Watford 1 Southampton 1: Andre Gray rescues draw after Shane Long nets fastest goal in Premier League history

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Southampton striker Shane Long scored the fastest goal in Premier League history - but it was not enough to dent Watford’s continued push for European football.

Long wrote his name into Premier League folklore by scoring the opening goal of the game at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night after just 7.69 seconds.

The striker’s goal came straight from kick-off and beat the previous record of 9.82 seconds set by former Tottenham defender Ledley King in December 2000 against Bradford City.

For a long time it looked as though the Ireland international’s strike would secure all three points for Southampton, but Andre Gray rescued a draw for Watford in the 90th minute.

The point means Javi Gracia’s side move back up to seventh spot in the Premier League, which would guarantee them Europa League football next season.

All in all it was a surreal night at Vicarage Road, which began with Long scoring inside eight seconds and continued when John Barnes led a Sir Elton John sing-a-long at half-time as four Watford fans won free season tickets.

Those supporters will be hoping, however, they don’t see many starts to games like this as the Hornets fell behind straight from kick-off.

The ball was rolled back to Craig Cathcart but, as the defender went to clear it, he was charged down by Long and he stroked the ball past Ben Foster after 7.69 seconds.

It was all part of a dream first half for Southampton, who dominated the game and could have been 5-0 up at the break.

Record-breaker Long squandered two headers from inside the box, while Foster was twice forced to make excellent saves to deny winger Nathan Redmond. To top it off, Saints full-back Ryan Bertrand hit the woodwork.

For Watford, all they had to shout about was a Gray chance after two minutes, which was smartly stopped by Angus Gunn, and unsurprisingly head coach Gracia changed it at half-time.

Off went Cathcart and on came wing-back Kiko Femenia as Watford went three at the back in the hope they could find a way back into the match.

The change looked to be having an impact as inside the first 15 minutes of the second half Abdoulaye Doucoure and Gerard Deulofeu both came close to finding an equaliser.

However Southampton were holding firm and Watford defender Christian Kabasele’s appeal for a penalty in the 64th minute when he tangled with Long summed up his side’s growing desperation.

The Hornets finally got their goal in the final minute of normal time, though, as Gray fired home from inside the box to secure what could prove to be a valuable point.

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