Summer signing Harvey Knibbs scored a stoppage-time winner for Charlton as the Championship new boys made it a losing start for new Watford head coach Paulo Pezzolano.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder, a transfer window arrival from Reading, pounced from close range in the fourth minute of time added on.
Charlton, last season’s League One play-off winners, came out of the blocks quickly, with Hornets goalkeeper Egil Selvik making a fine reaction save to deny centre-back Lloyd Jones from converting Rob Apter’s cross.
Harvey Knibbs celebrates with the home fans after scoring a late winner for Charlton against Watford
Watford settled down and looked more fluid in possession but the Addicks produced the better opportunities in the opening 45 minutes.
Right wing-back Apter, a summer signing from Blackpool, produced a sharp turn and strike from the edge of the box which went narrowly past the left-hand upright in the 26th minute.
The opportunity arose after the persistence of Sonny Carey, also snapped up from the Tangerines on a free transfer as one of nine new arrivals, won the ball in the Watford penalty area.
The Hornets’ threat largely came from powerful and tricky winger Kwadwo Baah. It was Baah’s 27th-minute shot which fell nicely for striker Luca Kjerrumgaard but the Udinese loanee’s low attempt was blocked by the legs of Jones from 10 yards.
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Harvey Knibbs grabs 90+4′ WINNER for Charlton against Watford.
Jones proved to be dominant at both ends of the pitch for Charlton and once again forced Selvik into action in the 40th minute. This time the Norwegian plunged to his right to push away Jones’ header from Apter’s free-kick.
Charlton fashioned another opportunity just before the hour but Charlie Kelman’s deft flick on Tyreece Campbell’s near-post shot was kept out by Selvik, who also smothered Carey’s strike from a tight angle.
Watford midfielder Hector Kyprianou guided a header harmlessly wide, a waste after being found unmarked in the penalty box from Jeremy Ngakia’s cross in the 68th minute.
Knibbs was brought on in the 80th minute for Campbell and did not take long to start paying back a chunk of his transfer fee.
Conor Coventry sent a corner deep to the back post which Jones helped back into the danger zone and the debutant clinically lashed the ball into the net with a nerveless first-time finish.
Watford produced some dangerous crosses but struggled to force home goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski into serious action.
Charlton are unbeaten on their own patch since December 3 and have won 14 and drawn three of their last 17 matches, including the play-off semi-final second leg.
The managers
Charlton’s Nathan Jones:
“That is what cost the money and that is why we pushed all summer (to get him). The new boys were outstanding today.
“Harvey and Charlie (Kelman) have played zero football, really, because of their protracted transfers. I’m really happy with everyone’s performances and we’re only going to get better.
“Any kind of win would have been perfect. Once we got to grips with things, we took 10 minutes to settle, then we were excellent. Their keeper has made some excellent saves – two from Lloyd Jones and one from Sonny Carey.
“We thoroughly deserved it. We had more shots on target. We had to suffer a little bit of possession but not much, considering we were stepping up a level against a very good team.
“To score in the manner we did is a wonderful way to win the game. We want to do the basics well, you have to do that at any level of football if you want to do anything. We are not a side in the Championship that is going to score three, four or five – so we need to do the basics very, very well and then when we get an opportunity, take them.”
Watford’s Paulo Pezzolano:
“I think the referee did not see it and so didn’t consider it a penalty. No, I did not go and see him afterwards. We are all human beings, we all make mistakes and the only thing we can do is look forward.
“We knew it was going to be a hard game and one defined by details. It could have gone their way or our way. We have to have a strong mindset. I would have liked to have seen a little more fluidity in our game.
“I’m not angry or disappointed. I am thinking about solutions for the next match. We have a lot of young players that need to grow. They will need time. This is a process, for us, that is only the beginning.
“We need to help the players to develop. The team fought very well for first and second balls. We feel we can do a lot more as a team and that is part of our growth.”
