Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Watford: Duffy and Maupay score as Seagulls record back-to-back wins
Brighton ensured they won their opening two top-flight matches for the first time as they comfortably beat newly-promoted Watford at the American Express Community Stadium.
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.
More to follow.
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Brighton & Hove Albion
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Squad number1Player nameSánchez
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Squad number4Player nameWebster
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Squad number24Player nameDuffy
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Squad number5Player nameDunk
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Squad number13Player nameGroß
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Squad number14Player nameLallana
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Squad number8Player nameBissouma
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Squad number20Player nameMarch
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Squad number11Player nameTrossard
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Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
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Squad number9Player nameMaupay
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Squad number7Player nameConnolly
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Squad number12Player nameMwepu
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Squad number15Player nameModer
Watford
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Squad number7Player nameKing -
Squad number9Player nameDeeney -
Squad number29Player nameCucho Hernández
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Sánchez
- 4WebsterBooked at 62mins
- 24DuffyBooked at 65mins
- 5Dunk
- 13Groß
- 14LallanaSubstituted forModerat 80′minutes
- 8Bissouma
- 20MarchBooked at 90mins
- 11TrossardSubstituted forMwepuat 72′minutesBooked at 86mins
- 10Mac Allister
- 9MaupaySubstituted forConnollyat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Connolly
- 12Mwepu
- 15Moder
- 17Alzate
- 19Zeqiri
- 23Steele
- 25Caicedo
- 28Roberts
- 30Richards
Watford
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 26Bachmann
- 15CathcartSubstituted forKingat 65′minutes
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 27Kabasele
- 11Masina
- 4Etebo
- 23Sarr
- 8Cleverley
- 6LouzaSubstituted forHernández Suárezat 45′minutes
- 12SemaSubstituted forDeeneyat 78′minutes
- 25Dennis
Substitutes
- 1Foster
- 2Ngakia
- 3Rose
- 7King
- 9Deeney
- 17Fletcher
- 29Hernández Suárez
- 31Sierralta
- 34Baah
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 29,485
Live Text
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Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Watford 0.
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Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Watford 0.
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Jakub Moder (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Joshua King (Watford).
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Christian Kabasele.
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Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
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Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Adam Masina (Watford).
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Corner, Watford. Conceded by Enock Mwepu.
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Attempt missed. Enock Mwepu (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alexis Mac Allister.
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Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Christian Kabasele (Watford).
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Attempt blocked. Peter Etebo (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joshua King.
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Foul by Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Ismaila Sarr (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Enock Mwepu (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Enock Mwepu (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Joshua King (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Troy Deeney (Watford) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Emmanuel Dennis with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Tom Cleverley (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ismaila Sarr.
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