ADVERTISEMENT
FULL TIMELast update 11:03 GMT
Thank you & Good-bye
Key moments
Next up
Next weekend sees Brighton host Everton and Watford travel to Tottenham Hotspur...
It doesn't get any easier for the Premier League new boys.
Missing link
For Watford, it's back to the drawing board. Will Hughes remains sidelined and without a hope of returning to the side unless contract negotiations improve but without him, Watford are a lesser side and in dire need of a holding midfielder.
Key man
Neal Maupay's first half strike proved decisive but Shane Duffy was impervious in defence and his header in the tenth minute set the tone for a resolute Brighton display that sees them, for the moment at least, move second in the Premier League.
Full-time
And that is that. A relatively comfortable day at the office for the hosts, running out 2-0 winners at the Amex stadium.
Match stats
After a much improved second half performance, Watford still didn't test the scoreboard, nor Sanchez.
Brighton 2-0 Watford
Shots: 13-10
Shots on Target: 3-1
Possession %: 58-42
90+3
There is three added minutes to the 90.
Not long to go now as the game drifts to an end.
Mwepu picks up a yellow card for a nasty challenge on King.
Cleverley denied from 10 yards this time by a desperate Webster in the box. Watford still knocking at the door.
Brighton now playing 5 at the back as this transformed Watford front-line continue to attack and threaten the Seagulls' goal.
And with Watford pushing forward to find a way back into the game, Brighton go close at the other end with Mac Allister.
Watford go straight back up the other end and Deeney is inches away from glancing a header into the corner.
Substitution
Troy Deeney is making his entrance as Watford pile on the pressure with Ken Sema coming off.
King and Hernandez have made a huge difference this half but still no way through for the Hornets.
Watford continue to put pressure on the Brighton defence but it all feels too late for the visitors.
Cucho Hernandez goes for the spectacular after setting himself up on the volley but it is whiskers wide of the crossbar.
Watford think they have a goal back after brilliant physicality from King. Dennis is fed through but is slightly too eager and is a few inches offside but he wasn't to know that and finished with aplomb. Better from the Hornets.
Yellow card
Duffy picks up a yellow card for brighton down Dennis just as King replaces Cathcart for Watford. Hornets going all-out attack now.
A shot on target! Cleverley tries his luck from 18 yards after good play from Sarr but it's comfortable for Sanchez.
An hour gone and Watford yet to have a shot on target...
A Hughes-sized hole in midfield for Watford as they continue to show an absence of control or creativity. A long 30 minutes ahead for the Watford contingent at this rate.
First half service resumed now as Brighton back on top after a brief spell of pressure by Watford who look devoid of ideas in the final third.
Huge miss by Connolly! Ball rebounds to the substitute 8 yards out and he fires over. Unbelievable miss!
Good movement by Sarr sees another chance open up but he can't fully connect to the ball and his head loops up to Sanchez.
Watford create a small opening but cross is squashed by an alert Sanchez who is quick off his line. Encouraging signs.
Second half begins
And we are off for the second-half. Watford have it all to do.
Half-time changes
One change a-piece at half-time. For Brighton, Maupay is replaced by Connolly. Cucho Hernandez replaces Louza for Watford.
Half-time stats
Story of the half:
Brighton 2-0 Watford
Shots: 3-2
Shots on target: 2-0
Possession: 69%-31%
Half-time
Anthony Taylor brings the half to an end, much to the relief of a dire Watford side. Lots to do for the visitors but Brighton flying high and deservedly leading 2-0.
Sloppy play at the back from Brighton this time but Watford nowhere near as clinical as the half drifts to its conclusion.
45+2
Two minutes added time at the end of the first half but it looks like it might be the end of Maupay's evening as he trudges off.
Maupay is down now after a heavy collision in midfield and receiving medical treatment.
2-0
It's a long way back for Watford and it is all their own undoing.
Watford try to play out the back but it's sloppy passing and Bissouma nips in ahead of Cleverley, it falls to Maupay who scores comfortably past a helpless Daniel Bachmann.
I spoke too soon. There it is. 2-0 to Brighton as Maupay fires home from woeful Watford defending.
That said, Watford's defensive shape has been consistent since going behind and Brighton have created little of note, all the while being camped in the Watford half.
No way through the Brighton defence so far for Watford with the lack of holding midfielder or pivot to dictate the tempo and style of the visitors particularly evident.
