Craig Mackail-Smith scored his sixth goal in four games as Brighton beat Watford to maintain their impressive start to the league season.

The Scottish international scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after he had been brought down in the box by Daniel Pudil.

Watford could have had a couple of penalties of their own, while Fernando Forestieri hit the bar with a shot.

But Gus Poyet's side held on for a fourth straight win.

Albion's haul of 13 points from six matches leaves them third, level on points with second-placed Blackpool, and Hull and Cardiff who occupy fourth and fifth spot respectively.

In contrast, Watford have now lost four successive matches in all competitions as Gianfranco Zola continues to endure an inconsistent start to his reign as manager.

Gus Poyet and Gianfranco Zola

Brighton boss Poyet and Watford boss Zola are old Chelsea team-mates. The pair played together for the Stamford Bridge club from 1997 to 2001, helping Chelsea win the 1998 Cup Winners' Cup and the 2000 FA Cup.

However, it was the Hornets who began this match the brighter with Mark Yeates firing wide from 25 yards and Almen Abdi also off target from just inside the area.

After that, Brighton gained control of the game and would have gone into the break ahead had Mackail-Smith been more accurate with a prodded effort following a Will Buckley cross.

The deadlock was broken five minutes into the second half, with Watford contributing to their own downfall as Piccoli Neuton gave the ball away on the edge of the area, allowing Mackail-Smith to nip into the box before he was brought down by Pudil.

Mackail-Smith made no mistake by drilling his penalty down the middle and past home keeper Manuel Almunia.

Pudil almost made amends for his side when his cross was met by the boot of Forestieri, but the crossbar denied the Argentinian forward.

Watford had penalty shouts of their own when Jonathan Hogg and then Nathaniel Chalobah tumbled in the area, while Brighton could have won by more with Mackail-Smith firing just too high and Almunia saving from Dean Hammond.

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)

Watford

  • 01 Almunia
  • 05 Neuton Booked
  • 18 Pudil Booked
  • 27 Cassetti Booked (Doyley - 46' )
  • 33 Nosworthy Booked
  • 07 Yeates
  • 08 Hogg
  • 22 Abdi
  • 10 Iwelumo (Beleck - 79' )
  • 20 Vydra
  • 41 Forestieri (Chalobah - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 30 Bond
  • 12 Doyley
  • 31 Hoban
  • 39 Chalobah
  • 11 Forsyth
  • 28 Smith
  • 13 Beleck

Brighton & Hove Albion

  • 29 Kuszczak
  • 02 Bruno (Calderon - 90' )
  • 03 Greer
  • 06 El-Abd
  • 28 Bridge
  • 04 Hammond
  • 11 Orlandi (Barnes - 60' Booked )
  • 18 Dicker
  • 26 Bridcutt Booked
  • 30 Buckley
  • 12 Mackail-Smith (Dobbie - 75' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 16 Ankergren
  • 05 Dunk
  • 14 Calderon
  • 17 Harley
  • 21 David Lopez
  • 09 Barnes
  • 10 Dobbie
Ref: Drysdale
Att: 11,894

Match Stats

Shots

14 9

On target

4 4

Corners

2 3

Fouls

12 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:17 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:37

Daniel Pudil produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

90:00 +3:25

Centre by Steve Beleck, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

90:00 +3:07

A cross is delivered by Matej Vydra, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

90:00 +2:38

The ball is crossed by Lloyd Doyley, Adam El-Abd manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +1:50

Mark Yeates has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

90:00 +1:28

The ball is sent over by Jonathan Hogg, Inigo Calderon manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +0:41 Substitution

Substitution Inigo Calderon is brought on as a substitute for Bruno Saltor.

89:10

Nathaniel Chalobah delivers the ball.

88:52

Mark Yeates delivers the ball, clearance made by Ashley Barnes.

88:27

Will Buckley challenges Almen Abdi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Almen Abdi restarts play with the free kick.

86:20

Daniel Pudil produces a left-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.

