Brighton 1, Watford 0: Gross goal brings festive cheer and ends Albion's seven game winless run

Pascal Gross fires Brighton & Hove Albion's ahead against Watford. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

Pascal Gross gave Brighton & Hove Albion an early Christmas present as his goal ended their run of seven games without a win in the Premier League.

It was just the Seagulls' second goal in seven games and produced a welcome three points at the Amex where they had drawn their last six.

They controlled much of the game against a Watford side that suffered their fourth straight defeat and continued to slide down the table.

But Albion were made to wait for Gross' 64th-minute goal after spurning a number of chances in each half. Nevertheless, the midfielder's fourth goal of the season bagged the points and some early festive cheer by lifting them to 12th in the table.

Albion celebrate Pascal Gross' goal against Watford. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

Chris Hughton made three changes from the 0-0 draw with Burnley as Connor Goldson came in for the suspended Shane Duffy for his Premier League debut and Markus Suttner and Tomer Hemed also replaced Gaetan Bong and Glenn Murray.

Watford made four changes from the 4-1 home defeat to Huddersfield last week. There was a Premier League debut for Ben Watson, while Tom Cleverley, Roberto Pereyra and Andre Gray came in for Adrian Mariappa, Etienne Capoue, Abdoulaye Doucouré (suspended) and Troy Deeney (suspended).

The home side almost led on five minutes when Hemed raced away and twisted and turned in the box to beat his man, but fire wide across goal. The danger didn't end as Anthony Knockaert recycled the ball, but his low cross from the byline was pushed away by Heurelho Gomes.

Three minutes later, some great work by Bruno on the byline saw him flick the ball over his man, but Pascal Gross' pass to Davy Propper, saw the midfielder sky high and wide.

Tomer Hemed in action during Brighton & Hove Albion's home clash with Watford. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

Moments later, Knockaert miscontroled in the box at the far post after Gomes failed to deal with Suttner's cross.

Watford grew into the game after weathering Albion's early storm, but without really troubling Maty Ryan. On the half-hour mark, Gomes made a good save to push behind Goldson's back-post header at point-blank range.

Referee Paul Tierney had a big call to make on the stroke of half-time as Hemed raced away on goal and last man Christian Kabasele chased him down and their legs tangled, with the striker going over just outside the box, but the official waved play on.