Brighton 1 Watford 0 match highlights: Pascal Gross strikes as Seagulls win their first game in eight | The Sun

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NERVOUS Brighton snatched their first win in eight games to halt their worrying slide towards the relegation dogfight.

Pascal Gross’ 64th-minute strike was enough to secure a crucial three points for Chris Hughton’s faltering team and get Watford looking anxiously over their shoulders.

Brighton celebrate after taking a 1-0 lead against WatfordCredit: HANNAH MCKAY

Pascal Gross curls home the opener for BrightonCredit: Getty Images - Getty

But it was Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes who was the main architect of his team’s downfall, diving right over the top of Gross’ hopeful low shot to hand victory on a plate to Brighton.

The Seagulls had laid siege to the Watford penalty area early on in a desperate bid to break their recent goal drought.

But Tomer Hemed was twice unable to apply a finishing touch to low crosses driven into the danger zone before Anthony Knockaert’s poor first touch prevented him from taking advantage of a Gomes fumble.

Knockaert’s every touch was booed by the travelling Watford supporters - a legacy of his claim that Miguel Britos deliberately tried to injure him with a red-card challenge when these teams met earlier in the season.

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Pascal Gross popped up with a crucial winner for BrightonCredit: HANNAH MCKAY

Watford ace Andre Carrilo has a go at goalCredit: Getty Images - Getty

No Premier League team has a worse disciplinary record this season than Watford, who kicked off with Troy Deeney, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Marvin Zeegelaar all absent through suspension.

And they were fortunate not to fall behind after half an hour when Connor Goldson was left totally unmarked to apply a back post header to Pascal Gross’ deep corner which Gomes did well to turn round.

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Goldson, deputising for the suspended Shane Duffy, was making his Premier League debut for Brighton after undergoing heart surgery in February.

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Andre Gray cannot get on the end of a long ballCredit: PA:Press Association

And he could hardly have asked for a gentler introduction to top-flight football than an encounter with a Watford team who haven’t won a game since Everton tried to pinch manager Marco Silva more than a month ago.

It was not so long ago that only Manchester City had a better away record than Watford, but the Hornets have lost their way in recent weeks and are lucky that they still have half of the Premier League below them in the table.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton likes what he's seeingCredit: HANNAH MCKAY

Brighton striker Tomer Hemed tries to get a strike past Sebastian ProdlCredit: PA:Press Association

Their first shot on target did not arrive until the 56th minute, when Richarlison’s effort was comfortably pushed away by Mat Ryan.

They have now managed just one point from their last six games and must end that worrying run at home to Leicester on Boxing Day to avoid a stress-free New Year.

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