85:56

Centre by Steve Beleck, clearance made by Gordon Greer. The ball is sent over by Steve Beleck, clearance by Ashley Barnes.

84:42 Booking

Booking Ashley Barnes is shown a yellow card.

84:30 Booking

Booking The referee shows Daniel Pudil a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

83:29

Effort on goal by Ashley Barnes from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

82:17

Direct free kick taken by Gordon Greer.

82:17 Booking

Booking Nyron Nosworthy is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

82:07

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Will Buckley by Nyron Nosworthy.

80:54

The ball is crossed by Daniel Pudil, clearance by Adam El-Abd.

80:32

Mark Yeates sends in a cross, save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

80:10

The ball is crossed by Mark Yeates, Wayne Bridge makes a clearance.

78:43 Substitution

Substitution Chris Iwelumo goes off and Steve Beleck comes on.

78:22 Booking

Booking Stephen Dobbie booked.

77:46

The ball is crossed by Daniel Pudil, Gordon Greer manages to make a clearance.

75:59

The ball is delivered by Nathaniel Chalobah, Daniel Pudil produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.

74:47

Unfair challenge on Ashley Barnes by Mark Yeates results in a free kick. Bruno Saltor takes the direct free kick.

74:11 Substitution

Substitution Stephen Dobbie is brought on as a substitute for Craig Mackail-Smith.

73:57

Effort on goal by Almen Abdi from long range goes over the bar.

72:01 Substitution

Substitution Nathaniel Chalobah on for Fernando Forestieri.

71:48

The ball is swung over by Daniel Pudil.

71:37

The ball is swung over by Daniel Pudil.

71:26

The ball is swung over by Daniel Pudil.

70:31

The ball is sent over by Mark Yeates, Bruno Saltor manages to make a clearance.

66:45

The assistant referee flags for offside against Craig Mackail-Smith. Piccoli Neuton takes the free kick.

66:07

The referee gives a free kick against Chris Iwelumo for handball. Free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.

65:15

Daniel Pudil takes a shot. Save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

64:13

Centre by Will Buckley, Dean Hammond takes a shot. Save by Manuel Almunia.

63:37

Effort from the edge of the area by Fernando Forestieri goes wide of the left-hand upright.

62:22

Mark Yeates gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Dicker. Tomasz Kuszczak restarts play with the free kick.

61:38

Shot from inside the area by Craig Mackail-Smith clears the bar.

61:07

Fernando Forestieri takes a shot. Bruno Saltor gets a block in.

60:07

Craig Mackail-Smith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Piccoli Neuton. Jonathan Hogg restarts play with the free kick.

59:41 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Barnes is brought on as a substitute for Andrea Orlandi.

59:24

Mark Yeates produces a cross.

58:23

The ball is swung over by Andrea Orlandi, clearance made by Nyron Nosworthy.

57:30

Fernando Forestieri takes a shot.

55:48

A cross is delivered by Lloyd Doyley, Gordon Greer makes a clearance.

54:14

Andrea Orlandi challenges Mark Yeates unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Mark Yeates, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

53:28

The ball is sent over by Almen Abdi, Bruno Saltor makes a clearance.

50:49

Outswinging corner taken by Andrea Orlandi from the left by-line played to the near post, Headed effort from close range by Adam El-Abd goes wide left of the goal.

49:17 Goal scored

Goal - Craig Mackail-Smith - Watford 0 - 1 Brighton Penalty taken right-footed by Craig Mackail-Smith and scored. Watford 0-1 Brighton.

48:10

Penalty awarded for a foul by Daniel Pudil on Craig Mackail-Smith.

47:25

Bruno Saltor fouled by Matej Vydra, the ref awards a free kick. Tomasz Kuszczak takes the free kick.

46:07

Almen Abdi crosses the ball.

45:50

Jonathan Hogg challenges Gary Dicker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Liam Bridcutt.

45:11

The ball is crossed by Craig Mackail-Smith, Jonathan Hogg manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Marco Cassetti leaves the field to be replaced by Lloyd Doyley.

