Watford 0 Brighton 0 – MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Seagulls fail to take advantage of ten-man Watford after Miguel Britos sent off for horrific tackle on Anthony Knockaert
Seagulls gain their first point of the season while the Hornets maintain unbeaten start
MIGUEL BRITOS left his Watford team-mates to scrap for a hard-earned point against Brighton after he was sent off for a horror tackle.
It was hard to have much sympathy for him as he appealed the decision as this was his third red card in his last 11 Premier League home games.
The Uruguyan defender slammed into Anthony Knockaert, who had looked increasingly dangerous on the right flank, with a horrendous studs-up and possible challenge on the 24th minute.
Referee Graham Scott had no hesitation in brandishing a red card immediately despite Britos pleading for leniency.
With the scoreline 0-0 Hornets boss Marco Silva, whose team had been unbeaten in their opening two Premier League matches, was forced to replace Nordin Amrabat with Craig Cathcart.
Cathcart then got injured just after the re-start forcing more changes with Andre Carill, on loan from Benfica, drafted off the bench for his Hornets debut.
It was Watford who had started the brightest with Nathaniel Chalobah, called up by England manager Gareth Southgate in the week, having a header cleared off the line by Lewis Dunk on the eighth minute after Markus Suttner brought down Amrabat.
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The lively Knockaert hit the post on the 15th minute as Brighton went in search of their first point since being promoted to the Premier League.
He was jeered thoughout by the Watford fans having had his penalty saved in the dramatic last-gasp play off-semi final victory against Leicester in 2013 which saw the Hornets reach Wembley.
Tomer Hemed also saw his effort fly off the woodwork on the 36th minute but seconds later Chalobah, a bargain £5million buy from Chelsea this summer, had to watch on as a driving shot flew past Ryan's right post from the edge of the box.
Hemed again saw a volley go wide after 52 minutes and on the 66th minute Knockaert had a shot saved by Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes, who had to stretch to tip the ball away for a corner.
And as the seconds ebbed away Watford's £18.5million summer signing from Burnley Andre Gray could only shoot high and wide into the stands before being replaced by Troy Deeney, making his return from injury.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Brighton now have their first Premier League point
- Lewis Dunk is the last Brighton player to score against Watford, in a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road in October 2014.
- Miguel Britos was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Anthony Knockaert and has now been given the most red cards in the Premier League since the start of 2016-17 (3).
- Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is in no doubt that his red card was deserved for Britos.
- Andre Gray has scored in his four previous league appearances against the Seagulls.
- Watford continue to go unbeaten in the Premier League.
- Watford have lost just one of their last ten league meetings with Brighton since the start of the 2005-06 season (W5 D4 L1).
- Brighton striker Glenn Murray missed out on today's game but congratulated them on Twitter.
SOCIAL SAYS
What they said
Marco Silva: "It was a difficult match, we started very well, and had two chances to score. After they reacted well and our team lost emotional balance.
"After the red card everything changes in the match. Our players show good spirits and very good organisation. I think we were in control, although of course they had more chances than us. "Congratulations to our players because they fight really, really hard.
"I didn't see it [the sending off] yet but the information I have is that it was fair decision. I already spoke with the player but we remain calm, he is an experienced player.
"We show very good things in the match, I talked to the players after and sometimes one point looks more than it is."
Chris Hughton: "Pleased to get off the mark with the point. But disappointed we didn't get all three.
"They defended well. They're athletic at the back. We hit the post twice and we should have had a penalty.
"Best performance of the three games, even when it was 11v11, against team on back of a draw and win."