Dan gives us his report from the opening game of the season against Watford at St Mary's on Saturday

A disappointing start to the Premier League season for Saints saw two points dropped against a team who have been discussed when relegation from the top-flight is the topic. In a game of two halves, Claude Puel didn’t get the debut win he would’ve wanted to kick-start the new campaign.

After James Ward-Prowse was hit by a high foot from Capoue, Southampton had a free-kick not too far away from the Watford goal. A fantastic chance ended in nothing after Watford keeper, Gomes made a great save, stopping his own defender from scoring an own goal.

Only in the ninth minute Watford scored the first goal of the game after a series of mistakes in the defence, Etienne Capoue capitalised with a smart finish to give the visitors the lead.

Southampton continued to be poor in the first half by giving the ball away; against a better team and we would’ve lost the game in the first half.

However, Saints did start to find their feet towards the end of the first half when Shane Long headed wide after fantastic play from Dusan Tadic.

After Ward-Prowse came off for new signing Højbjerg, the game started to change. It only took ten minutes into the first half for Nathan Redmond to get the equaliser on his debut after a series of corners. A smart volley that found it’s way into the bottom right-hand corner.

Saints dominated the second-half but couldn’t capitalise on great chances. The goal that could’ve given Southampton the lead would’ve come from, Shane Long who’s pace bamboozled Watford’s defence after a clever break away. Unfortunately, Watford substitute took Long down but was sent off in the process for being the last man.

The ten-men of Watford didn’t give Southampton much advantage as the game finished one apiece, a missed opportunity for Saints who have a difficult series of away games next where three points would’ve been the perfect kick-start.

Man of the Match:

My man of the match was new boy, Nathan Redmond. At times he spun Watford’s heads with his skill and pace. He fully deserved a debut goal but had lots of chances he didn’t use properly.

Southampton need to go into Friday’s match with confidence from Saturday’s second-half. There have already been some shock results this season so a hattrick of wins at Old Trafford is definitely possible.

Photo: Action Images

Consigliere added 16:20 - Aug 15 "Disappointment" is I think the word for this game and seems to feature in all the blogs on this website and others (of which far and away the most insightful is Consortium11 in the Guardian). The problem appeared to lie in the midfield especially in the first half, in that although Davis was solid, the others were losing possession far too easily. The second half was obviously must better especially after the substitutions but the problem then switched to a lack of willingness to strike on goal combined with Watford getting every man back in defence. So, lessons learned - we miss the big front presence of Pele more than we thought we would, Redmond and Long were excellent but can't do it all by themselves and we need to sort out the midfield. Oh and I wish others would get off Yoshida's case, I know he made his one silly mistake with a careless back pass but it didn't lead to anything and that apart he had a good solid game. The whole team will need to up their game before Man U though as we will be taken apart otherwise.

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