For Villa, the question was naturally how would they fare without their crown prince? The answer was, initially at least, not brilliantly. Of the trio arriving to fill the shoes of Frankenstein’s footballer, two were handed starts; Emi Buendia – who like Sarr lit up last year’s Championship albeit with a little more nuance and guile – and Danny Ings.
They formed a new look attack with Ashley Young in a more advanced role than often used in recent seasons. It will take time to gel, Buendia in particular finding the pockets of space he made his own last year occupied both more quickly and en-masse.
Watford were ahead just 11 minutes in, Tom Cleverley sending Sarr through. His cross found Dennis, who nutmegged Emiliano Martinez from 12-yards after Ezri Konsa had blocked his initial effort.
The second saw roles reversed, Dennis feeding Sarr who was afforded far too much time and space. He stopped dead inside the box before sending a right-footed strike looping over Martinez courtesy of a wicked Tyrone Mings deflection.
“The first half was dreadful,” Smith fumed afterwards. “We lacked intensity on the ball: it was almost like we were playing a friendly. Premier League games are not friendlies. The lads had to be reminded of that.
“We were miles off where we needed to be. I told them in no uncertain terms at half-time. We showed signs in the second half but we had a mountain to climb and were susceptible to the counter-attack. I won’t accept performances like the one in the first-half.”
Jordan Ramsey, on for Targett, added some much-needed verve after the interval, but the hosts retained their menace on the break. Dennis’ lively bow earned him a standing ovation, and one that suggests he might fare better here than at Cologne, where an unsuccessful loan stint ended in the sporting director apologising to fans for bringing him in.
His replacement Hernandez could not have written a more perfect introduction. The Colombian, who has been temporarily employed elsewhere ever since arriving at the club in 2017, stroked home with only his second touch. Xisco’s inability to make impactful substitutions drew criticism last season: when things go your way, they go your way.
Bailey, having been deemed not ready to start after a period in isolation, arrived for the final half hour and was bright. He laid on an assist for McGinn and had his late free-kick been a few yards lower, a grandstand finish would have awaited.
Instead, “Ashley, Ashley what’s the score” roared from the Rookery End. Simple yet effective, and so very missed. Even Ings’ penalty in the seventh minute of injury-time, following Adam Masina’s rash challenge on Bertrand Traore, was a mere consolation.
Watford (4-3-3): Bachmann 7; Cathcart 7, Troost-Ekong 7, Kabasele 7, Masina 7; Cleverley 7.5 (Deeney, 79), Etebo 7, Kucka 7 (Gosling, 69); Sarr 9, Dennis 8 (Hernandez, 66), Sema 7
Subs not used: Foster (g), Ngakia, Rose, Louza, Fletcher, Sierralta
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings 6, Targett 5 (Ramsey, 45); McGinn 7, Nakamba 6; El Ghazi 6 (Bailey, 60), Buendia 6 (Traore 72), Young 6; Ings 6
Subs not used: Steer, Wesley, Tuanezebe, Hause, Bailey, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka, Ramsey
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
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