By James Dodwell

The Golden boys defeated a new look Brighton & Hove Albion side yesterday after a surge of a performance from Man of the Match, Roberto Pereyra as the Golden boys kick start the season with maximum points.

There was lots to be cheerful about on yesterday’s summer afternoon after some notable stand out performances from Javi Gracia’s outfit.

There seemed to be a slight amount of Pathetic Fallacy about Brighton’s performance on a grey afternoon in Hertfordshire as the side from Kent failed to rack a single shot on target.

 

MOTM – Roberto Pereyra

No surprises in this department this week as Roberto Pereyra stole the show with two sublime goals. Although the headlines will be casting the Argentinian’s superb finish in the first half, it would be criminal not to discuss the work he did in the centre of the park today. Moving the ball from side to side, opening up a well-organised Brighton side was a joy to see as the 27-year-old looked as if he’d hit the ground running this campaign – something the central midfielder has yet to do since arriving at Vicarage Road.

The Fans view

FTRE

Popular podcast, FromTheRookeryEnd will discuss the game in this week’s podcast but did comment on the note pressing matter of the Head Coach’s attire.

“But can we talk about the most awesome thing about the game… Javi’s jacket, with matching elbow patches? He’s gone to a new level. Not Quique levels, but raised his game!! #watfordfc”

I agree, he’s done well Javi – not Quique levels though… yet.

 

@WatfordStatus

“Watford kickstarted the campaign with a high intensity display, earning a well deserved victory. Every player put in a shift, Pereyra continues his rich vein of form under Gracia. Still with plenty of players to return, exciting”

 

@HornetHeaven

In Hornet Heaven, Henry Grover, the man who founded Watford Rovers in 1881, described the comfortable nature of the opening day win as “like easing oneself into a pair of moleskin undergarments.”

 

@DomBaker

“A performance that surprised me in all the right ways. Glad to see a Pereyra that has shaken off the shackles of his injury. We’ll do well so long as we keep Cathcart and Kabasele fit 👍🏻“

 

@ThomasJDesign

“An all round fantastic performance from the golden boys. There was a lot of apprehension before this game. Will Doucoure be fit? Will we play two up top or one to suit the depth in our midfield? Holebas!? Doucoure looked like he had never spent time out, Gray and Deeney worked well in a two and Holebas kept Knockaert very quiet. Roberto Pereya…no more words needed. A very comfortable win, however I’m curious to see how we set up when Deulofeu is deemed fit enough, who loses out? Does the formation stay the same? Importantly, we have options and bigger tests to come as Brighton offered little. Would like to see Gray and Deeney having more efforts on goal, however if they continue to perform like today, I’m sure the goals will come.“

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Squad Ratings

Foster (GK) – 8.0

Janmaat, – 7.5

Kabasele, – 8.5

Cathcart, – 8.5

Holebas; – 7.5

Hughes – 8.5

(Sema) – 80′

Doucouré – 8

Capoue, – 8

Pereyra – 9.5

(Femenía) 87′ – 7.5

Deeney (c) – 8

Gray – 8.5

(Success) 75′ – 7.5

 

Match Stats

• Watford are unbeaten in their past 12 opening games to a league season (W6 D6), with their last defeat coming against Everton in August 2006.
• Brighton are winless in their past 14 Premier League away games (W0 D4 L10), the longest current such run in the division.
• Watford have lost only one of their past nine Premier League matches at Vicarage Road (W5 D3).
• Roberto Pereyra has had a hand in each of Watford’s past six Premier League goals, scoring five and assisting one.
• Ben Foster made his first Premier League appearance for Watford since 13 May 2007 vs Newcastle (4,108 days ago) – the second-longest gap between two games for a single team in the competition after Wayne Rooney for Everton (4,837 days).