Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Watford 0
Albion beat a resolute Watford with a goal from Pascal Gross on 64 minutes. The Seagulls are now in 12th place in the Premier League and five points clear of the relegation zone.
Albion had all the best chances priot to this, although they didn’t really test Heurelho Gomes in the Watford goal.
Tomer Hemed, Anthony Knockaert, Davy Propper and Premier League debutant Conner Goldson all had good chances to score as the partnership down the right between Bruno Saltor and Knockaert flourished but failed to bear the ultimate fruit.
Watford pressed Albion back only occasionally with Tom Cleverley and Richarlison carving out half chances.
Solly March became more prominently involved in the second half creating chances for Hemed and Propper although neither troubled Gomes.
Albion’s goal came from a strike outside the area from Gross which deflected off Gomes and went high into the net.
Hemed should have made it two a while later after more good work from March, with the Israeli firing a shot on the turn wide from close range.
Lewis Dunk saw his header from a corner bounce narrowly wide.
Right at the death a mistake by the largely idle Maty Ryan saw Stefano Okaka stab the ball wide with the last kick of the match.
Albion are at Champions Chelsea on Boxing Day.
