Our picks

Watford vs Brighton & Hove Albion: 10/08/2019 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Watford vs Brighton & Hove Albion

 Date: 10/08/2019

 K/O: 15:00

 Venue: Vicarage Road

 Referee: Craig Pawson

The Seagulls begin the Premier League much like they did last season, visiting Vicarage Road, but it’s a much improved Brighton team now under Graham Potter who took over managerial duties at the end of the 2018/19 campaign following Chris Hughton’s departure from the Amex.

When Watford and Brighton take the pitch Saturday, it will be an important match for both teams to kick off their 2019/20 campaigns, after finishing in a similar fashion to end last year.  The Hornets finished the season with three successive losses, culminating in a 6-0 thrashing at the feet of Manchester City in the FA Cup Final.

Going back to the start of the 2018/19 season opener, Watford opened the scoring quickly and cruised to victory on the back of a Roberto Pereyra brace, with a goal in each half. It was enough to start the season on a positive note, while setting the tone for the first half of the season, as the Golden Boys would go on to win their first four games of the season.

The Seagulls picked up two points in their final three, which was enough to stave off relegation, as they finished 17th. However, it was not enough to save Hughton’s job, as he was sacked a day after the season finished. Enter Graham Potter, who joined the club from Swansea City with a new outlook for the upcoming campaign.

If preseason is any indication of what Potter brings to the table, this could be exciting times for Brighton, as the look to build on being “safe” with a renewed optimism. Potter has been busy during the transfer window adding some young, exciting talent, while moving on a few players who didn’t seem to fit the mould he was after.

Watford haven’t been too active during the transfer window, but were able to fill a need, signing former Baggies defender Craig Dawson to help secure the defence, which struggled much of the season. Expectations are still high, on the back of their best finish in the Premier League with 50 points in 11th place.

Team News

Watford

Manager Javi Gracia has been pleased with the preseason, as players have benefited from the opposition encountered including Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen. “The games were good for us against very good teams, a high level – Ajax, Leverkusen, today Real Sociedad and even QPR – all of them were tough games and I prefer to play against these teams. It was good for us to have these experiences and now I think we are ready to compete,” said Gracia.

Watford have found a centre back replacement in former Baggies defender, Craig Dawson that reuintes him with Ben Foster on the backline. While Adrian Mariappa filled in admirably, Dawson should have an immediate impact on the quality of the defence.

Watford have also signed Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr from Rennes in a club-record deal, with the forward expected to add quality and flair to the Hornet’s attacking efforts for the 2019/20 season.

Ahead of the Saturday kick-off, Gracia has concerns over the fitness of Roberto Pereyra, who served with Argentina in the Copa America. He returned to training last week, “I think he will be ready for the next game, not at his best level but he will be ready to compete,” said Gracia. The bigger concern, Gerard Deulofeu, who missed the start of last season, has missed the last two preseason games and is currently managing a “muscle problem.” Gracia has stated both should be ready for Brighton.

Brighton & Hove Albion

The addition of Potter has breathed fresh air and reinvigorated The Amex, as this team looks exciting, based on preseason form. Big money signings include Leandro Trossard from the KRC Genk and Neal Maupay from Brentford. Maupay is coming off a 25 goal campaign last season and will add firepower to a Seagulls team that scored just 35 goals last season; the third worst in the Premier League.

Brighton have have looked revived with a free-flowing style of play with Solly March and Trossard. While lining up in a 3-4-3, there has been a considerable amount of interchanging in attack. Defensively, led by Mat Ryan, homegrown Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy, the Seagulls look to fly high early, against a Watford team they have struggled against, scoring just once in the last five meetings.

Speaking recently in an interview, Potter reflected on the talent of Trossard, Jurgen Locadia, Florin Andone saying, “You hope there are a lot of players here that are yet to reach their peak and there is more to come. That is always the exciting part of the job, so we are looking forward to that. The guys have been really responsive, very hard-working and now we have to make sure we are competitive and ready.”

Predicted Starting XIs

Watford (4-2-2-2): Foster; Femenia, Dawson, Cathcart, Holebas; Doucoure Capoue; Hughes, Pereyra; Gray, Deeney.

Brighton (4-3-3): Ryan; Duffy, Dunk, Burn; Montoya, Propper, Stephens, March; Locadia, Murray, Trossard.

Match Prediction: Watford 2 – 0 Brighton & Hove Albion

While the Seagulls are much improved under Potter, there will be some growing pains this season. Much like the start last season, Watford will come out confident and strong, bag an early goal and go on to win their home opener.

Stephen Toumi

Watford supporter! #FPL ID#446 | Vegan | Craft beer enthusiast, homebrewer #FPLBeerClub | #30SecondBeerReview Host of Pitch & Pint Pod #pitchpintpod

90MAAT News Now

Premier League Table

90MAAT Social Media

ScoopDragon Football News Network

Search The Site