Summary

  • Watford host Southampton (13:30 BST) in first of Sunday's two games

  • Iker Bravo gives Hornets the lead before Amin Nabizada makes it 2-0

  • Southampton playing in Championship for first time since spygate scandal

  • Burnley take on West Ham United (16:00 BST) after both sides were relegated from the Premier League

  • West Ham playing in the second tier for the first time in 15 years

  • Wins for Middlesbrough, West Brom, Bolton, QPR, Millwall and Swansea among Saturday's fixtures

  • Wrexham play Cardiff in Welsh derby on Monday night as Championship opening weekend concludes

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Live Reporting

Kate Holloway

  1. Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Kuryu Matsuki sits on the pitch and holds a hand to his head, as two medical staff stand in front of him talking to the referee who is also knealt on groundPA Media

    Boos as the referee stops play for Saints midfielder Kuryu Matsuki to get treatment.

    He's been caught in the face but seems like he will be fine.

  2. Get Involved

    Watched Iker Bravo win the player of the tournament in the U19 Euros two years ago in Belfast. Was at Real Madrid then, went to Udinese and here is is. He's only 21, is a good worker so the best is yet to come. A good signing for Watford

    Paul, Newtownabbey

  3. SECOND HALF

    Watford 2-0 Southampton

    An impressive display from Watford so far. Can they keep it up?

    The second half has begun.

  4. HT: Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Alessio Dionisi holds his hands i front of him on the touchlineGetty Images

    It's been an almost perfect 45 minutes for Watford and Alessio Dionisi and a change on the Watford we saw most of the time last season.

    What does the new Hornets boss say at half-time to keep it going?

  5. Get Involved

    It can only get better for the Saints in the second half. I’m sure Tonda will have words at half-time.

    Steven, Didcot

    Lots of disappointed Saints fans so far but how about how good Watford have been?

  6. 'A real team effort'

    HT: Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Derek Payne
    Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio

    Excellent team performance in the first half from Watford, they deserve to be two up.

    They've been brilliant, a real team effort.

    Amin Nabizada has worked well, his first touch hasn't been great at times, but that will come with time. He looks confident and he scored a good goal.

    Iker Bravo has been asked to do a job for the team today which I love. He's done well with the ball and without the ball.

  7. HALF-TIME

    Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Tonda Eckert (left) and Alessio Dionisi stnad in the dugoutGetty Images

    A superb Watford performance puts them two goals ahead of a stunned Southampton at half-time.

    Saints started brightly but after Iker Bravo coolly slotted home an opener, the visitors couldn't regain their composure to really threaten Watford.

    Instead, the Hornets doubled their lead through Amin Nabizada after he pounced on a loose pass and burst forward to put his name on the score sheet.

    Southampton boss Tonda Eckert will be having some stern words with his players in that dressing room. This is not the Saints we've seen under him, not even close.

  8. Watford 2-0 Southampton

    The ball is free in the Watford box but Leo Scienza can't get a proper connection.

    Cyle Larin tips it back out Ryan Manning to unleash but it's easily blocked by the Watford players.

    Saints can't even get a bite in this half.

  9. 'A world away from last season'

    Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Geoff Doyle
    Commentator on BBC Three Counties Radio

    Well, this is a world away from some of the stuff we saw under Ed Still last season, I know that.

  10. Watford 2-0 Southampton

    An additional five minutes to be played.

    Watford have a corner and Mattie Pollock towers above to connect with the ball but Saints defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis keeps close enough to pressure the Watford skipper into misdirecting it high.

  11. 'We've almost been bullied'

    Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Jo Tessem
    Ex-Southampton midfielder on BBC Radio Solent

    Watford have been very clever. They're sitting back and when they win the ball they go up very quickly and that means you've got to run back, and in the hot weather it's really difficult. That's what they've done really well.

    You've got to look at how Watford have approached the game and how Southampton have. We've almost been bullied.

    We're so high because we're playing 4-2-4 and they've worked us out. When we win the ball we lose it straight away.

  12. YELLOW CARD

    Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Another yellow card, this one belonging to goal scorer Amin Nabizada.

    He fouls Lewis Dobbin to offer up a free-kick that might just give Southampton the chance to change the tide.

    It's lofted well towards a rising Jack Stephens but the header goes north of the net.

  13. Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Cameron Bragg takes aim for the Saints but he's blocked and Watford are on the attack, again.

    They can't quite get a shot away but Southampton are drawn into a foul to give away another free-kick.

    Scrappy from the visitors. Uncharacteristic from them.

  14. Watford 2-0 Southampton

    As Barrie [14:11] has just said, Saints are having the lion's share of the possession.

    58.2% as of writing, in fact. Their xG though... not so healthy.

    Graphic showing Southampton xGOpta

  15. 'Watford know when to press'

    Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Derek Payne
    Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio

    I think what Watford have done well is when to press. They've known when to drop off and it's worked well.

  16. Get Involved

    How can a team have so much posesssion yet have no shots at goals? What is the point of these stats when teams don’t take advantage of them

    Barrie, Swansea

    Relegation looking more likely than promotion for Saints... with further punishment to come, this is going to be a long season for them

    Jimmy, Winchester

  17. Watford 2-0 Southampton

    For the first time in a long time, Southampton get the chance to go on the attack but it's wasted as the ball is shafted out of play before it can test the keeper.

  18. 'Who is playing where?'

    Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Jo Tessem
    Ex-Southampton midfielder on BBC Radio Solent

    Who is playing where?

    It's all good having the players who can pass the ball, but it's all about clarity. That's why we were so good last season.

    When we're winning the second balls we look slow.

  19. Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Watford boss Alessio Dionisi is shouting instructions from the dug-out. Not content with a two goal lead against a team many think will be aiming at promotion.

    This has been some showing for life under his rule at Vicarage Road already.

  20. 'Nabizada tucks it away nicely'

    Watford 2-0 Southampton

    Derek Payne
    Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio

    Amin Nabizada tucks it away nicely into the corner.

    He's a confident player, a brave player and what I liked about that goal was he had a lot of time to think about it.