A FIRST-HALF strike from Che Adams proved the difference as Saints recorded their inaugural away league win of the season, with a 1-0 success at Watford.

The Scotland frontman produced a moment of magic after 20 minutes at Vicarage Road, with a strike which nestled into the top corner for his second goal in as many games.

Victory was Saints’ first away from home in the top flight since March and ensured they leapfrogged the Hornets in the table.

The big team news from a Saints perspective came with the return of skipper James Ward-Prowse to midfield.

The England international was back in place of Ibrahima Diallo, having served a three-game ban.

Kyle Walker-Peters was preferred to Romain Perraud at left-back, while Adam Armstrong was partnered up front with Adams. Chelsea loanee Armando Broja was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Watford made one change to their line-up, with Joao Pedro included for his first Premier League start and Ozan Tufan dropping to the bench.

But it was the visitors who made the brighter opening of the sides in the early exchanges.

Walker-Peters advanced forward from left-back to find Oriol Romeu. The Spaniard’s pass allowed Adam Armstrong to get the ball out of his feet but curl a dipping effort just wide.

Watford’s first chance came from a free-kick around 25 yards out. After Romeu brought down Ismaila Sarr, Cucho Hernandez’s deflected strike was comfortable for Alex McCarthy in the away goal.

Chances then fell to either side within the space of a minute. Joao Pedro’s low cross found the run of Watford frontman Joshua King, the former Bournemouth man just failed to connect under pressure inside the area.

Walker-Peters continued to get forward for Saints, his delivery found Adam Armstrong – the Geordie striker just failed to keep down his back-post header.

But on 20 minutes, Saints broke the deadlock with a sublime moment of quality.

After receiving the ball on the edge of the box, Adams conjured up a sublime finish into the top corner with a curling, right-foot effort, which left home keeper Ben Foster helpless.

Watford could have been level 10 minutes later, however. A rapid counter-attack saw King fizz the ball across goal to Sarr.

While the Senegalese star beat McCarthy from an acute angle, Walker-Peters had raced back onto the line to block the effort with his backside – the visitors managed to clear.

Saints then could have had a second. Armstrong beat the offside trap and crossed for strike partner Adams, whose header into the ground looped over from close range.

Walker-Peters continued to cause the Hornets problems. After getting away from Jeremy Ngakia, his cutback found Adam Armstrong, who could only sweep over from inside the box.

Watford boss Claudio Ranieri made two changes at the interval, bringing on Ken Sema and Tom Cleverley in place of Hernandez and Joao Pedro.

But Adam Armstrong could have made it two five minutes into the second period.

After Adams competed for the ball in the air, the summer signing from Blackburn pounced on the loose ball but failed to hit the target.

The heavens then opened for a heavy shower and McCarthy was alert to gather a stinging shot from range by Juraj Kucka.

Saints were still on the hunt for a second, however. Adam Amrstrong twisted and turned inside the box but saw his deflected shot fall wide.

Hasenhuttl then looked to the bench and brought on Stuart Armstrong in place of Mohamed Elyounoussi with 20 minutes left. Ibrahima Diallo was then brought on for Ward-Prowse.

And McCarthy was tasked with making one more big save, showing superb reactions to deny substitute Ashley Fletcher in the dying moments.

Watford: Foster, Nkagia (Fletcher, 82), Ekong, Cathcart, Masina, Sarr, Joao Pedro (Cleverley, h-t), Sissoko, Kucka, Hernandez (Sema, h-t), King.

Unused subs: Rose, Louza, Nkoulou, Gosling, Tufan, Bachmann (g/k) Booked: Joao Pedro.

Saints: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Salisu, Livramento, Romeu (Lyanco, 90), Elyounoussi (S Armstrong, 70), Ward-Prowse (Diallo, 80), A Armstrong, Redmond, Adams.

Unused subs: Perraud, Valery, Tella, Walcott, Long, Forster (g/k).

Booked: Salisu, Ward-Prowse.

Referee: Peter Bankes

VAR: Graham Scott.