Premier League: Danny Ings Double Help Southampton Deepen Watford’s Relegation Fears

A nasty day for the Hornets started earlier than kick-off when 3 gamers had been excluded from Pearson’s squad for breaching coronavirus protocols.

Watford mentioned Andre Grey, Nathaniel Chalobah and Domingos Quina weren’t incorporated to give protection to “the well being and protection of all gamers, personnel and officers” after Grey hosted a birthday celebration on Friday with greater than the accepted six other folks provide.

At the box, Pearson’s males have additionally had a deficient begin to the Premier League resumption with only one level from their first 3 video games leaving them nonetheless only a level above the drop zone.

“We had been 2d best possible for too lengthy,” mentioned Pearson. “You’ll’t concede targets like presents in your warring parties, it makes the process even tougher.”

Watford are the one facet this season to overcome champions Liverpool within the Premier League and in addition beat Manchester United early in Pearson’s reign after taking price in December.

With bottom-of-the-table Norwich, Newcastle and fellow strugglers West Ham to come back in 3 of his facet’s subsequent 4 video games, Pearson stays assured Watford can be secure in the event that they to find their best possible shape.

“We aren’t reaching the varieties of performances we all know we’re able to,” he added. “Now we have video games left the place it’s in our personal arms, the place we will be able to guarantee our personal long term within the Premier League.”

Ings may have been representing England this month at Euro 2020 had the coronavirus pandemic no longer not on time that match for a yr, however he has picked up the place he left off earlier than the three-month stoppage.

The previous Liverpool ahead brilliantly made area for himself at the fringe of the field earlier than curling into the some distance nook on 16 mins to provide Saints a deserved first-half lead.

Watford gave themselves a mountain to climb when Ben Foster’s deficient throw was once pounced upon through Ings to drill house his 18th Premier League target of the season and transfer inside one in every of Jamie Vardy as the highest scorer within the department.

“I simply need to ranking as many targets as I will,” mentioned Ings on his possibilities of beating out the likes of Vardy, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to the Golden Boot.

Jan Bednarek’s personal target in short gave the hosts hope of a comeback.

Alternatively, Southampton restored their two-goal benefit inside 3 mins as James Ward-Prowse curled an excellent free-kick into the highest nook.