Southampton vs Watford LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction

Follow live coverage as Southampton face Watford in the Championship today.

An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

Last year Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the top flight and all are hopeful of making a quick return - but the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland all have real promotion ambitions too.

At the other end of the table, QPR, Cardiff City and Birmingham City will hope for better campaigns than last year’s relegation struggle - while newcomers Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to survive after dramatic progress through the play-offs.

Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.

Southampton FC 3 - 2 Watford FC

Southampton vs Watford

17:02

Match ends, Southampton 3, Watford 2.

Southampton vs Watford

16:59

Second Half ends, Southampton 3, Watford 2.

Southampton vs Watford

16:59

Goal! Southampton 3, Watford 2. Flynn Downes (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Taylor Harwood-Bellis following a corner.

Southampton vs Watford

16:59

Attempt missed. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross following a corner.

Southampton vs Watford

16:57

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by James Morris.

Southampton vs Watford

16:57

Attempt blocked. Jan Bednarek (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Manning.

Southampton vs Watford

16:57

Jan Bednarek (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Southampton vs Watford

16:54

Attempt missed. Sékou Mara (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross following a corner.

Southampton vs Watford

16:54

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Matheus Martins.

Southampton vs Watford

16:51

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Daniel Bachmann.

Southampton vs Watford

16:51

Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross.

Southampton vs Watford

16:45

Goal! Southampton 2, Watford 2. Ismaël Koné (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Wesley Hoedt with a headed pass.

Southampton vs Watford

16:44

Attempt blocked. Yáser Asprilla (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Southampton vs Watford

16:42

Offside, Southampton. Ryan Fraser is caught offside.

Southampton vs Watford

16:41

Offside, Southampton. Ryan Fraser is caught offside.

Southampton vs Watford

16:41

Ryan Manning (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Southampton vs Watford

16:40

Substitution, Southampton. Jan Bednarek replaces Will Smallbone.

Southampton vs Watford

16:40

Substitution, Southampton. Sékou Mara replaces Ché Adams.

Southampton vs Watford

16:38

Substitution, Watford. Mileta Rajovic replaces Vakoun Bayo.

Southampton vs Watford

16:36

Jack Stephens (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Southampton vs Watford

16:34

Ryan Fraser (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Southampton vs Watford

16:34

Foul by Ryan Fraser (Southampton).

Southampton vs Watford

16:34

Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Will Smallbone.

Southampton vs Watford

16:31

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.

Southampton vs Watford

16:31

Substitution, Southampton. Ryan Manning replaces James Bree.

Southampton vs Watford

16:31

Edo Kayembe (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Southampton vs Watford

16:31

Ryan Fraser (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Southampton vs Watford

16:28

Attempt saved. Ryan Andrews (Watford) header from the right side of the box is saved.

Southampton vs Watford

16:26

Attempt missed. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.

Southampton vs Watford

16:23

Foul by Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton).

Southampton vs Watford

16:23

Substitution, Watford. Ryan Andrews replaces Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Southampton vs Watford

16:23

Substitution, Watford. Matheus Martins replaces Emmanuel Dennis.

Southampton vs Watford

16:23

Substitution, Watford. James Morris replaces Jamal Lewis.

Southampton vs Watford

16:23

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Southampton vs Watford

16:23

Delay in match because of an injury Will Smallbone (Southampton).

Southampton vs Watford

16:16

Substitution, Southampton. Stuart Armstrong replaces Joe Aribo.

Southampton vs Watford

16:16

Substitution, Southampton. Ryan Fraser replaces David Brooks.

Southampton vs Watford

16:16

Offside, Southampton. Adam Armstrong is caught offside.

Southampton vs Watford

16:16

Ryan Porteous (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Southampton vs Watford

16:14

Adam Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Southampton vs Watford

16:14

Attempt missed. Ché Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Adam Armstrong.

Southampton vs Watford

16:14

Attempt missed. Ryan Porteous (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Yáser Asprilla with a cross following a corner.

Southampton vs Watford

16:13

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jack Stephens.

Southampton vs Watford

16:14

Attempt blocked. Ryan Porteous (Watford) header from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Jamal Lewis with a cross.

Southampton vs Watford

16:08

Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Southampton vs Watford

16:06

Attempt missed. David Brooks (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box.

Southampton vs Watford

16:06

David Brooks (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Southampton vs Watford

16:05

Second Half begins Southampton 2, Watford 1.

Southampton vs Watford

16:06

Substitution, Watford. Ismaël Koné replaces Tom Dele-Bashiru.

Southampton vs Watford

15:49

First Half ends, Southampton 2, Watford 1.

Southampton vs Watford

15:49

Flynn Downes (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Southampton vs Watford

15:47

Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Joe Aribo.

Southampton vs Watford

15:47

Attempt saved. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Yáser Asprilla with a cross.

Southampton vs Watford

15:46

Foul by Flynn Downes (Southampton).

Southampton vs Watford

15:44

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.

Southampton vs Watford

15:43

Wesley Hoedt (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Southampton vs Watford

15:43

David Brooks (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Southampton vs Watford

15:41

Foul by Will Smallbone (Southampton).

Southampton vs Watford

15:39

Adam Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Southampton vs Watford

15:37

Attempt missed. Vakoun Bayo (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Yáser Asprilla.

Southampton vs Watford

15:37

Goal! Southampton 2, Watford 1. Ryan Porteous (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Yáser Asprilla.

Southampton vs Watford

15:44

Attempt blocked. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Southampton vs Watford

15:35

Attempt missed. Yáser Asprilla (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Southampton vs Watford

15:35

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Kyle Walker-Peters.

Southampton vs Watford

15:35

Attempt blocked. Yáser Asprilla (Watford) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Emmanuel Dennis.

Southampton vs Watford

15:30

Ché Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Southampton vs Watford

15:28

Foul by David Brooks (Southampton).

Southampton vs Watford

15:27

Flynn Downes (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Southampton vs Watford

15:27

Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ché Adams.

Southampton vs Watford

15:24

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Flynn Downes.

Southampton vs Watford

15:23

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Mattie Pollock.

Southampton vs Watford

15:22

Goal! Southampton 2, Watford 0. Ché Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Brooks.

Southampton vs Watford

15:20

Foul by Wesley Hoedt (Watford).

Southampton vs Watford

15:15

James Bree (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Southampton vs Watford

15:15

Attempt missed. Will Smallbone (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by David Brooks.

Southampton vs Watford

15:14

Attempt saved. Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.

Southampton vs Watford

15:14

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Southampton vs Watford

15:14

Delay in match (Southampton).

Southampton vs Watford

15:06

Foul by James Bree (Southampton).

Southampton vs Watford

15:05

Ché Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Southampton vs Watford

15:04

Offside, Watford. Yáser Asprilla is caught offside.

Southampton vs Watford

15:03

Goal! Southampton 1, Watford 0. Will Smallbone (Southampton) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Adam Armstrong with a cross.

Southampton vs Watford

15:01

First Half begins.

Southampton vs Watford

14:30

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Southampton vs Watford

14:00

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