Gross wins a free-kick in his own half after Holebas closes him down too eagerly. It looks like that will be that!
90' +2
Bernardo enters the game and replaces S. March.
Brighton take the opportunity to give Bernardo a late run-out. March gets to rest a few minutes early.
90'
There will be four minutes of injury time to end the game. Brighton's job is already done.
88'
L. Dunk gets yellow.
Dunk is booked for chopping down Pereyra just outside Brighton's box. Pereyra's free-kick can only hit the wall. He shoots again - again it's blocked. Dawson's follow-up also has a Brighton man in the way.
86'
Dawson fouls Duffy in the Brighton man's half as Watford keep men forward. Looks like there'll be no joy for Watford in this game.
85'
Brighton may have this won but they're still defending admirably. Burn slides in to put a Watford cross out for a corner. Dunk bravely wins the header to clear.
83'
Watford can't afford to dwell too long on this defeat. They've got Everton and West Ham in their next two games - two teams who are looking to break into the top six this season.
81'
There's a prolonged delay as Andone stays down injured after an over-zealous challenge. Thankfully the striker doesn't need to leave the field.
78'
That was a great pass by Dunk who found Maupay all too easily. That one ball took about six Watford players straight out of the game. Watford need to take this game on the chin and go again.
Minute
Description
77'
N. Maupay has scored a goal for Brighton & Hove Albion! Assist by L. Dunk.
GOAL! 3-0 BRIGHTON! This is definitely one of those weird early season results now. Dunk sets Maupay through on goal with a great throughball. Foster rushes out of his goal far too early and Maupay coolly jinks past him and rolls the ball into the net. VAR checks the goal, and it stands!
75'
I. Success enters the game and replaces A. Gray.
Gracia decides another change is needed. Off goes Gray, who's not done much. Success takes his place up front.
71'
Watford look a little shellshocked. The home side are still trying to pass their way through Brighton but this wasn't in the script. Joys of a new season, eh?
69'
'How bad must you be? We're winning away!' the Brighton fans crow. We're paraphrasing a bit there.
65'
F. Andone has scored a goal for Brighton & Hove Albion! Assist by D. Pröpper.
GOAL! 2-0 BRIGHTON! What an entrance that is for Andone! The Romanian gets on the end of a cross by Propper and slams the ball first-time past Foster at the near post.
That was a lovely cross by Propper who didn't hang about getting the ball to Andone. Brighton should be home and dry now.
64'
N. Maupay enters the game and replaces G. Murray.
F. Andone enters the game and replaces J. Locadia.
Murray is next to walk off. One of Brighton's new arrivals Maupay takes his place.
Sensing danger, Potter makes two changes. First, Locadia goes off and is replaced by the Romanian striker Andone.
60'
Watford stream forward again. Pereyra's attempted curler into the box is blocked and Brighton get a goal-kick. Looking at the handball incident again, Pereyra's free-kick does hit a defender's arm, but you can't say the Brighton man has made his body unnaturally larger.
56'
Watford are starting to force the issue now. They've won a free-kick just outside of Ryan's box. Pereyra and Holebas are ominously standing over it.
50'
Gross is slipped down the right channel again and reaches the goal line, but his cross is blocked by Cathcart. Brighton look to rebuild but end up putting the ball out for a goal-kick.
48'
Gross wriggles free down Brighton's right and delivers a low cross into the area. It hits the side netting. Brighton aren't going to sit back like the days of old - they want another goal.
46'
R. Pereyra enters the game and replaces Deulofeu.
The second half kicks off! Watford aren't used to starting their season with a defeat these days. But will it happen?
Brighton start the second half as Watford did the first, winning a corner down their right after Capoue is forced to put the ball out. Watford clear it though.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: WATFORD 0-1 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION
45'
Watford slow the tempo temporarily, looking to find a way through Brighton's blue-and-white wall. They work the ball wide right to Gray - his cross is blocked by Burn. Gray tries a one-two with Femenia next, but Burn shepherds the ball safely out of play. There will be one added minute to end the half.
There he is - Gracia wastes no time to act, bringing Pereyra on at half-time. Surprisingly, it's Deulofeu who makes way for him.
43'
Brighton get a let-off as Deulofeu accidentally handles the ball from the corner. The visitors will be very pleased to go in a goal up at half-time.
40'
Dunk abruptly puts a stop to Hughes' drift forward by putting the Watford man on the ground. Holebas can now take a free-kick from a dangerous-looking position.
38'
Watford over-commit men forward for a free-kick conceded by Duffy on Capoue, and Brighton can counter through Montoya. Montoya finds Gross drifting right. His initial cross is blocked by Deulofeu who's raced back to cover, and his second is well-caught by Foster.
