Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Watford

Watford last played in the Premier League in the 2006-07 season

Watford clinched promotion to the Premier League after they beat Brighton and other results went their way.

The Hornets won 2-0 in their lunchtime kick-off at the Amex Stadium, then saw Championship promotion rivals Middlesbrough and Norwich both drop points later in the day.

They secured their fifth-successive victory thanks to goals from Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra.

Watford are four points clear of third-placed Boro with one game to go.

Drawing 3-3 in stoppage time at Fulham, Boro sent keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos forward seeking a winner, only for Fulham to break to the other end and score - a decision boss Aitor Karanka defended as a legitimate "risk" afterwards.

Other results ensured Slavisa Jokanovic's Watford side are back in the top flight after an eight-year absence.

Hornets joy
Watford have now won seven of their last nine away games. Their last defeat on the road was 2-0 at Bournemouth on 30 January.

Deeney scored his 21st goal of the season to put the Hornets ahead with a powerful finish after Brighton defender Greg Halford failed to clear the danger.

Brighton's Chris O'Grady had a shot tipped over by keeper Heurelho Gomes, before Vydra finished a counter-attack to add a second goal late on.

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Hughton on Brighton v Watford

The Hornets were then left to wait to see how Boro and Norwich, who started the day in third and fourth spot, fared at Fulham and Rotherham before their celebrations could begin.

Both of those games featured late goals that went Watford's way, with Boro beaten by a 94th-minute goal from Ross McCormack that settled a 4-3 thriller.

Norwich were leading Rotherham until four minutes from time, when Jordan Bowery's header brought the Millers level.

Only second-placed Bournemouth can catch Watford, who will seal the Championship title if they beat Sheffield Wednesday in their final game on 2 May.

Brighton manager Chris Hughton:

"It's very, very frustrating.

"But it is my responsibility to make sure we will be fighting in a different part of the table next season. To do that I will be bringing in personnel to change it."

Watford head coach Slavisa Jokanovic:

"It's very important for us to keep going for 46 games. I don't have any plans for tonight and tomorrow. I will be preparing for the next game.

"It was a relief to score the second goal and it was important. Brighton pressed at the start and the end of the game, so it was an important second goal."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Brighton

• 13Stockdale
• 33Halford
• 3GreerBooked at 90mins
• 5Dunk
• 2BrunoSubstituted forCalderonat 79'minutes
• 28KayalBooked at 43mins
• 6StephensBooked at 90mins
• 18Forster-CaskeySubstituted forLua Luaat 78'minutes
• 30Bennett
• 32CarayolSubstituted forMackail-Smithat 60'minutes
• 11O'Grady

Substitutes

• 4Hughes
• 12Mackail-Smith
• 14Calderon
• 19Best
• 24Ince
• 25Lua Lua
• 31Walton

Watford

• 1Gomes
• 4AngellaBooked at 66mins
• 15CathcartBooked at 61mins
• 39Connolly
• 14Paredes
• 5GuédiouraBooked at 90mins
• 23Watson
• 22AbdiSubstituted forForestieriat 82'minutes
• 21AnyaSubstituted forTozserat 26'minutes
• 24IghaloSubstituted forVydraat 65'minutes
• 9DeeneyBooked at 87mins

Substitutes

• 7Layun
• 8Tozser
• 11Forestieri
• 20Vydra
• 30Bond
• 31Hoban
• 47Motta

Referee:

Keith Stroud

Attendance:

28,841

Match Stats

Home TeamBrightonAway TeamWatford

Possession

Home60%

Away40%

Shots

Home13

Away12

Shots on Target

Home4

Away5

Corners

Home7

Away5

Fouls

Home11

Away11

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Watford 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Watford 2.

Booking

Posted at 90'+7'

Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+7'

Foul by Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Posted at 90'+7'

Matej Vydra (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Goal!

Posted at 90'+5'

Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Watford 2. Matej Vydra (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Troy Deeney following a fast break.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt saved. Joe Bennett (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Booking

Posted at 90'+2'

Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Posted at 90'+2'

Fernando Forestieri (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+1'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 90'

Delay in match Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) because of an injury.

Booking

Posted at 90'

Adlène Guédioura (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'

Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Adlène Guédioura (Watford).

Posted at 89'

Attempt saved. Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Íñigo Calderón.

Posted at 88'

Attempt missed. Chris O'Grady (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Dale Stephens following a set piece situation.

Booking

Posted at 87'

Troy Deeney (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 87'

Joe Bennett (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).

Posted at 85'

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Lewis Dunk.

Posted at 83'

Attempt missed. Chris O'Grady (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Íñigo Calderón with a cross.

Substitution

Posted at 82'

Substitution, Watford. Fernando Forestieri replaces Almen Abdi.

Posted at 80'

Attempt blocked. Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Kazenga Lua Lua (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Chris O'Grady.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Íñigo Calderón replaces Bruno because of an injury.

Substitution

Posted at 78'

Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Kazenga Lua Lua replaces Jake Forster-Caskey.

Posted at 75'

Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Craig Cathcart (Watford).

Posted at 75'

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Gordon Greer.

Posted at 75'

Attempt blocked. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 74'

Attempt saved. Gordon Greer (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno.

Posted at 72'

Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Ben Watson.

Posted at 71'

Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Craig Cathcart.

Posted at 69'

Attempt missed. Almen Abdi (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Matej Vydra.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Joe Bennett (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Posted at 69'

Troy Deeney (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 68'

Attempt missed. Almen Abdi (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Matej Vydra.

Booking

Posted at 66'

Gabriele Angella (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 66'

Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.

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