MANOLO Gabbiadini rewrote the Saints history books as Claude Puel’s side bounced back from their Wembley heartbreak with a memorable win at Watford.

The Italian striker scored his sixth goal since signing to become the first Saints player to net in his first four games for the club.

Gabbiadini put Saints 3-2 up in the 83rd minute and Nathan Redmond’s second shortly afterwards proved to be the winner of this absorbing seven-goal thriller.

Watford captain Troy Deeney volleyed his side into a third-minute lead.

But Dusan Tadic equalised in the 28th minute and in first half-injury time Redmond ended a flowing Saints move that he began by drilling his first of the afternoon into the far corner.

The helter-skelter second half was a far cry from the goalless draw in the corresponding game of last season.

Saints responded to Okaka’s equaliser with a double whammy before Watford netted a injury-time consolation.

Saints manager Claude Puel named an unchanged side for the third successive match, following the 4-0 win at Sunderland and the impressive performance at Wembley.

The return to a 4-2-3-1 formation has now yielded back-to-back Premier League away wins for the first time this season – and ten goals in three games for Saints.

But Deeney got Watford off to the perfect start when his sidefooted volley, from the corner of the six-yard box, went into the far corner of Fraser Forster’s goal, following a throw from Younes Kaboul.

A good tackle from Yoshida kept Stefano Okaka at bay after the Italian forward burst down the right and another raid from M’Baye Niang was quashed during a bright start from the home side.

Saints’ first foray ended with James Ward-Prowse’s cross sailing harmlessly behind for a goal-kick.

Ryan Bertrand was not short of confidence after his outstanding performance in the EFL Cup final.

His one-two with Dusan Tadic was followed by a cross that was cut out at the near post .

Ward-Prowse had Saints’ first effort on target. He won a corner with a fiercely struck cross-shot that was turned behind by Heurelho Gomes following Tadic’s well-weighted lay-off.

Cedric was booked for a foul midway inside Saints’ half and from the resulting free-kick Jack Stephens did well to block an effort from Okaka, who fired wide.

Saints were always a threat on the counter attack.

Gomes was forced into another save, this time at his near post from Gabbiadini, before Bertrand cut in and drilled a right-footer wide as Saints continued to look for an equaliser.

The solidly built Okaka was a threat in the air and headed wide two deliveries from Jose Holebas; a cross from the left and a right-flank corner, before referee Jonathan Moss took aside Jack Stephens and Sebastian Prodl for a quiet word.

Saints countered well through Steven Davis, Oriol Romeu and Ward-Prowse before the ball was switched to Bertrand.

When Tadic’s cross was blocked, Watford broke.

Etienne Capoue, Watford’s goalscorer at St Mary’s on the opening day of the season, cut on to his right and fired powerfully but just wide of Forster’s right-hand upright.

Then Saints equalised.

Tadic fired low into the far right corner from 15 yards out through a crowded penalty area soon after being crowded out as he attempted to dribble his way through.

Redmond appeared to be in an offside position, but ensured he was not interfering with play by jumping over the ball as it made its way into the bottom corner, as Gomes dived underneath him.

Gabbiadini was booked for a foul on Valon Behrami in front of the dug outs before threatening to become the first Saints player to score in his first four games for the club, following a quick exchange of passes.

Ward Prowse whipped a left-flank free kick just wide of the near post before an encouraging move involving Romeu, Redmond and Davis ended with Gabbiadini flagged offside.

The Italian headed away a corner at the near post and Tadic did well to block a Kaboul shot inside the Saints area.

At the other end, Gomes saved from Tadic at his near post and dealt comfortably with a Cederc 20-yarder before Okaka was booked for dissent.

Then, in first-half injury time, Redmond put Saints in front by ending a wonderful move that he began with a clinical finish into the far corner.

Redmond continued his Wembley form by beating two players before finding Ward-Prowse, who played in Cedric.

The Portugese pulled it back for Redmond, who had continued his run and finished clinically in the bottom of the far corner.

Ten minutes into the second half, Gabbiadini went on a thrilling run to the delight of the Saints fans behind Gomes’s goal.

He beat his man on the outside and surged into the penalty area before being denied following a misunderstanding with Tadic.

Romeu fired over when Holebas headed away a Tadic cross and Yoshida did well as Okaka threatened an equaliser.

Ward Prowse was denied at the near post following a swift one-two with Tadic, whose 25 yard half volley was turned behind for another flag kick by the leaping Gomes.

From Tadic’s free kick, Gomes then did well to thwart Yoshida from close range.

Roared on by a passionate Vicarage Road crowd, Watford looked for the equaliser Forster denied Okaka at his near post and with time to get a shot away at the far post following Holebas’s cross, Deeney of all people missed the target.

Ten minutes after replacing Capoue, Isaac Success provided the cross from which the Hornets stung Saints a second time.

He whipped it in from the left and Okaka completed the one-two by sidefooting in the equaliser at the near post as Stephens tried in vain to block his effort.

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Stephens came out on top against Okaka before another substitution reaped dividends. Sofiane Boufal, having replaced Ward-Prowse in the 78th minute, drilled a 20-yarder that bounced off Gomes chest – and Gabbiadini gobbled up his sixth goal in four games.

As if that was not enough, Redmond was allowed to ghost down the left unchallenged before drilling the fourth emphatically into the roof of the net.

It was the perfect post-Wembley pick-me-up for the delighted Saints fans who made the trip. Even Abdoulaye Doucoure’s injury-time consolation could not dampen their spirits.

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