REPORT: Charlton Athletic 1-0 Watford

The Hornets failed to deal with a set-piece in the dying stages of a watchable game, the ball falling to Knibbs to crash home and deny Paulo Pezzolano's a point.

More: Pezzolano on Charlton defeat, penalty controversy and subbing Imran Louza

The winner was particularly hard to take for the visitors considering Nestory Irankunda had a big shout for a penalty denied moments earlier after seemingly being brought down by Thomas Kaminski.

Kwadwo Baah and Luca Kjerrumgaard had earlier come close, while Egil Selvik made three good saves to keep the scores level as long as they were.

More: AS IT HAPPENED: Charlton Athletic v Watford

Watford started the game slowly and Charlton looked threatening within 60 seconds, James Abankwah misjudging the bounce of the ball as the hosts' made their anticipated fast start.

In the third minute, Selvik was called upon for the first time, making a solid save as Greg Docherty fired at goal.

Luca Kjerrumgaard (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

The Hornets settled from there, Baah's long throw being recycled back into the box and falling to Moussa Sissoko to slice high and wide.

Kyprianou was booked after committing a foul on 25 minutes before Kjerrumgaard saw a close-range effort blocked inside the box.

Baah became the pantomime villain after he went down injured off the pitch and had the game stopped, producing noise from the home crowd that resulted in Selvik having to make another good stop from a Lloyd Jones header.

Watford's winger then mishit a shot from inside the box before choosing to pick out Kjerrumgaard with a low cross when Doumbia appeared to be well set for a tap in.

The visitors started the second half well, Doumbia's low cross evading Kyprianou and Kjerrumgaard before Louza whipped a free-kick straight at Kaminski.

Charlton went up for a penalty after an Ngakia challenge on 55 minutes before Louza's shot was deflected over at the other end as the game really got going on the hour mark.

Watford continued to threaten, Kyprianou heading wide from 12 yards midway through the second half.

Defeat on opening day. pic.twitter.com/0zTMtn7C6Q — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) August 9, 2025

Pezzolano made a triple substitution shortly afterwards, introducing Edo Kayembe, Jack Grieves and Tom Ince.

The game heated up in injury time as Irankunda was denied a huge penalty shout when he tapped around Kaminski and was seemingly fouled.

And there was time for one more cruel twist for Watford, Knibbs scoring a very late winner to earn the hosts a win on their return to the Championship.

Watford: Selvik; Ngakia, Keben, Abankwah (Alleyne, 87), Bola; Louza (Kayembe, 71), Kyprianou; Baah (Irankunda, 63), Sissoko (Grieves, 71), Doumbia (Ince, 71); Kjerrumgaard

Unused subs: Baxter, Alleyne, Andrews, Dele-Bashiru, Keyembe, Ince, Grieves, Semedo

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