Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Watford: Brighton make best start to a top-flight campaign

Brighton comfortably beat newly-promoted Watford to ensure their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign.

Graham Potter’s side built on their opening-day, comeback win over Burnley with a solid performance in front of their own fans against a Watford side who rarely threatened.

The Hornets set the tone for a sloppy performance from the start, managing just two touches from kick-off before giving the ball away, and they produced only one shot on target in the entire game.

It was a welcome return to the Amex for Brighton defender Shane Duffy, who scored the opening goal on 10 minutes.

After last season’s well-documented, difficult loan spell with Celtic, the centre-back rose highest from Pascal Gross’ corner to beat Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann with a powerful header.

With the first half looking to have petered out, Neal Maupay doubled the Seagulls’ lead four minutes before half-time after Yves Bissouma capitalised on some lazy Watford defending.

The Malian pounced on William Ekong’s loose pass to Tom Cleverley to play in Maupay, who took one touch on the edge of the box before firing past Bachmann.

It is the first time since October 2020 that the Frenchman has scored in consecutive Premier League games.

The assist was nothing short of what Bissouma deserved after another big Brighton performance, and the midfielder made the most of the returning fans at the Amex, lapping up every bit of praise after the full-time whistle.

Hornets stung by the Seagulls

After a thrilling opening-day victory over Aston Villa, Watford boss Xisco said he was looking for another “perfect” performance, this time on the road.

But his side never seemed to get going and offered very little going forward.

Ismaila Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis, who linked up for two of Watford’s three goals last week, were kept quiet by Brighton’s defence.

Dennis did have the ball in the back of the net mid-way through the second half as he skipped past Lewis Dunk before finding the bottom corner, but the offside flag was up long before he unleashed his shot.

It was captain Tom Cleverley who managed the Hornets’ only shot on target, but his 63rd minute effort was weak and easily saved by Robert Sanchez.

Brighton will be disappointed not to have put the game well beyond Watford’s reach seven minutes after the restart, with Aaron Connolly firing wide from eight yards out.

But Potter’s side will be buoyed by their sixth consecutive Premier League win and an impressive start to the new campaign, with the likes of Danny Welbeck and Tariq Lamptey still to return from injury.

• Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment