A brace from Rickie Lambert and goals from Guly Do Prado and substitute Lee Holmes ensured the Saints enter the international break top of the Championship table.
Lambert’s double from the penalty spot in each half sent the Saints on their way. A calm finish from Do Prado, and a 25-yard curler from Holmes completed the 4-0 demolition of Watford.
The result is Southampton’s fifth home win of the season and it maintains their 100% record at St. Mary’s.
But it was the away side that made a bright start at a sunny St. Mary’s and went close through Jonathan Hogg.
The home side managed to withstand Watford’s early pressure and were awarded a penalty in the 22nd minute, which Lambert smashed home from 12 yards to score his ninth goal of the season.
Nigel Adkins’ men grew in confidence after the first goal, and the home side nearly doubled their lead, but Adam Lallana’s left-footed volley crashed back off the Watford bar.
10 minutes after the restart the Saints finally doubled their lead through another Lambert penalty. The 29-year-old fired an identical penalty to send Rene Gilmartin the wrong way.
The home side continued to play the kind of football that was typical of a side top of the table and playing with immense confidence.
Southampton starlet Lallana was once again at the heart of the attack and played a ball to Do Prado, who still had a lot to do – but the Brazilian was calm enough to slot his right footed strike into the right hand corner to give the Saints a 3-0 lead in the 70th minute.
Three minutes later Richard Chaplow almost made it four, but the midfielder’s effort smashed against the post.
But the icing was on the cake two minutes before the end when Holmes, who was playing his first game of the season, curled a 25-yard shot that was too hot to handle for Gilmartin – and the 4-0 result gave the Saints the best start to a season in 52 years.
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