Saints, encouraged by those forays, continue to probe with Nathan Redmond deciding to try his luck. Over the bar.

Better from Saints, giving their long-suffering home fans some hope. Ryan Bertrand twice drives down the left flank and into the Watford box, first being muscled out of the way by Etienne Capoue and then seeing his low cross cut out.

Gerard Deulofeu sticks on the burners, this time on the left, but a lack of end product from the Spaniard again lets the visitors down. He tries to slide through to Ismaila Sarr, but Jack Stephens reads it well to cut out the pass and get Saints moving up the other end...

Ismail Sarr is the 27th different Senegalese player to score a Premier League goal. Among African nations, only Nigeria (31) have had more different scorers in the competition.

Just had another look at that Watford goal and Jack Stephens doesn't cover himself in glory. The Saints defender seems to bundle the ball into Sarr's path as he tries to deal with the pass forward/keep tabs on the Watford man.

St Mary's is not an easy place for Southampton to play at the moment. A real malaise has set in.

More groans as an angled forward pass is gathered by Michael Obafemi, leading to the offside flag being wafted. If he'd have left it then Nathan Redmond might have been in behind him...

Boos ring out as Watford almost score a second. Saints are caught by a quick counter, but Gerard Deulofeu's first touch is poor as he gets in behind the home defence.

That takes him slightly out wide and his angled shot is pushed away by Alex McCarthy.

"Away it goes, AWAY IT GOES!" screams Saints keeper Alex McCarthy.

None of his team-mates follow his advice, however, as an in-swinging free-kick comes in from the left. Far to easy.

The ball lands on the boot of Ismaila Sarr, whose fierce volley - and it was an actual volley! - needs McCarthy to turn out a right boot and block.

And that Watford goal means the visitors move above the Saints - and also Norwich - in the 'as it stands' table.

Francis Benali
Former Southampton defender on BBC Radio 5 live

It was a first time pass that took Jack Stevens out.

You could say Alex McCarthy went to ground a little bit early but a tidy finish from Sarr and that gives the visiting team a positive start.

Southampton look to hit back immediately through a set-piece but James Ward-Prowse's delivery is poor. Groans from an exasperated home crowd.

Saints haven't won at St Mary's since 13 April - and you can tell. The home players, and the fans, get edgy as keeper Alex McCarthy clumps the ball out of play.

The corner is headed clear by the Saints but only as far as Watford skipper Etienne Capoue. He dinks the ball back in towards Abdoulaye Doucoure, but there's not enough of an angle for him to generate any power. A tame header goes straight at Alex McCarthy.

Watford try to knock the ball around on the deck, Etienne Capoue getting it down and looking to pass his way forward with the help of Gerard Deulofeu. Eventually it leads to an away corner...

If this was an arm wrestle then they'd be locked upright with clenched faces quivering.

Watford's Gerard Deulofeu swings in the free-kick but it lacks the pace to bamboozle the Saints defence. The ball is not fully cleared though before an offside flag comes to the rescue for a shaky looking Saints.

Is this Watford's chance to put on some pressure? Saints defender Jan Bednarek clumsily fouls Ismaila Sarr in the home half and Watford send up the big lads...

Saints are trying to win the ball high and do that again through Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Press high, claim possession and move the ball forward quickly is the mantra. Hojberg does that but Nathan Redmond is a shade offside when the ball comes.

Young striker Michael Obafemi earns another start for the Saints and looks to make an early impression with a darting run down the channel. Cedric Soares spots the movement, but his pass is a touch strong and skids off the turf into Ben Foster's hands.