Watford 2 Leicester 1: Watch the highlights as Etienne Capoue and Roberto Pereyra scored after 12 minutes as Riyad Mahrez scored a consolation goal
The Foxes are now without a win in their last three Premier League matches
ETIENNE CAPOUE and Roberto Pereyra scored two early goals to give Watford all three points against Leicester.
It was an incredible start for the Hornets at Vicarage Road after Capoue gave the home side the lead after just 33 seconds after he volleyed the ball into the back of the net after Troy Deeney flicked on Pereyra’s cross.
Watford then doubled their lead after 12 minutes when Pereyra cut inside from the left and curled the ball past Ron-Robert Zieler from just inside the penalty area.
Riyad Mahrez restored some faith for the Premier League champions from the penalty spot just two minutes later after Jamie Vardy was brought down after a clumsy tackle from Miguel Britos.
The second half was not as frantic as the first 45 minutes but Watford looked all but certain to regain their two goal lead but a superb reaction save from Zieler denied Pereyra’s header from close range.
Leicester will hope to rediscover their resilience from last season as they are without a win in their last three league matches.
Keep up to date with ALL the Watford and Leicester news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Etienne Capoue’s opener for Watford after 32 seconds was the first time the Hornets have ever scored within the first minute of a Premier League match.
- Troy Deeney showed Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri what he missed out on by not managing to sign him in the summer. Deeney’s flick-on led to Capuoe’s goal. Deeney though is still waiting for his century of goals for Watford, stuck on 99.
- Danny Drinkwater was back for the Foxes after pulling out of the England squad with a rib injury but failed to stop Roberto Pereyra for Watford’s second goal.
- Heurelho Gomes kept his place in goal for Watford after overcoming a knee injury which forced him to be substituted during the 6-1 thrashing at Liverpool before the international break.
- The out-of-form Odion Ihgalo was dropped to the bench. He will need to start showing some of his talent again if he wants a January move.
- Leicester have a Champions League game with Club Brugge on Tuesday to think about – but they are only just above the drop zone in the Premier League. Domestic duties must not come second to their continental capers.
- Jamie Vardy started for Leicester after scoring for England in midweek. He was unable to end his goal drought for the Foxes which now extends to 13 matches but after he was brought down by Miguel Britos in the area team-mate Riyad Mahrez scored from the spot.
- Apart from scoring from the spot Mahrez did little else to impress. Like Vardy he is struggling to re-capture his form which helped Leicester win the title.
- Watford notched up their fourth home game without defeat in a row for the first time in the Premier League in a decade.
- Leicester become the third reigning champions, after Leeds United in 1992 and Blackburn Rovers in 1995, to start a Premier League season without a win in their opening six away matches.
BIG PICTURE
Next five fixtures
Watford
Nov 27 – Stoke City (H) – PL
Dec 3 – West Brom (A) – PL
Dev 10 – Everton (H) – PL
Dec 14 – Manchester City (A) – PL
Dec 17 – Sunderland (A) – PL
Leicester
Nov 22 – Club Brugge (H) – CL
Nov 26 – Middlesbrough (H) – PL
Dec 3 – Sunderland (A) – PL
Dec 7 – Porto (A) – CL
Dec 10 – Manchester City (H) – PL
SOCIAL SAYS
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
WATFORD: Gomes 6, Janmaat 6, Prodl 7, Britos 7, Kaboul 7, Zuniga 7, Amrabat (Guedioura 87, 5), Behrami 6, Capoue 8, Pereyra 8, Deeney 7 (Okaka 90, 6).
Subs not used: Mariappa, Guedioura, Sinclair, Watson, Ighalo, Pantilimon.
Bookings: Britos, Zuniga.
Goals: Capoue, Pereyra.
LEICESTER: Zieler 5, Simpson 6, Morgan 6, Huth 6, Fuchs 6 (Schlupp 68, 6), Mahrez 6, Amartey 6, Drinkwater 6, Albrighton 6 (Musa 78, 5), Okazaki 6 (Gray 68, 6), Vardy 6.
Subs not used: Hernandez, King, Hamer, Schlupp, Wasilewski.
Bookings: Fuchs, Drinkwater, Gray.
Goals: Mahrez.
WHAT THEY SAID
Watford manager Walter Mazzarri said: “We got the win and I’m very happy. We played the football that I like my team to play and this time we were good enough to score.
“The way Roberto Pereyra played, not just the goal he scored, he ran the whole game and I am very happy with him.”
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri said: “I said to my players ‘well done’ as they tried to do everything. At the beginning we were losing 2-0, but we got back in the match.
“Of course Watford defended very well. We tried to do our best, the second half was intense but we did not created good chances.”