100% records to protect, with each having won their opening fixtures. Brighton came from behind to beat Burnley at Turf Moor last Sunday, while alleged relegation certainties Watford prompted mild sheepishness in the ranks of the punditocracy with a swashbuckling 3-2 win over Aston Villa. It was a scoreline that scarcely did the dominance of ther newly promoted side justice. Kick-off at the Amex Stadium is at 5.30pm (BST) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
