Watford 0-0 Southampton: Wait for first league win continues for both sides

Watford and Southampton played out a goalless draw at Vicarage Road on Sunday, with both teams still looking for their first Premier League victory of the season.

The Hornets had the two best openings of the match, however, with forward Odion Ighalo and midfielder Etienne Capoue both failing to hit the target from close range.

And that means a second consecutive 0-0 draw at home for Watford, while the visitors will have been pleased to have recorded their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores resisted the temptation to hand debuts to new signings Miguel Britos, Giedrius Arlauskis and Nathan Ake, although the first two were on the bench.

Meanwhile, his opposite number Ronald Koeman opted to start with both Victor Wanyama and Saido Mane in midfield, despite recent transfer speculation surrounding the pair.

However, the latter's involvement in the game lasted just 25 minutes before the winger was forced to leave the action with concussion, a blow for the visitors given Mane, with his pace and direct running, had been their most dangerous player in the opening quarter of the match.

The Saints had opted to switch to a back three for this contest as Koeman went in search of the club's first Premier League win of the season, while Watford also tried to play a more direct game as their back four looked to find striker Graziano Pelle at any opportunity with the long ball.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

But while Southampton looked more comfortable in possession of the ball than their newly promoted opponents, Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was barely called upon to make a save in the opening 45 minutes.

In fact, it was the home team who had the best opening of the half when five minutes before half-time, Ighalo failed to hit the target from just a few yards out after a swift counterattack involving Troy Deeney and Ikechi Anya, although Southampton defender Steven Caulker deserved credit for putting his opponent off at the back post.

The first 45 minutes was perhaps best summed up by Watford committing two foul throws, so it was no surprise that Flores decided to bring on Italy forward Alessandro Diamanti at the break for his first Premier League appearance for five years.

However, it was Southampton that came closest to opening the scoring after half-time, first when Pelle's fierce drive was pushed over by Gomes, before substitute Shane Long was only just off target with a near-post header from the resulting corner.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

But as the game wore on and became more and more stretched, it was actually the Hornets who looked the more likely winners as Anya's influence on the right flank grew.

And Watford really should have broken the deadlock midway through the second half when Deeney got a near-post flick on to a right-wing corner, only for Capoue to somehow place his header at the far post over the bar from virtually on the goal-line for one of the misses of the season.

Thereafter, both teams appeared happy to settle for a point, with Saints centre-back Jose Fonte a rock at the back throughout for the visitors, meaning Watford having now marked their return to the Premier League with three successive draws.

However, next up for Flores' men are leaders Manchester City at the Etihad.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Player ratings

Watford: Gomes (7), Nyom (6), Prodl (6), Cathcart (6), Holebas (7), Capoue (6), Behrami (6), Anya (8), Ighalo (6), Jurado (8), Deeney (7)
Subs: Diamanti (6), Watson (6)

Southampton: Stekelenburg (6), Yoshida (6), Fonte (9), Caulker (6), Targett (6), Wanyama (6), Romeu (6), Cedric Soares (6), Mane (7), Steven Davis (6), Pelle (6)
Subs: Long (7), Rodriguez (6), Ward-Prowse (6)

Man of the match: Jose Fonte

Live Ford Super Sunday