Watford 3-2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa fell to a 3-2 defeat at Watford in their opening match of the 2021/22 Premier League season.

Emmanuel Dennis fired the hosts ahead in the 10^th minute at Vicarage Road before Ismaila Sarr’s shot deflected off captain Tyrone Mings and looped over Emi Martínez to double the deficit just before the break.

Hornets substitute Cucho Hernandez curled home a third from the edge of the penalty area in the 67^th minute, although John McGinn swept home a superb first-time finish from 20 yards shortly afterwards to give the Villans hope.

They pushed for further reward late on and debutant Danny Ings converted an injury-time penalty to set up a dramatic finale, but it proved mere consolation in Hertfordshire.

It ensured Villa, who had triumphed in four of their previous five opening-day Premier League fixtures, tasted defeat against a newly-promoted Watford side who boasted the best home record in the top four tiers of English football last term and recorded a 10^th successive home league win.

Dean Smith’s side will now be looking to get back on track in their first home clash of the campaign against Newcastle United at Villa Park next Saturday.

Head coach Smith, without the injured Ollie Watkins, handed debuts to Ings, Emi Buendía and Ashley Young, who made his second bow for Villa against his former club, while fellow summer signings Leon Baily and Axel Tuanzebe were among the substitutes.

But it was the hosts who opened the scoring after 10 minutes courtesy of a new addition of their own, Dennis recieving the ball from Sarr and firing home from 10 yards at the second attempt after Ezri Konsa had blocked his first effort.

Villa threatened as they went in search of a leveller but it was the lively Sarr who enjoyed the next opening of note, testing Emi Martínez from long range in the 28^th minute.

Christian Kabasele headed over from six yards as half-time approached and it was not long before the home side doubled their advantage on the counter-attack, Sarr’s drilled strike deflecting off Mings and looping over Martínez.

Jacob Ramsey was introduced at half-time as Villa looked to try and get back into the encounter and he came close to having an immediate impact, getting forward to claim a corner from a ball across the face of goal before drilling over from the edge of the area.

Martínez got down well to deny Dennis in the 51^st minute before Smith turned to Bailey off the bench for his Villa debut on the hour mark.

But it was soon 3-0 as Hornets substitute Hernandez, who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes, surged forward, cut inside and curled home an effort from the edge of the area off the far post.

Villa replied almost immediately as Bailey’s cross from the left was met first time by McGinn, who swept home a fine left-footed strike into the top corner.

The visitors, having also turned to substitute Bertrand Traore, pressed for a second and a route back into the clash, Bailey sending a free-kick over the crossbar.

And their hopes were boosted when Traore was upended in the box, Ings firing home the resulting spot-kick in the 97^th minute, but it proved too late to seal a share of the spoils as Villa tasted opening-day defeat.