45:00 +3:41 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +2:48

Marco Cassetti gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Will Buckley. Free kick crossed by Andrea Orlandi, clearance by Almen Abdi.

45:00 +2:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matej Vydra on Will Buckley. Free kick taken by Wayne Bridge.

45:00 +1:21

Shot from long distance by Mark Yeates misses to the right of the target.

43:13

Andrea Orlandi takes a shot. Nyron Nosworthy gets a block in.

42:06

The ball is crossed by Mark Yeates, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

41:49

Bruno Saltor concedes a free kick for a foul on Fernando Forestieri. Free kick taken by Mark Yeates.

41:03

A cross is delivered by Will Buckley, Gary Dicker takes a shot. Save made by Manuel Almunia.

40:20

Wayne Bridge delivers the ball.

39:12

Matej Vydra is caught offside. Gordon Greer restarts play with the free kick.

38:35

The ball is swung over by Bruno Saltor, save by Manuel Almunia.

38:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Fernando Forestieri on Adam El-Abd. Adam El-Abd takes the direct free kick.

37:24

Centre by Will Buckley, Shot on goal by Dean Hammond from just inside the area goes over the target.

36:05

Craig Mackail-Smith concedes a free kick for a foul on Nyron Nosworthy. Nyron Nosworthy takes the direct free kick.

34:15

Foul by Jonathan Hogg on Will Buckley, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Adam El-Abd.

32:47

The ball is delivered by Mark Yeates, Gordon Greer makes a clearance.

32:32

Daniel Pudil takes a short corner.

32:17

The ball is sent over by Marco Cassetti, Adam El-Abd makes a clearance.

28:27

Foul by Will Buckley on Marco Cassetti, free kick awarded. Manuel Almunia restarts play with the free kick.

26:30

A cross is delivered by Will Buckley, Dean Hammond takes a shot. Save made by Manuel Almunia. Corner taken left-footed by Andrea Orlandi to the near post, clearance made by Jonathan Hogg.

25:06

Mark Yeates crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

25:06 Booking

Booking Liam Bridcutt receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

25:03

Liam Bridcutt challenges Fernando Forestieri unfairly and gives away a free kick.

23:17

Will Buckley sends in a cross, Craig Mackail-Smith produces a right-footed shot from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

21:40

Bruno Saltor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fernando Forestieri. Mark Yeates takes the direct free kick.

21:07

Effort from the edge of the area by Almen Abdi goes wide of the left-hand upright.

20:47

Unfair challenge on Daniel Pudil by Craig Mackail-Smith results in a free kick. Daniel Pudil takes the free kick.

17:04

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Andrea Orlandi, Nyron Nosworthy manages to make a clearance.

17:04 Booking

Booking Marco Cassetti is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

16:57

Marco Cassetti concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Bridcutt.

15:11

Mark Yeates has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.

14:12

Craig Mackail-Smith is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Nyron Nosworthy.

13:37

Andrea Orlandi takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Chris Iwelumo.

11:36

Andrea Orlandi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Almen Abdi. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Daniel Pudil, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

10:15

Andrea Orlandi crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, save by Manuel Almunia.

10:15 Booking

Booking Piccoli Neuton goes into the book.

10:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Will Buckley by Piccoli Neuton.

9:33

The official flags Craig Mackail-Smith offside. Jonathan Hogg restarts play with the free kick.

6:24

Gordon Greer gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Yeates. Strike comes in from Mark Yeates from the free kick, Liam Bridcutt gets a block in. The assistant referee flags for offside against Almen Abdi. Free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.

5:42

Centre by Mark Yeates, Adam El-Abd makes a clearance.

4:41

Short corner worked by Mark Yeates.

4:08

Fernando Forestieri takes a shot. Blocked by Wayne Bridge.

2:31

The ball is crossed by Daniel Pudil.

1:17

Marco Cassetti crosses the ball, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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