36'
Femenia gets a shot away from Watford's corner but it's no threat to Brighton's goal. Still, Watford are increasing the pressure.
32'
Watford look to get back into the match right away. First Hughes scuffs a shot wide when he finds himself with space in the box, then Doucoure blasts over from range. Brighton will be more than happy with their start to this game.
28'
A. Doucouré is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOAL! 1-0 BRIGHTON! Brighton keep the ball and Watford can't clear their lines. Montoya crosses the ball from the right after picking up Cathcart's header and Doucoure accidentally pokes the ball past Foster.
27'
Locadia nicks the ball off Hughes in his own half and powers forward down the left for Brighton. The attack soon breaks down though. Oh, wait...
25'
Murray gets caught offside again from Gross's attempted throughball. Watford have to be careful of commiting too far forward.
23'
'Come on Watford', the home crowd yell. Their team look a bit flummoxed at the moment as Brighton sit deep in their half, springing forward whenever they win the ball.
21'
Brighton are looking well-organised and certainly more enterprising than they were under their previous boss Chris Hughton. Watford are struggling to break them down.
19'
Deulofeu bursts through Brighton's midfield, trying to hold off Duffy. Duffy shrugs him off the ball in the box and the Spaniard throws his arms up for a penalty, but it's a fair challenge.
17'
Dawson lumps a ball forward towards Deeney and Brighton sweep up well. Suddenly Brighton are away down their left through Murray, but the veteran striker is offside.
15'
Brighton are easing into the game now after Watford's lively start. Hughes fouls Stephens, handing Brighton a free-kick on their left. Watford clear the delivery away.
13'
Propper comes close with another long-range effort after Montoya causes problems for Watford down Brighton's right-hand side. Brighton have had 55% of the ball so far - they'll be more of a possession side under Potter than they were last season.
11'
That Locadia shot comes just after Burn blasts over from just outside the box. Up the other end, Hughes slips Deeney through on goal, who stings the hands of Ryan. Some nice exchanges of blows by these sides early on.
9'
Locadia has Brighton's first shot of the game, a bouncing half-volley as he finds space in the centre of Watford's box. Foster drops low to catch it.
5'
It's all Watford in these opening stages. Duffy intercepts a rogue pass, takes a touch and lofts it away from danger. The home side know that a win here will get their season off to a good start.
3'
Deulofeu gets his first shot of the campaign early on as he blazes a left-footed effort from outside the box high and wide. Brighton will take some time to get used to their new system.
2'
Watford start brightly, winning a corner down their right off Stephens. Brighton look alert and head the ball safely away.
That result leaves Brighton 4th in the nascent Premier League table behind Man City, Liverpool and Burnley. Not bad company for them to keep. Watford end their first matchday in 19th, only above West Ham, although of course it means very little at this stage.
1'
Referee Craig Pawson blows his whistle and Watford and Brighton's Premier League seasons both get underway!
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this opening Premier League fixture between Watford and Brighton and Hove Albion at Vicarage Road.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Ben Foster; Kiko Femenia, Craig Dawson, Craig Cathcart, Jose Holebas; Will Hughes, Etienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Gerard Deulofeu; Troy Deeney (c), Andre Gray.
WATFORD SUBS: Heurelho Gomes, Tom Cleverley, Isaac Success, Daryl Janmaat, Christian Kabasele, Roberto Pereyra, Ken Sema.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (3-5-2): Mat Ryan; Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk (c), Dan Burn; Martin Montoya, Dale Stephens, Davy Propper, Pascal Gross, Solly March; Jurgen Locadia, Glenn Murray.
BRIGHTON SUBS: Florin Andone, Aaron Mooy, Adam Webster, Neal Maupay, David Button, Bernardo, Leandro Trossard.
For the second year in a row, Watford and Brighton face off at Vicarage Road to start their Premier League seasons. Watford will want to build on their showing last time when they reached the FA Cup final and finished 11th. Meanwhile, Brighton hope their new boss Graham Potter will keep them at this level for another year after they just stayed up last time, finishing 17th.
The two teams have entered the Vicarage Road pitch now - Watford in their buzzy black and yellow halves, Brighton in their breezy blue and white stripes. The crowd sound more than up for this early-season clash.
Watford need a little more silk in their play if they're going to turn this score around. It wouldn't be surprising if Pereyra makes an appearance off the bench sooner rather than later.
Brighton head home to take on West Ham at the Amex next week, while Watford have to pick themselves up for a trip to Everton. No doubt, after those games, we'll have a better sense of both teams' ambitions this season. That's all for now. Goodbye!
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