Watford vs Southampton LIVE: Result and reaction from Premier League fixture today

Nigel Pearson’s side remain in peril after visitors secured a straightforward win

FA Cup match preview: Newcastle v Manchester City

Watford fell to a 3-1 defeat against Southampton this afternoon as the Hornets’ attempt to avoid Premier League relegation continues to stutter.

Southampton took the lead after 16 minutes when Danny Ings strode towards the Watford box and fired a precise strike past Ben Foster, and the striker netted his second in the second half after the Hornets’ goalkeeper threw the ball straight to him.

A Jan Bednarek own goal seemingly gave Nigel Pearson’s side a lifeline, but moments later the hosts conceded again, this time to a magnificent James Ward-Prowse free-kick. Re-live all our live coverage of the game below:

Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

Key Points

• Match kicked off at 4.30pm BST
• Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Dawson, Masina, Capoue, Hughes, Doucoure, Sarr, Pereyra, Deeney
• Southampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Bertrand, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Smallbone, Redmond, Long, Ings

[28 June 2020 17:42 · Alex Pattle]

52 mins: Redmond wins the ball on the left wing and shows off some good skill to get into the Watford box and make space for a cross.

The Saints man can't quite dig the ball out from under his feet, however, and it goes out for a goal-kick.

[28 June 2020 17:46 · Alex Pattle]

55 mins: Capoue fires an impressive long pass out to Femenia on the right flank. He gets a cross into the box, but Sarr is outmuscled again.

[28 June 2020 17:47 · Alex Pattle]

57 mins: Watford are looking a little more focused at the moment in their efforts to create. They're offering more width, which will prove their best bet of equalising if they can deliver to Deeney properly.

[28 June 2020 17:50 · Alex Pattle]

60 mins: A Watford corner falls to Hughes, who smashes a shot goalwards. It's blocked, but Deeney finds himself on the ball a few yards out.

The striker opts to pass instead of shooting, but Southampton intercept and send Long clear.

The Saints forward drives into the opposition half, but can't quite find a way past the last man.

[28 June 2020 17:51 · Alex Pattle]

61 mins: Watford really do look sharper at the moment and they have another corner.

It's beaten away by McCarthy and, again, Hughes drives a shot through the box. Again, it's blocked.

[28 June 2020 17:54 · Alex Pattle]

63 mins: As much as Watford have improved in this second half, Southampton are still dangerous.

Redmond is on the ball outside the Hornets' box and tries to slip through Ings, but the Watford defence block off the striker.

[28 June 2020 17:57 · Alex Pattle]

67 mins: Southampton are trying to slow things down at the moment, but Watford are doing a good job at pressuring them.

Will the water break ruin the hosts' momentum?

Watford trail Southampton 1-0 with just over 20 minutes left.

[28 June 2020 17:59 · Alex Pattle]

69 mins: GOAL!

It's a second for Southampton, and it's Ings again!

Watford 0-2 Southampton

[28 June 2020 18:00 · Alex Pattle]

70 mins: In their last game, Saints keeper McCarthy cost his side with a terrible error.

Here, it's the Watford shotstopper who costs his side, throwing the ball straight out to Ings, who fires past Foster and into the bottom left corner of the net.

[28 June 2020 18:03 · Alex Pattle]

73 mins: Some substitutions:

Hughes, Masina and Pereyra are withdrawn for Watford, with Welbeck, Joao Pedro and Holebas replacing them.