Pereyra brace sinks Seagulls as Hornets make a flying start
THERE was a time, only three years ago, when Roberto Pereyra lined up alongside Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba in a Champions League final for Juventus.
This is the prestige with which he proudly arrived as a Premier League player two summers ago yet for much of his time in England, it has appeared an illusion to think that Watford had a world-class player in their grasp. His progress has been stunted by injury problems, particularly a severe blow to the knee, as well as inconsistency when he has taken to the field.
Yet in the Hertfordshire sunshine, Pereyra reminded the home crowd of his talents in quite sensational fashion as Watford launched their fourth consecutive Premier League campaign with a fluid victory over Brighton. Pereyra’s first goal will not be bettered anywhere in the Premier League this weekend. After a tippytappy short corner routine, Jose Holebas curled over an outswinging cross from the left side and Pereyra watched the ball’s flight through the air and caught it beautifully to send a volley searing through the hands of goalkeeper Mat Ryan and into the top corner of the goal.
The Argentine had been linked with a move back to Italy with Torino, but Watford manager Javi Gracia said: ‘I don’t expect anyone to go out. He’s a high quality and very important player. I know he is able to do it for us.’
For the hosts, the goal was a much-needed breakthrough. It has been an unusually stable summer at Vicarage Road, with Gracia the first manager to end one season and start the next since the club returned to the Premier League. Their transfer dealings have been more reserved, too, with goalkeeper Ben Foster, the only new signing in the starting XI.
Following the departure of Richarlison to Everton, some observers wondered whether Watford may find themselves in significant bother following their reduced business.
Not on this evidence. They defended with the greater authority, passed the ball with more purpose in midfield, as Will Hughes and Abdoulaye Doucoure controlled the play, and created by far the clearer chances. The Watford fans enjoyed it, serenading their goalkeeper with chants of ‘Foster’s Coming Home’ after he reclaimed the gloves for the first time since his loan spell at the club 11 years ago.
For Brighton, the portents are less positive. Chris Hughton oversaw a summer spend in excess of £50m but the £8.5m full-back Bernardo was the only new starter. Brighton, for all their fine progress last season, had the worst away record in the division, taking only 11 points and winning just two matches. The same inhibited form returned here and the visitors did not have a shot on target throughout.
Hughton’s concern is clear: ‘I have no complaints. We lost to a better side in most departments. We never had anywhere near enough of an effect on the game to get a result. We have no excuses, because the system we play, those players today know it very well. This was a first opportunity away from home to put in a performance to win and we didn’t.’
The good news for Brighton is these remain early days in the campaign but Hughton is acutely aware that his side face Manchester United and Liverpool in their next two games and also play Tottenham and Manchester City before the end of September.
Yet it was the absence of intent that startled in Brighton’s play. Watford were sharper from the start, as Andre Gray scuttled through and had a low effort well saved by Ryan. Gray’s movement, alongside the brawny presence of Troy Deeney, was often too much for the Brighton defence and the pair should really have had a goal apiece in the first period.
In the match-day programme, Deeney revealed he had spoken to a nutritionist and shed some weight over the summer. He certainly appeared faster when he broke in behind midway through the first-half. A swift counter-attack released the forward and when Pereyra’s low strike fell into his path, Deeney had only the keeper to beat but was brilliantly denied by Ryan.
Brighton did briefly threaten. Dale Stephens volleyed wide from a Bruno cross and Anthony Knockaert had a very soft penalty appeal turned down. It only increased the rancour between the home crowd and the winger. There is history after his penalty miss in a playoff semi-final for Leicester against Watford and last season he was the recipient of an awful red-card lunge by Miguel Britos in the corresponding fixture.
After the break, it appeared Brighton could only improve but instead, Watford grabbed the initiative. Gracia’s team should have doubled their lead when Jose Holebas’s free-kick was met by Christian Kabasele but instead sealed their win when Pereyra drifted in from the left, opened up his body and curled a clinical finish into the far corner.