Southampton vs Watford. Premier League.
St. Mary's StadiumAttendance31,488.
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Sunday 14 August 2016 11:49, UK
A debut goal from Nathan Redmond secured a 1-1 draw for Southampton against Watford on the opening day of the Premier League season at St Mary's.
The Hornets went in front after nine minutes thanks to Etienne Capoue's first league goal for the club, but the lively Redmond equalised just before the hour mark (58).
The hosts pushed for an winner, and played the final 14 minutes with a man advantage after Ben Watson was sent off for denying Shane Long a goalscoring opportunity.
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Redmond came closest to earning all three points, but the Saints forward saw his late strike correctly ruled out for offside.
With new managers in the dugout for either side on Saturday afternoon, Claude Puel's Southampton started the brighter in front of their own fans.
They nearly took an immediate lead when Heurelho Gomes spilled Dusan Tadic's free-kick, but the Watford goalkeeper made up for his error, preventing an own goal after Miguel Britos miscued his clearance.
The visitors struck first through Capoue, who latched on to Troy Deeney's measured knock-down and blasted past Fraser Forster.
The goal settled Watford and they dominated the next 20 minutes, with Southampton careless in possession and lethargic in attack.
The hosts improved as half-time neared, with Long closest to an equaliser before the break. A stunning piece of individual skill from Tadic created the opportunity, but the Saints striker nodded wide at the back post.
Southampton carried their momentum into the second half, with Redmond and Tadic a real handful for Watford's three central defenders.
The former, a summer signing from Norwich City, got his side back on level terms with a fine volley, guiding his strike into the far corner.
A nightmare back-pass by Maya Yoshida almost gifted Deeney the perfect chance to put Watford back in front, but an alert Forster scrambled clear.
And Southampton were handed a man advantage when Watson was sent off for pulling down Long, who had raced through on goal after a lightning Southampton counter attack.
The hosts penned their opponents back, with Tadic and Redmond denied by Gomes, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Roger East after a challenge by Juan Camilo Zuniga.
Redmond thought he had snatched the three points late on, but his smart finish was chalked off for offside.
Southampton resume their Premier League campaign on Friday night against Man Utd, live on Sky Sports, while Watford host Chelsea next Saturday.
Player ratings
Southampton: Forster (6), Cedric (6), Yoshida (5), Van Dijk (7), Targett (6), Davis (6), Romeu (6), Ward-Prowse (5), Redmond (7), Tadic (8), Long (6)
Subs: Hojbjerg (6), Austin (6), Pied (6)
Watford: Gomes (5), Cathcart (6), Prodl (7), Britos (7), Amrabat (7), Capoue (8), Behrami (6), Guedioura (7), Holebas (7), Deeney (6), Ighalo (6)
Subs: Zuniga (6), Anya (6), Watson (5)
Man of the match: Dusan Tadic
