Two sides with promotion aspirations met in the Championship today as Watford welcomed Leicester City to Vicarage Road for the first time since their famous playoff semi-final last season.
That day Leicester were heartbroken in one of the all-time remarkable finishes but today the Foxes got their revenge with a 3-0 thrashing.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Morning all! This week's early kickoff in the second tier is a corker as two exciting sides meet for the first time since one of the great football finishes last season.
After Leicester had won the opening leg of the playoff semi-final 1-0, Watford were 2-1 up in the second leg and heading for extra time when Leicester were awarded a penalty. What followed was incredible:
Anyway, enough of the past for the moment. Let's get to today's teams...
WATFORD XI: Almunia; Doyley, Angella, Ekstrand; Anya, McGugan, McEachran, Murray, Pudil; Deeney, Forestieri
LEICESTER XI: Schmeichel; Moore, Wasilewski, Morgan, Schlupp; Knockaert, Drinkwater, King, Dyer; Nugent, Wood
SUBS! And the two sets of seven sat in the dugout:
WATFORD: Bond, Cassetti, Faraoni, Iriney, Battocchio, Acuna, Fabbrini
LEICESTER: Logan, Hammond, James, Hopper, Bakayogo, Taylor-Fletcher, Miquel
WATFORD: Bond, Cassetti, Faraoni, Iriney, Battocchio, Acuna, Fabbrini
LEICESTER: Logan, Hammond, James, Hopper, Bakayogo, Taylor-Fletcher, Miquel
That's one change for Watford as Ikechi Anya is preferred to Marco Faraoni in the right wing-back slot. Leicester, meanwhile, make a pair of changes as Jeffrey Schlupp and Chris Wood come in for Paul Konchesky and Jamie Vardy.
Those two changes are from Leicester's last league game where they beat Bournemouth. Since then, they've been in Capital One Cup action and knocked out Fulham in a remarkable tie on Tuesday night. Read more here.
REFEREE WATCH! The man in charge today is Roger East.
Click here to see the table ahead of today's games. Watford will climb three places with a win ahead of the other matches at 3pm, while a victory for Leicester will see them stay second but go level with Burnley, who have a better goal difference at the top.
PREDICTION TIME! Just 10 minutes until kickoff at Vicarage Road so it's time for my nailed-on prediction. It's really hard to call so I'm going to say a high-scoring draw - 2-2.
The loudspeakers inside the stadium are playing out commentary of that memorable victory for the Hornets five months ago in the playoffs and it's building a fantastic atmosphere inside the ground.
Ignoring the two playoff matches, both regular-season games between these two finished 2-1 in Watford's favour last season. The game in Leicester was settled by this phenomenal hit by Nathaniel Chalobah, who was on loan from Chelsea (sorry about the foreign commentary):
Here come the two sides out to a sunny scene at Vicarage Road. The pair are in their home colours of yellow and black and blue and white respectively.
A final huddle before kickoff on the pitch as managers Zola and Pearson walk down the tunnel arm in arm sharing some warm words.
KICKOFF! We're underway in Hertfordshire as Leicester kick off.
Anya bundles over Schlupp to give Leicester a free kick in a good position to the left of the area...
Knockaert's deep delivery is met by Wasilewski, who can only loop a header harmlessly over the bar.
Watford have started much the brighter side and almost create an opening as Dyer punts long to the back post where Wasilewski's header back across goal is just about cleared by the home defence.
Watford come forward for the first time as Pudil charges down the left. His cutback almost finds goalscoring midfielder McGugan before Leicester half-clear. The ball falls to Anya on the edge of the area but he can't keep his shot down.
Both of these sides love to attack and that's certainly the way that the game's started. Dyer and Schlupp link up well down the left and the former's cutback is hit goalwards by Knockaert but unfortunately hits his own man Nugent.
Deeney and Schlupp challenge for a cross and the former wants a penalty but it's rightly not given.
GOAL! WATFORD 0-1 LEICESTER (WOOD)
Hilarious goal! The ball is rolled back to Almunia and Wood coasts up to the Hornets keeper to put him under a bit of pressure. The Spaniard hooks the ball clear with his left foot but strikes it too low and straight into the face of Wood, who knows nothing about it as the ball flies into the net.
