Match ends, Watford 3, Huddersfield Town 0.
WatfordWatford3HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town0
Two sublime individual goals from Roberto Pereyra and Gerard Deulofeu helped Watford secure their best start to a top-flight season and send Huddersfield to the foot of the table.
Pereyra slotted home following a mazy run into the Terriers' box, before Deulofeu thumped past Jonas Lossl from a tight angle to double the hosts' lead.
The visitors had started brightly at Vicarage Road as Aaron Mooy tested Ben Foster from distance and Alex Pritchard sent a curling effort narrowly over the crossbar inside the opening minutes.
Foster was forced to tip Chris Lowe's long-range drive on to the bar midway through the first half, but Isaac Success added a third for Watford late on to secure a comfortable victory for Javi Gracia's men.
The defeat means Huddersfield slip to the foot of the Premier League table, with Newcastle climbing to 19th following their goalless draw at Southampton.
Watford move on to 19 points, surpassing their 17-point haul after 10 games of the 1982-83 season, when they finished runners-up to Liverpool.
Superb goals put Watford in driving seat
Watford were one of only two teams to lose twice to Huddersfield last season - including a 4-1 defeat at home - but two magnificent goals inside the opening 20 minutes put the Hornets firmly in command on Saturday.
Pereyra's opener was a sensational effort, the Argentine collecting the ball on the left flank then waltzing through five Huddersfield challenges before sending a composed finish past goalkeeper Lossl.
The hosts' second was no less spectacular as Deulofeu found the far corner from a tight angle following another weaving run through a static Terriers defence.
The former Barcelona and Everton forward could have doubled his personal tally in the second half, but he scuffed his shot wide after rounding the onrushing Lossl.
It did not matter, however, as Success tapped home his first Premier League goal of the season to put the seal on a convincing victory.
Terriers still misfiring
The defeat extends Huddersfield's winless run in the league to 14 matches, with their last victory coming at home to Watford on 14 April.
Wagner's side created the better opportunities in the first half, with Mooy twice forcing Foster into action and Pritchard narrowly missing the target from a tight angle.
Lowe went closest for the visitors with a stinging effort from distance, which Foster did well to tip on to the crossbar.
Huddersfield registered more attempts on target than their hosts in the match - seven compared to Watford's six - but their lack of goals is fast becoming a major cause for concern.
The Terriers have scored just four in their 10 league matches so far - fewer than any other club in the division.
Taking three points at home to fellow strugglers Fulham in their next encounter on 5 November would go a long way towards lifting the gloom at the John Smith's Stadium.
Man of the match - Gerard Deulofeu (Watford)
Success opens Premier League account - the stats
- Watford have won eight of their 13 home Premier League matches under manager Javi Gracia (D2 L3).
- Huddersfield have won just one of their last 20 Premier League matches (D7 L12), scoring only seven times in that run.
- Watford's Roberto Pereyra has been involved in 10 goals in his last 13 Premier League games at Vicarage Road (eight goals, two assists).
- Watford's tally of 19 points from their 10 Premier League games this season (W6 D1 L3) is their best tally after 10 games of a top-flight season.
- Huddersfield have hit the woodwork more times (six) than they have scored goals (four) in the Premier League this season.
- Huddersfield are winless in 15 games in all competitions (D5 L10), their worst run since November 2000 (19 games without a win).
- Isaac Success netted his second Premier League goal for Watford - two years and 26 days after scoring his first in October 2016 against Bournemouth.
What the managers said
Watford manager Javi Gracia, speaking to Match of the Day: "I enjoyed it because we got a good result, but we have played better in other games than today.
"They had chances to score in the first half, Ben Foster made two or three good saves and after that we dominated. But we have many things to improve.
"I always expect the best of players, I know what they are capable of and I know they will always focus on the next game."
Huddersfield manager David Wagner, to MOTD: "Defensively this was not the performance we wanted. We didn't look solid, stable or compact. In open play we were not aggressive enough or making them uncomfortable.
"Defensively we were not good enough to collect points, you have to use your opportunities and we have not done that today.
"I am disappointed because in recent weeks we had defended better, but it was our worst performance defensively for a while."
What's next?
Watford travel to Newcastle in the Premier League next Saturday (15:00 GMT), while Huddersfield welcome Fulham to the John Smith's Stadium the following Monday (20:00).
Line-ups
Watford
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 26Foster
- 21Femenía
- 6Mariappa
- 15CathcartSubstituted forKabaseleat 85'minutes
- 11MasinaBooked at 67mins
- 16Doucouré
- 29Capoue
- 19Hughes
- 37Pereyra
- 7DeulofeuSubstituted forSemaat 65'minutes
- 10SuccessSubstituted forGrayat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Gomes
- 12Sema
- 18Gray
- 24Wilmot
- 25Holebas
- 27Kabasele
- 33Okaka
Huddersfield
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Lössl
- 37Durm
- 25M Jorgensen
- 26Schindler
- 15Löwe
- 18MbenzaSubstituted forSobhiat 63'minutes
- 8BillingBooked at 34minsSubstituted forBacunaat 78'minutes
- 6Hogg
- 10MooyBooked at 86mins
- 21Pritchard
- 20DepoitreSubstituted forMounieat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Bacuna
- 12Hamer
- 14Sobhi
- 23Quaner
- 24Mounie
- 27Stankovic
- 33Hadergjonaj
- Referee:
- Mike Dean
- Attendance:
- 20,457
Match Stats
Home TeamWatfordAway TeamHuddersfield
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away7
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Watford 3, Huddersfield Town 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ken Sema (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Will Hughes following a fast break.
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Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jonas Lössl.
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Attempt saved. Roberto Pereyra (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Andre Gray.
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Offside, Watford. Ben Foster tries a through ball, but Andre Gray is caught offside.
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Offside, Huddersfield Town. Aaron Mooy tries a through ball, but Steve Mounie is caught offside.
Booking
Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town).
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Will Hughes (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Christian Kabasele replaces Craig Cathcart because of an injury.
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Attempt saved. Alex Pritchard (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ramadan Sobhi.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Andre Gray replaces Isaac Success.
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Erik Durm (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Isaac Success (Watford).
Goal!
Goal! Watford 3, Huddersfield Town 0. Isaac Success (Watford) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kiko Femenía following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town).
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Isaac Success (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Huddersfield Town. Juninho Bacuna replaces Philip Billing.
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Philip Billing (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Thoughts and prayers with Glenn Hoddle who is seriously ill.
As a town fan it just pains me to say that I can't see anyway out of this. It's not a case of the players not wanting it because we play pretty well, it's just we have no quality when it really matters.
The club has had some fantastic individuals over the years and under GT some great teams but this squad has real depth.
Thank you to the owners, shrewdest owners in the PL.
Huddersfield have played many difficult games with a togetherness.
They will come good and there is plenty of time left.
I have seen 3 worse sides!!!
On the match, Watford didn't play great and needed Foster to keep Huddersfield out. However, Huddersfield's defence was nowhere to be seen for the goals. I hope Huddersfield improve and stay up, but it's not looking good at the moment!