Team News: Brighton & Hove Albion: Sanchez, Webster, Dunk, Bissouma, Maupay, Mac Allister, Trossard, Gross, Lallana, March, Duffy. Watford: Bachmann, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Efebo, Louza, Cleverley, Sarr, Dennis, Sema.
5 Key Points
- The two teams have met six times in the Premier League. Brighton have won twice, they have drawn twice and Watford have won twice.
- In their previous meeting in February 2020, the sides drew 1-1 through a goal from Doucoure for Watford in the 19th minute and an own goal from Mariappa - who equalised for Brighton in the 78th minute.
- Danny Welbeck, Joel Veltman, Tariq Lamptey and Dan Burn are all out. Juraj Kucka, Joao Pedro, Nathaniel Chalobah and Dan Gosling are ruled out for Watford. Josh King and Kiko Femenia will be available for Watford.
- Brighton and Watford both won their first games of the season with Brighton bouncing back to win 2-1 and Watford won 3-2.
- Brighton are unbeaten at home against Watford in the Premier League.
1': We're underway at the Amex with fans back.
1': Early pressure from Brighton with Trossard's final cross going out and aggressive defending started that move for the Seagulls.
3': Good move for Brighton that started with Gross doing a Cruyff turn. The cross went in and March found it. He played it to Maupay who laid it off to Bissouma on the edge of the box but he blazed the ball over the bar.
4': Sema's shot for Watford is blocked.
9': Corner for Brighton. Great pressure.
10': GOAL! Gross crosses it in from the corner. Duffy beats the defender and finds the back of the net! 1-0 Brighton. What an atmosphere!
13': Sarr has a shot but it's over the bar.
16': After the corner, Watford tried to start the counter attack but Webster held up Sarr and Bissouma got rid of the ball.
18': Some good defending again from Webster on Sarr.
22': Trossard is fouled.
24': Bissouma's free kick is straight into the wall. Etebo is down as the shot hit his head.
26': Play has resumed and Etebo is back on the field.
29': Great move with Webster passing it to Bissouma who plays it inside to Maupay. Maupay played it back to him. Good defending from Watford and they placed their bodies in the way of Bissouma and the pass went out.
32': Corner for Brighton.
33': Freekick for Watford after Maupay's high boot.
39': Brighton have control of the midfield with Bissouma and Lallana stopping Watford's attacks quickly by being placed correctly.
41': GOAL! Bissouma catches Troost-Ekong short after Watford try and play out from the back. Maupay runs onto the loose ball with his head down and he scores. 2-0 Brighton.
44': Etebo fouled Maupay and Maupay has landed awkwardly.
45+1': Maupay is back on with 2 minutes added.
HALF-TIME: Brighton have controlled the game with Lallana and Bissouma dominating the midfield. Maupay's injury looked sore but he went back on. The goals were taken efficiently and Brighton dealt with any Watford threats quickly.
45': Second half has started.
46': BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION SUBSTITUTION: Maupay goes off for Connolly.
46': WATFORD SUBSTITUTION: Louza comes off for Hernandez.
48': Dennis' cross is smothered by Sanchez.
53': Gross' cross got to Connolly but he missed. Should be 3-0.
62': Cleverley's shot is saved by Sanchez.
65': Duffy and Webster yellow carded.
66': WATFORD SUBSTITUTION: Josh King comes on for Cathcart.
67': Dennis has the ball in the back of the net but it's offside.
70': Better build up play from Watford but Hernandez's volley was too high.
72': BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION SUBSTITUTION: Trossard makes way for Mwepu's home debut.
73': Watford are looking better since King has come on.
75': Dunk chested the cross down to Sanchez calmly.
77': Watford are looking better second half and just came close again after a cross was behind Hernandez.
78': WATFORD SUBSTITUTION: Sema comes off for Deeny.
79': Duffy comes close with a header from a corner but Deeny heads it off the line.
80': BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION SUBSTITUTION: Moder is on for Lallana.
85': Mwepu gets a yellow card after a foul on King.
89': Mwepu's shot is high and wide.
90': Corner for Watford.
90': The corner is punched out by Sanchez. Connolly gets on the counter and gets the foul from Sema.
90+1': 3 minutes added.
90+1': March is yellow carded for delaying the restart.
90+2': Moder is fouled by King.
FULL-TIME: A solid performance from Brighton with a clinical first half and back-to-back wins at the start of the Premier League for the first time in their history. Watford looked better second half but couldn't climb back from the deficit. King and Hernandez made the difference and the pressure on Brighton was upped however, they dealt with it well. Duffy had a dream start scoring within 10 minutes after a bad season on loan at Celtic. Maupay went off at half time injured but scored a great goal in the first half. My man of the match was Bissouma. He was everywhere and dominated the midfield.
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