Dennis scores on debut in superb Watford win

Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Dennis marked his debut for Watford with a goal and assist in their 3-2 win over Aston Villa at Vicarage Road in their first Premier League match of the season. Dennis was named Premier League man of the match after a sparkling debut display for the Hornets.

Dennis was making his debut for Watford after completing a loan move from Belgian champions Club Brugge over the summer. The 25-year-old wasted no time in making his presence felt for the Hornets as he opened the scoring after only 10 minutes. Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr played in the Nigerian whose initial shot was blocked by Ezri Konsa before he calmly rolled the ball beyond the despairing dive of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Dennis turned from scorer to provider as he returned Sarr’s favour with a cute pass for the winger to blast home via a huge deflection in the 42nd minute. Colombian forward Cucho Hernandez added a third for Watford within 49 seconds of his Premier League debut as a substitute, curling home an effort from the left side of the box in the 67th minute. Aston Villa responded immediately and John McGinn pulled on back with his left peg from outside the box as he converted a Leon Bailey cross in the 70th minute. Villa continued to pile the pressure in the hope of scoring, but had to wait until the 97th minute for a second goal as Danny Ings scored from the spot on his Villa debut to make it 3-2.

The Watford side also featured Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong and midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo from the start, with both players lasting for the full duration of the match as Watford got off to a flying start in the 2021/22 season. The Hornets have now won 10 consecutive home league matches, a new club record.