Cucho Hernandez scored a brace to help Watford produce one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Premier League. Roy Hodgson and his men will welcome the three points after losing their last two matches. They move level on points with Everton in 17th place. Hernandez scored both his goals in the first half in the 14th and 34th minute respectively. Mohamed Elyounoussi halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time.
Player ratings
Southampton: Forster (6), Walker-Peters (7), Bednarek (6), Salisu (5), Perraud (6), Romeu (6), Ward-Prowse (7), Smallbone (5), S Armstrong (6), Elyounoussi (7), Adams (6).
Subs: Broja (6), Redmond (n/a), Long (n/a).
Watford: Foster (7), Femenia (6), Kabasele (7), Samir (7), Kamara (7), Sissoko (7), Louza (7), Kucka (8), Hernandez (8), Dennis (7), Joao Pedro (7).
Subs: King (n/a), Cathcart (n/a), Sema (n/a).
Man of the match: Cucho Hernandez.
Managers Reaction
Watford manager Roy Hodgson: “We know quite frankly we have got four games against the teams who are catchable and they are going to be tough games. They are killer games in a way because if we continue to do okay, everyone will expect now you play them at home you will win but that’s not how the Premier League works. Southampton did not expect Newcastle and Watford to come here and win because they are playing well, have a good team, but that is what happens.”
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl: “I must congratulate Watford for the three points. They need them and absolutely deserved them for their defensive performance, their coolness, and cleverness. I would maybe do the same if I am in a relegation battle but I don’t know if we want to see this in the Premier League, that every action is immediately stopped with one minute of laying on the ground after every foul, but I understand they are fighting for their lives. It is hard then to find the rhythm for us and hard to find our game.”
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