Wolves beat Watford 2-0 to secure first league win of season

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matt Doherty scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

(Reuters) - Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Watford 2-0 to claim their first win of the Premier League season thanks to a first-half strike by Matt Doherty and an own goal from Daryl Janmaat at Molineux on Saturday.

Wolves started the day second-bottom of the table but defender Doherty began the process of lifting them out of the relegation places with his second goal of the season in the 18th minute, a simple tap-in from Pedro Neto's pass.

Doherty was also involved in his side's second on the hour mark, chipping a cross to Morgan Gibbs-White, who had only just come on, and his flick-on was headed into his own net by Janmaat.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Watford's Daryl Janmaat reacts after scoring an own goal and Wolverhampton Wanderers' second Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Hammered 8-0 by Manchester City last week, Watford had their chances to claw their way back into the game but Wolves keeper Rui Patricio was in superb form as he kept a clean sheet.

Andre Gray provided an injection of pace and energy off the bench for Watford in a 20-minute cameo but Wolves defended deep to snuff out their attacking threat.

"It's taken a bit longer than we would have liked but good to get the first win. We like to get ahead in the game and our record when we go ahead is exceptional," a relieved Doherty said.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Watford's Daryl Janmaat scores an own goal and Wolverhampton Wanderers' second Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

"That's been the problem so far this season -- we have struggled to score first and that has resulted in us losing. We have not had the start that we would have liked but now we can push on and improve on last season," the goal-scorer added.

The defeat left Watford bottom of the table on two points ahead of the visit of Sheffield United next Saturday while Wolves, who climbed to 13th place, face a daunting trip to champions Manchester City the following day.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Watford's Daryl Janmaat reacts after scoring an own goal and Wolverhampton Wanderers' second Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed Osmond and Clare Fallon)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Conor Coady in action with Watford's Daryl Janmaat Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Watford's Craig Cathcart in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matt Doherty REUTERS/Peter Powell

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Watford's Danny Welbeck shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Romain Saiss receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Peter Powell

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Adama Traore in action with Watford's Jose Holebas REUTERS/Peter Powell

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford - Molineux, Wolverhampton, Britain - September 28, 2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Patrick Cutrone in action with Watford's Craig Dawson Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff