Watford earned their first Premier League win of the season as they moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of opponents Norwich.
The Hornets’ victory, their first in the top flight since April, means they leapfrog Southampton and the hosts, whose own winless run has now stretched to a seventh game.
Gerard Deulofeu’s goal after 76 seconds after some lax defending from Emiliano Buendia set Watford on their way and Andre Gray’s close-range flick from a Deulofeu cross secured the points.
But they had to survive for 25 minutes with 10 men after Christian Kabasele was dismissed for his second yellow card.
That provided the hosts with some impetus in the closing stages but Quique Sanchez Flores’ side held firm to earn a first league victory since his return to the club.
The Hornets, who have struggled for goals this term, displayed a clinical streak that has until now been absent, scoring with their only two efforts on target.
Norwich have now gone 10 Premier League home games without keeping a clean sheet – a run stretching back to their previous campaign in the top flight – and hold the worst defensive record in the division.
- Reaction from as Watford claim first win of the season at Norwich
Deulofeu stars on positive night for Watford
Watford’s season has so far followed a familiar pattern of failing to convert chances in front of goal before being punished at the other end.
So this was a welcome reversal of fortune for Sanchez Flores, who had overseen four draws and three defeats in his seven matches in charge since replacing compatriot Javi Gracia in September.
The Spanish boss will also have been encouraged by being able to name Troy Deeney in a Hornets squad for the first time since August.
And while the physical presence and bustling firepower that the 31-year-old can provide may yet prove pivotal if Watford are to turn their season around, Deulofeu’s pace was crucial in East Anglia.
Dispossessing Buendia, Deulofeu drifted into the Norwich penalty area from the right unopposed and drilled a low left-foot shot past Canaries goalkeeper Tim Krul into the bottom left corner from 15 yards.
While he clearly has the capacity to frustrate his team-mates at times, by failing to track back or make runs in behind opposition defences, the former Barcelona and Everton forward then created Watford’s second.
Latching on to a ball down the left channel, the 25-year-old teased Max Aarons before picking out Gray, whose attempted backheel deflected off Jamal Lewis into the bottom left corner.
Norwich lacking firepower
While Norwich appeared to regain control of the game in the first half, there was a certain inevitability about the outcome once they had fallen behind to Deulofeu’s early goal.
Daniel Farke’s side may have dominated possession but their struggles were underscored by a lack of creativity and thrust in front of goal.
They are also yet to earn a point this season after conceding the first goal with Teemu Pukki’s form indicative of their problems.
The Finland international started the campaign prolifically with six goals in his first five games but has now failed to score in his last seven outings for the club.
And while he worked away industriously all evening, producing more sprints than any other player (19), he barely got into the positions to test Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Cuban winger Onel Hernandez offered some threat down the left, repeatedly beating Kabasele before he was dismissed but he was underused thereafter, with the lively Todd Cantwell also introduced too late.
It ensured Norwich ended the evening with their joint-lowest tally at this stage of a top-flight season.
Man of the Match – Gerard Deulofeu (Watford)
Super-sub Gray
- Watford registered their first Premier League win at the 12th attempt in 2019-20 and ended a run of 15 league games without a victory, stretching back to April.
- Norwich are the sixth newly promoted side to lose as many as nine of their opening 12 Premier League games to a season – four of the previous five went on to be relegated (the exception being Crystal Palace in 2013-14).
- This was the first away Premier League win by a team starting the day bottom of the table since last November, when Huddersfield Town won 2-0 at Wolves.
- Watford striker Andre Gray has more Premier League goals as a substitute in 2019 than any other player (3).
- In just two Premier League appearances on a Friday, Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu has been involved in six goals, scoring four times and assisting two.
- Deulofeu’s goal after 76 seconds for Watford was the second-quickest away goal scored in the Premier League this season, behind only Harry Kane’s effort after 47 seconds for Spurs at Liverpool.
- Norwich are still without a home Premier League clean sheet this season, one of only three teams without one, along with Liverpool and Southampton.
- Since returning to the Premier League in 2015-16, Watford have received more red cards than any other top-flight team (17).
- Watford have kept three clean sheets in their last five Premier League games, having kept none in their 19 games prior to this.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Norwich
Substitutes
Watford
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Norwich City 0, Watford 2.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Norwich City 0, Watford 2.
Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Etienne Capoue (Watford).
Booking
Adam Masina (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Masina (Watford).
Attempt missed. Ben Godfrey (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mario Vrancic.
Foul by Max Aarons (Norwich City).
Adam Masina (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Adam Masina replaces José Holebas.
Booking
Mario Vrancic (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Mario Vrancic (Norwich City).
Etienne Capoue (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Mario Vrancic (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by José Holebas (Watford).
Attempt blocked. Tom Trybull (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Tom Trybull (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Teemu Pukki.
Attempt missed. Andre Gray (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Will Hughes following a fast break.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Mario Vrancic replaces Jamal Lewis.
Jamal Lewis (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford).
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Tom Trybull.
Foul by Kenny McLean (Norwich City).
Will Hughes (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Jamal Lewis (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Todd Cantwell following a corner.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Daryl Janmaat.
Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by José Holebas (Watford).
Attempt blocked. Max Aarons (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Teemu Pukki.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Etienne Capoue.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Ben Foster.
Attempt saved. Kenny McLean (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Adrian Mariappa replaces Gerard Deulofeu.
Booking
Will Hughes (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Will Hughes (Watford).
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Christian Kabasele (Watford) for a bad foul.
Josip Drmic (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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