DISALLOWED GOAL! The Foxes have the ball in the net again as Nugent feeds Dyer, who rounds Almunia and tucks home. The winger is flagged offside though and replays show that it was just the correct call.
Careless play from Morgan as he fails to realise that a ball over the top clipped Schlupp's head and is going out for a corner. McEachran's delivery comes to nothing though.
Interestingly, Pearson is sitting up at the top of one of the stands and is relaying messages to the dugout with an earpiece.
McGugan has plenty of space to break into and you're expecting the former Forest man to shoot but it gets caught under his feet slightly before the move breaks down as Murray's shot is blocked.
Leicester still look ever so comfortable. All 10 outfield players are running their socks off to deny the Hornets any time on the ball.
Schlupp and Dyer are linking up really well down the left-hand side but this time nothing comes of it as the cross is swiped clear by Ekstrand.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Leicester are denied by the offside flag for a second time as Knockaert's deflected shot falls kindly for Wood, who heads home but was ahead of the play.
McEachran is down receiving treatment and while we have a break in play, let me point you in the direction of our live coverage of the Premier League match at St James' Park between Newcastle and Chelsea. Join Jack Prescott here. I'll let you know of any goals on this commentary too.
Wasilewski deals with a dangerous Anya cross after the Scottish international had been left unmarked and found by McGugan. Watford starting to dominate possession now.
DOUBLE SAVE! That's the closest Watford have come so far! McGugan rolls off his man in the area and lashes at goal. Schmeichel keeps out the first shot but can only parry it back to the number 10, whose second shot isn't as good but still needs saving.
Leicester will be dangerous on the break though as Watford push more forward. Knockaert has acres of space on the right and he looks to feed in Wood. The New Zealander goes down and wants a penalty but he just fell over there.
End-to-end action as McGugan sweeps it out to Anya on the right. He first touch gives him the room to shoot but he can only fizz it narrowly wide of the near post.
YELLOW! The first name in the book is Forestieri for blatantly tugging the shirt of King.
Nugent looped cross finds Wood in the middle but the ball hits his arm after taking a nick of Doyley. Leicester will be happy to go in one up and I expect them to keep it as calm as possible in the final five minutes of the half.
CHANCE! I said Leicester would be happy going in 1-0 up but it should be two as Wasilewski gets up all too easily but fails to keep his header under the bar from Knockaert's corner.
SAVE! Soon after two added minutes are signalled, Leicester come close again as Nugent crosses low for Wood, who forces a one-handed save out of Almunia.
HALF-TIME: WATFORD 0-1 LEICESTER
Leicester lead thanks to Wood's freak goal. Of course, there was a huge amount of luck in it but equally, it should never have even happened as Almunia should have cleared over the Kiwi.
If you're only just joining us and want a quick recap of the opening 45, read our half-time report here.
STAT ATTACK! Surprisingly, Watford have had more shots than Leicester with seven to six. In fact, the Foxes only shot on target was Wood's goal but they have had the better chances. Possession-wise, it's dead level at 50-50.
Here's a shot of Wood, left, and three Leicester teammates celebrating the hilarious opening goal:
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
In the Premier League game up North it's still 0-0 between Newcastle and Chelsea after half an hour. The Blues have come closest to scoring by hitting the bar twice in succession. I recommend that you open this link in a new tab and follow our live coverage of that one too.
As things stand in the league, Leicester will be going joint-top with Burnley.
WATFORD SUB: Zola makes a half-time change and it's certainly an attacking one as frontman Diego Fabbrini is brought on for midfielder Murray.
Fabbrini's immediately in the thick of things breaking forward but he messes up by failing to see Anya all on his own out on the right.
Watford have started the second half well and McGugan has Schmeichel a little bit worried with a dipping 30-yard free kick that curled a yard or so over.
Moore's long throw almost causes havoc in the Watford area as Wood goes for the spectacular overhead before Ekstrand hoofs clear.
CHANCE! Brilliant dribbling from Knockaert to escape a trio of yellow shirts. He reverses it to the right for Wood who cuts it straight back for the Frenchman. You're expecting Almunia to be tested at the very least but Doyley is out quickly and distracts the number 24 enough to shoot wide.
