Late surge by the Hornets denies Southampton victory at Vicarage Road

Vicarage Road, Watford

Watford 2 Southampton 2

Watford's season is beginning to move in the right direction, following this highly-spirited draw against Southampton at Vicarage Road.

They had Nestory Irankunda to thank for a superb, late set piece intervention when it looked like Saints were going to claim all three points. Ryan Manning's stunning free kick in 78 minutes looked to set Saints on their way. Irankunda provided a similar response of sheer quality.

Watford had originally levelled in a feisty clash in front of 19,075 fans through Kwadwo Baah, after Cameron Archer put Saints ahead in the first half.

Southampton will likely journey back to the south coast feeling that this was another missed opportunity, following their surprise home loss to Stoke a week previously.

It was an encounter where Will Still's men gave the impression they were capable of going up to another level of threat, if necessary. Yet they failed to legislate for a increasingly breezy and vibrant response from the Hornets, who upped the tempo, particularly in the final half an hour. A frenetic finale was served up and both sets of fans should feel content with the outcome.

Both teams went into the game with a mixed batch of form.

The Hornets, though, had recovered from an opening Championship defeat at Charlton Athletic to beat QPR and draw away to Swansea. But this was the kind of encounter, against a side just relegated from the Premier League which would provide a snapshot of where Paulo Pezzolano's outfit broadly are. Southampton, for their part, arrived at Vicarage Road in 10th place with a win, a draw and a defeat. Clearly work for new Saints boss Still, in charge of an experienced unit.

Regrettably for the hosts, it took only ten minutes to concede a cheap goal. From a Manning corner on the left, the Watford rear guard abdicated responsibility, leaving Southampton forward Archer - who had a loan spell at Vicarage Road last season - with the easy task of smashing the loose ball into the net from a couple of yards out.

Irankunda responded with a hopeful free kick for the Hornets which sailed just past the crossbar, but Southampton were the more convincing and cohesive early on. Indeed, Archer could have doubled his tally only to see his low angled shot denied by a fine save from Watford keeper Egil Selvik.

Watford may have been full of endeavour but their lack of creativity and a shot-shy sensibility was all too obvious across the first half. And a confident Archer was creating further difficulties with his movement.

Finn Azaz was the next Southampton player to try his luck a few moments from the break - the unmarked midfielder volleyed straight at the increasingly busy Selvik.

The second half began with a backdrop of drizzle - and Saints looked lively down the right side, with ex-Brentford full back Mads Roerslev in foraging form, combining to good effect with Ryan Fraser.

Watford's Jeremy Ngakia briefly ignited the home crowd when he dispossessed Jay Robinson in midfield before striding forward, only to shoot inches wide. It was, at least, the start of a more encouraging spell for the Hornets.

Their persistence was rewarded with an equaliser in superb fashion. Baah, who had replaced Max Alleyne a few minutes earlier, controlled a delicate long pass from Hector Kyprianou, before keeping his composure to fire a low, angled right foot shot past Saints' keeper Gavin Bazunu.

The temperature rose amid a fine finale. Former QPR player Manning, meanwhile, delivered a free kick of high class to put Southampton in front again in the 77th minute. From around 20 yards out, the defender found a gap in the Watford wall and his left footed effort fizzed past Selvik.

Events looked beyond Pezzolano's side, only for Irankunda to dramatically intervene. The forward opted to emulate Manning when, with ten minutes remaining and from a similar position, scored for the second week running - a tremendous curled effort beyond the grasping Bazunu.

It was a well-earned moment and one to send the Hornets fans home in upbeat mood.

Hornets: Selvik, Ngaka (Andrews 90+1), Alleyne (Baah 56), Keben, Kyprianou, Kjerrumgaard Semeydo 82), Bola, Sissoko, Abankwah, Kayembe (Vata 56), Irankunda (Doumbia 82)