Watford struggling to retain possession at the moment and focussing on the counter-attack but Brighton's full-pitch press continues to work a treat for the hosts.
Etebo deflects the ball out for a corner after a teasing cross from Gross. Brighton remain on top here.
Premier League table
A quick glance at the Premier League table sees Brighton jump into second place if the score stays the same. Early days but happy days for the Seagulls.
After a short delay to take the free-kick, Etebo wears the free-kick to the face and there will be another break in play for a health check to the Watford midfielder.
Wasteful from Sarr as Watford find themselves in a good position but Brighton come away with the ball with the Hornets out of shape. Cleverley concedes a foul 30 yards out to break up the Brighton attack.
Possession
Tale of the half so far: Brighton 67% - 33% Watford.
End-to-end
A mazy run from Ken Sema is squashed by a resolute Brighton defence and the hosts go up the other end but to no avail. The game is stretching already and flowing from end-to-end.
Better this time from Watford as Dennis and Sarr counter and win a throw-in deep in the Seagull's half.
Another corner for Brighton as March threatens once more down the left.
So close for the visitors. Sarr picks up a loose ball in midfield and tries his luck from 25 yards but fires over.
1-0
From the resulting corner, Duffy gets above Masina to power the ball in off the crossbar. The stadium is now bouncing with Watford looking frail and defensive.
GOAL! And Brighton are up and running! 1-0 to the hosts and much deserved.
Brighton corner as Troost-Ekong clears a March cross behind.
Brighton controlling the tempo and the ball in the early stages as Watford sit back with Sema and Sarr busy fulfilling defensive duties.
Fun fact
Watford's last away point in the Premier League came away to Brighton just prior to the first lockdown.
Trossard springs forward as Brighton now counter from the wasteful corner but Watford are back quickly and deal with the danger.
Watford counter and Sema wins a corner after his cross is deflected wide.
Bissouma fires over inside 3 minutes after a really positive start by the hosts who are performing an effective full-pitch press.
Fast start
Brighton start brightly as Trossard runs at the Watford defence but Watford are organised and dispel the threat.
Kick-off
And we are off! Hey Jude fades out and Watford get us under away.
Here come the teams
Kick-off is now only moments away as both sides emerge from the tunnel to a standing ovation across the stadium.
Sweet Caroline
Both sets of fans in good voice as Neil Diamond's classic blazes out over the tannoy.
Atmosphere
The crowd is nearly full now and the atmosphere is building at a sold-out Amex stadium. The home fans has waited a long time for the return of Premier League football, over 500 days to be exact!
20 minutes to wait
With the warm-ups drawing to a close and the sides returning to the changing rooms, kick-off is now only 20 minutes away.
Staying warm
Both sides are on their way out to warm-up and fans alike are doing their best to stay warm under grey clouds.
Watford formation
It will be 4-3-3 again for the Hornets, with Sarr, Dennis and Sema leading the line and debutant Louza alongside Cleverley and Etebo in midfield. Craig Cathcart will start again at right-back.
Xisco Muñoz on the trip to Brighton
“We are going to attack“We were working with different situations today and over the last week, we were working on different situations and different systems.
“I’m sure we will have different situations, but we will see. You know what is my style.
“We try always to attack and to keep the ball and sometimes we can, sometimes not, sometimes there’s more time in the transitions, but it depends.
"We have a good plan and we will try to find more better situations to keep the ball in attack.”
Team news: Watford
Watford are without Kucka this evening, who is replaced by Louza in the starting line-up.
Brighton preview
You can read more from VAVEL on Brighton's hopes ahead of kick-off here:
Brighton line-up
The team news is in for the hosts. Sanchez is between the sticks, Maupay leads the line and as expected no Veltman in the squad.
Line-up news to come
The starting line-ups will be announced in just five minutes but Watford are expected to line-up similarly to last week, minus summer signing, Juraj Kucka who misses out with a minor knock.
Not long to go
With just 70 minutes until kick-off at the American Express Community stadium, both sides have arrived at the ground and the crowd is slowly filtering their way in from the cold.
Head-to-Head
Brighton and Watford have only met six times in the Premier League. The Seagulls have won two, the Hornets have won one, with three draws between them.
Matchday
Welcome to live coverage of Brighton & Hove Albion versus Watford on a rainy, dreary down on the south coast of England with kick-off just five hours away.
Thank you for following along from wherever you are and I look forward to seeing you again soon.