Watford 3-2 Aston Villa: Emmanuel Dennis and Cucho Hernandez score on debut in fine Hornets victory
Goals from Emmanuel Dennis, Ismaila Sarr and Cucho Hernandez give Hornets fine opening-day victory over Aston Villa; Cucho scores stunner on debut four years after joining club; John McGinn and Danny Ings get goals for under-par Villa
Watford made a triumphant return to the Premier League with a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa in their season opener on Saturday. Emmanuel Dennis and Cucho Hernandez scored on their respective debuts.
The Hornets were relegated on the final day of the pandemic-hit 2019-2020 season, but they jumped straight back up to the Premier League this season and put on a performance against Aston Villa in front of their home fans, who were once again in the stadium to support them.
Playing in the middle of Watford’s front three for the first time, Nigerian international Dennis scored his first Premier League goal just 10 minutes of his first game for the club by smashing home a rebound from his own blocked shot in the first half.
Ismaila Sarr scored three minutes before halftime when a deflection off the outstretched foot of Tyrone Mings sent the ball looping over the head of Emiliano Martinez and into the net. It was the 23-year-first old’s goal since joining the club.
Dennis suffered a foot injury and was replaced by Colombian striker Hernandez in the 66th minute of the game. A minute later, the 22-year-old, who joined Watford in 2017 but had spent the previous four seasons on loan in Spain, curled home an exquisite goal from the edge of the box in his first game for the club. The strike was the first of his professional career.
Four minutes later, John McGinn equalized for Villa with a beautiful half-volley from the edge of the area, but Villa failed to generate anything until deep into stoppage time, when Bertrand Traore was awarded a penalty.
Signing of a new contract Whilst Danny Ings converted the penalty kick, it made little difference to the final score as Watford hung on for a 3-2 victory.
“Today was a beautiful day, perfect because we met with our fans, who gave us great support, and I am extremely glad because we earned three very crucial points,” Watford manager Xisco Munoz told BBC Sport. “We earned three very vital points.”
Villa failed to produce from open play after selling playmaker Jack Grealish to Manchester City over the offseason. This was true even when Watford backed off and attempted to protect their advantage.
“We were very different from what I had seen in pre-season and what I had seen last season in the first half of the season. We were lacking in vigor and were defeated at the counter. We were much better in the second half, but we were always going to leave ourselves a little vulnerable in terms of strategy “Dean Smith, the manager of the Villa, spoke to the BBC.
“Regardless of whether Jack (Grealish) is in the lineup or not, we can perform significantly better than that,” he continued.
