Watford registered their first win of the season this afternoon with a battling 1-0 victory at home to Swansea City.

Odion Ighalo got the only goal of the game in the 59th minute and although Valon Behrami was then shown a red card, the hosts held on to secure all three points.

Here, Sports Mole rates the performances of those involved at Vicarage Road.

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WATFORD

Goal

Heurelho Gomes: Once a figure of mockery in his Tottenham Hotspur days, Gomes has rebuilt his stock at Watford and performed solidly today. He made one good save from Bafetimbi Gomis in the first half and dived bravely at the feet of Eder late on. (7/10)

Defence

Allan Nyom: The right-back got forward well in the first half, but performed a more restrained role in the second period. He struggled a little bit against the pace of Jefferson Montero late on, but did well enough to earn his side a clean sheet. (7/10)

Craig Cathcart: Nothing flashy from the centre-back, but he did enough to prevent Gomis from scoring - the only defence to do so yet this season. (7/10)

Sebastian Prodl: The Austrian struggled on a couple of occasions to keep Gomis in check midway through the first half, but recovered well to shut out the visitors thereafter. (6/10)

Ikechi Anya: Late in the first half, Anya tried to let the ball run out of play and was pickpocketed by Ayew. He learned from his mistake though and defended diligently for the remainder of the game and was a constant threat from full-back. (8/10)

Midfield

Valon Behrami: He actually played quite well for the 64 minutes that he was on the pitch, but nothing can excuse his horrible tackle on Ayew. A fully-deserved red card and he was lucky not to cause serious damage to the winger. (2/10)

Etienne Capoue: The pick of Watford's midfielders. Battled well and broke forward with purpose on a number of occasions. (7/10)

Jurado: The Spanish winger dropped into the game in fits and starts. When he was on the ball, he used it intelligently, but he went missing for long periods. (7/10)

Almen Abdi: His game was underpinned by shocking set-piece delivery all afternoon. So much so, that Jurado replaced him on free kicks for the second half. Came close with a first-half effort, however. (6/10)

Attack

Odion Ighalo: Playing in a slightly withdrawn role off Troy Deeney, the forward took up intelligent positions all afternoon and was rewarded with the winner. (8/10)

Troy Deeney: Deeney is still without a goal this season, but his all-round approach play and understanding with Ighalo was impressive. Kept his composure with a calm header to set up the winner. (7/10)

Substitutes

Ben Watson: Replaced Abdi immediately after Behrami's red card and did enough to stem to flow of Swansea attacks. (6/10)

Steven Berghuis: The winger showed plenty of endeavour late on and tested Lukasz Fabianski with two late strikes. (7/10)

Alessandro Diamanti: Barely touched the ball in the short time he was on the pitch. (6/10)

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SWANSEA CITY

Goal

Lukasz Fabianski: Was left horribly exposed by his defence for Watford's goal, but claimed a number of crosses and saved well on a few occasions. (7/10)

Defence

Kyle Naughton: The right-back started the game really strongly, breaking forward to support his side, but was relatively anonymous in the second half. (6/10)

Ashley Williams: With Naughton and Federico Fernandez tight to Deeney, there was no need for Williams to wander across and try and get involved in the 59th minute. He ended up in no man's land and left Ighalo in space to score the winner. (5/10)

Federico Fernandez: The centre-back probably should have done more to prevent Deeney setting up the winner, but Fernandez won most of his aerial duels and was composed in possession. However, he missed a glaring injury-time chance to earn his side a point. (5/10)

Neil Taylor: The left-back made a vital intervention late on to prevent Watford scoring a second, but was relatively subdued. (6/10)

Midfield

Jack Cork: Jonjo Shelvey gets much of the acclaim in Swansea's midfield, but Cork does all the dirty work and used the ball wisely this afternoon. (7/10)

Jonjo Shelvey: Very rarely does Shelvey have a quiet game, and today was no exception. He was lucky to escape a booking for a wild early challenge and wasted the ball on a number of occasions, but showed touches of class throughout. (6/10)

Gylfi Sigurdsson: Another Swansea midfielder who is capable of wonderful moments of skill, but none of it was on show today. (5/10)

Andre Ayew: After such a strong start to his Premier League career, Ayew can be afforded a quiet day. He still showed signs of promise though and linked up well with Gomis two or three times in the first half. (6/10)

Wayne Routledge: Almost anonymous. With Montero's return from injury, Routledge's place in the starting XI will come under threat. (5/10)

Attack

Bafetimbi Gomis: This is the first game of the season in which Gomis hasn't scored. He tested Gomes early on and sent a spectacular overhead kick towards goal (although he was flagged offside), but did very little when his team needed him to in the second half. (6/10)

Substitutes

Jefferson Montero: Few players in the league have the ability to beat a man with such ease, but his final ball is often atrocious. He did, however, tee up Fernandez with a delightful cross late on, only for the defender to make a mess of the chance. (6/10)

Ki Sung-yueng: Ki was sent on to add another attacking threat to Swansea's armoury, but ended up leaving a gaping hole in the middle of the park. (5/10)

Eder: The forward slammed into Gomes seconds after coming on, but did little in the closing 15 minutes. (5/10)