Pearson four-letter fury as six-pointer slips away
Watford boss vents rage after Mariappa own goal
BRIGHTON’S equaliser had been coming for a long time but that did not make it any easier for Nigel Pearson to take.
Watford’s manager threw his water bottle to the ground and let rip in an expletive-filled rage in response to Adrian Mariappa turning the ball into his own net.
This match was a six-pointer and Watford were just 11 minutes utes away from a crucial victory when Mariappa had a moment of misfortune.
Had they hung on to o claim the points, Watford d would have climbed out t of the bottom three and d been level on 26 points s with Brighton.
Their survival bid would d have received a kick-start, t too, having seen the new manager bounce theyy received following g Pearson’s arrival at the he start of December run out ut in recent weeks.
They were unable to hold ld on to the lead given to them in the first half by Abdoulaye Doucoure though, Brighton’s persistence and pressure in the second half eventually telling.
Brighton boss Graham ham Potter’s substitution’s paid id off too, especially his last t one, with the goal set up by the final player he introduced, Ali reza Jahanbakhsh.
The Iranian winger’s contribution was key and helped force the goal that earned the Seagulls a point and kept them 15th th and still with daylight between ween them and the bottom three. e
Brighton’s start had the most intent. Three early corners helped whip up the atmosphere around the Amex. Solly March and Glenn Murray had the first of their c chances. There was an occasional sloppiness slop to their play, a by- product of t heir passing and possession style which has paid off numerous times this season. Nineteen minutes in, though, it cost them. While others might have played percentage football and aimed a hopeful ball into a channel, Aaron Mooy held onto possession as he waited for a suitable option to emerge.
He delayed a split second too long and was pressured into poking the ball straight at Etienne Capoue before it rolled perfectly into Doucoure’s path.
The rest of the work for the goal was all the Frenchman’s. Gathering the ball just inside Brighton’s half, he drove straight at the Brighton defence and, from the edge of the box, unleashed a rocket of a shot that flew past Mat Ryan, denying him a clean sheet on his 100th Brighton appearance.
Confidence coursed through Watford for a period.
Capoue and the impressive Will Hughes, who saw a low shot deflected wide, dominated the mid field battle, while Craig Cathcart stood tall at the back.
Brighton continued to take risks on the ball. Duffy was bailed out by Schelotto after Cruyff turning straight into Troy Deeney and giving the ball away. A second defensive mix- up almost let in Watford’s captain.
One spell at the start of the second half underlined that Potter needed to change something to swing the game back Brighton’s way. They held possession for at least two minutes but their period of possession ended in anti-climax, with a tame cross straight into Ben Foster’s arms. More cutting edge was needed. , On came Neal Maupay to partner Murray in a 4- 4- 2, followed by Steven Alzate not long after.
Brighton’s increasing pressure was starting to tell. Hughes and Mariappa both went into the book for halting Brighton attacks.
Deeney earned a kiss on the head from a relieved Adam Masina when he combined to deny Lewis Dunk a clear header.
Potter made another attacking change, replacing Schelotto with Jahanbakhsh, and his bravery looked all set to be rewarded when Maupay’s touch sent Mooy through, only for Foster to stick out a big boot to deny him.
It proved to be just the briefest of reprieves for Watford. Brighton raided forward again, worked the ball out to Jahanbakhsh and his low cross from the right was put into his own net by Mariappa.