BRIGHTON 0
WATFORD 2
WATFORD cashed in on one South American star in the summer but showed why they were so desperate to hang on to another.
If former boss Walter Mazzarri had his way, he would have been reunited with twogoal hero Roberto Pereyra at Italian club Torino.
Instead Watford – who sold Brazilian winger Richarlison to Everton for £40million – stood firm over Mazzarri’s pursuit of Argentinian Pereyra.
And after this showing it seemed a shrewd move as Pereyra’s fine double sunk Brighton to hand the Hornets their first opening-day win in the Premier League.
Watford boss Javi Gracia hailed his winger and said: “Roberto’s a high-quality player. It doesn’t surprise me he’s able to produce moments like this.
“I only wanted the players who worked me with last season to stay with me – and Roberto is one of them. He scored goals made by the team.
“It was very important to start with a win but the way we did it was more important for us. We needed to reorganise with Richarlison leaving.
“If we can keep playing like this then I think we won’t miss him.”
On this evidence Brighton, who had the league’s worst away record last season, will once again be relying on their form at the Amex to keep them up this time around.
A nightmare run of games won’t help their cause, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City all to play before September is out.
They never looked like coming away with anything from Vicarage Road as Watford dominated from start to finish.
Andre Gray and Troy Deeney should have made the home side’s dominance count but were foiled by Australian keeper Mathew Ryan early on.
Dale Stephens fired just wide for Brighton but that was a rare foray forward as, at the other end, Brighton’s goal was leading a charmed life.
Their luck finally ran out when Pereyra volleyed home a stunning 35th-minute volley after a short corner routine involving Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jose Holebas caught Brighton cold.
There was an inquest held among the Seagulls’ players but they should have been punished again when they fell asleep three minutes after the break. Another fine delivery from Holebas found Christian Kabasele but the defender somehow headed over. Brighton were all at sea and it was no surprise Pereyra wrapped it up when he collected Holebas’ pass to curl home an angled shot in the 54th minute. Brighton substitute Yves Bissouma did threaten late on when the Malian winger danced his way into the area but squeezed his shot inches wide. Seagulls manager Chris Hughton was left frustrated at his side’s below-par start, saying: “There are no complaints about the result and we were second best in most departments. We looked vulnerable. “It’s a concern. We know we face a tough start and we’ve got a bit of work to do.”
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