GOAL! WATFORD 0-2 LEICESTER (KNOCKAERT)
Knockaert slightly makes up for last season's crucial playoff penalty miss with a good finish after strong play from Schlupp down the left. Knockaert's volley from 10 yards took a slight deflection to take it past Almunia but it's definitely his goal. He's understandably ecstatic to score on this ground in particular and is booked for his exuberant celebration.
CHANCE! Watford look rattled at the moment and they almost concede a third as Moore's deep cross finds Nugent who can't grow enough to head on target.
CHANCES! Action at both ends as first Forestieri does well to stay on his feet after a challenge from behind by Knockaert before having a low shot blocked from eight yards. Leicester break down the other end as Nugent feeds Dyer who drags his shot across goal.
SAVE! There's never a dull second at the moment as Forestieri again comes close for Watford with a powerful low drive that Schmeichel tips around the near post.
CHANCE! Massive chance for Watford as Anya picks out Forestieri in the middle. The Italian just has Schmeichel to beat but sidefoots straight at the Dane.
WATFORD SUB: Zola makes a change at the back as Doyley is taken off for Cassetti. That should see the Hornets change to a 4-4-2 system I believe.
CHANCE! The Italian duo of Fabbrini and Forestieri link up gorgeously on the edge of the area before the latter feeds Anya, who just has Schmeichel to beat but skews his shot horribly from a tight angle.
LEICESTER SUB: The visitors' first goalscorer Wood is taken off for Matty James.
That's definitely a sign of consolidation from Pearson as he takes his big striker off for a conservative midfielder.
Today's attendance at Vicarage Road is 16,011, with 1,561 travelling Foxes in great voice at the moment.
JUST WIDE! Watford have certainly had their opportunities in this second half and they've just missed perhaps the best of the lot as McGugan hoists over the top for Anya. Schmeichel starts to come but he's never getting there and now in no man's land as Anya squares for Deeney who, on the stretch, can only divert it inches wide.
WATFORD SUB: Marco Faraoni comes on for Pudil as Zola makes his final sub.
With a little over 15 minutes on the clock, have Watford got enough left in the tank to make a final push at levelling this match? It looks unlikely.
LEICESTER SUB: Knockaert's afternoon comes to an end as Dean Hammond takes his place. A much happier day for the Frenchman than that famous day back in May.
James flashes a shot just wide of the near post as Leicester continue to look threatening whenever they're in the attacking third.
YELLOW! Clear booking for Ekstrand as he recklessly slides in on Drinkwater to prevent him streaking upfield.
Here's a snap of Knockaert going wild after netting that second goal that looks to have put the game out of sight:
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
LEICESTER SUB: Third and final change from the Foxes as Nugent is replaced by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
A groan from the Watford end and a jeer from the travelling Foxes as McGugan overhits a pass out to Cassetti on the right. Little fight left in the home side, this one's over.
(Instant Watford goal followed by stunning late comeback)
Forestieri does really well to hook a long ball over the top back for Deeney but he can't get any power on the shot and it's easy for Schmeichel.
GOAL! WATFORD 0-3 LEICESTER (DYER)
The impressive Dyer seals three points for the visitors and it will be their best ever start to a league season. The number 11's pace took him away from the Hornets defence before he got fortunate with a shot that looped up off Almunia and just under the crossbar.
Just after that goal went in, the heavens opened to dampen the atmosphere inside Vicarage Road even more.
CHANCE! It's almost four for the visitors as King shrugs off Ekstrand before firing low off Almunia into the side-netting.
Five minutes more for Watford to endure on another tough afternoon at home for Zola's men.
Close to a fourth again for Leicester as Almunia comes out of his area to just take the ball away from three Blue shirts close by.
Angella tries to score an outrageous consolation with a 35-yard shot that's well struck but straight at Schmeichel.
FULL-TIME: WATFORD 0-3 LEICESTER
Well, well, well. What a win for Leicester as they thrash fellow promotion hopefuls Watford away from home, also keeping their first clean sheet in 10 games.
The even better news for the Foxes is that they are now level on points with Burnley at the top of the Championship thanks to their best ever start to a league season.
Anyway, that's all we've got time for here on SM. Thanks for joining us. Make sure you stick around though as we have individual live coverage of all of this afternoon's Premier League games and our feature match in the Championship which is Sheffield Wednesday vs. Reading. Find it all from the homepage.
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
