Emmanuel Dennis in action, Ekong benched , Okoye and Kalu missing as Watford open Championship campaign with win

Emmanuel Dennis played the entire duration of the match as Watford opened their English Championship season with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Monday night .

Super Eagles of Nigeria assistant Captain Williams Troost-Ekong was an unused substitute in the game while compatriots Maduka Okoye and Samuel Kalu were missing from the Matchday squad .

Portuguese star Joao Pedro scored the only goal of the match at Vicarage road to hand Watford a winning start to life in the championship following their relegation from the Premier League last season .

Emmanuel Dennis unlike his Nigerian teammates was involved from start to finish but could not register his name on the scoresheet .

For Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, manager Rob Edwards had already announced that Dan Bachmann would start the season as first choice Goalkeeper .

Ben Hamer was listed as reserve with the Nigerian Goalkeeper having to watch from the stands .

There was no place on the team sheet for Nigerian winger Samuel Kalu. The winger has not been at his best since joining the Hornets in January and could be tempted with a loan switch before the close of the summer transfer window .