Substitute Stuart Armstrong struck late to earn Southampton an FA Cup fourth-round replay with a draw at Championship rivals Watford.
Matheus Martins’ early free-kick had looked like being enough for the home side until the Scotland international levelled in the 89th minute.
The Saints, who arrived at Vicarage Road unbeaten in 21 games, struggled to reach their usual heights after making a number of changes.
Watford had created the better chances but failed to put the game to bed.
The hosts struck inside five minutes after quick thinking from Martins. He whipped a free-kick low into the near post from the left-hand corner of the area, giving Joe Lumley no chance.
It was a disjointed performance from Russell Martin’s side, but they went close when Carlos Alcaraz headed a free-kick over the bar.
The game lacked fluency and intensity overall but with half-time looming, the Hornets almost doubled their lead when Vakoun Bayo fired wide in stoppage time.
There was no resting on laurels from Watford at the start of the second half, with Jack Stephens clearing off the line.
The break did not have the desired effect for Southampton, and Sekou Mara’s tame effort, which failed to test Daniel Bachmann in the Watford goal, summed up their lack of cutting edge.
Alcaraz headed tamely wide moments after Martins struck the post, inches from his second of the game. He controlled a corner on the edge of the box before a bouncing volley left Lumley stranded.
Bachmann was finally forced into a save from Mason Holgate’s powerful strike from distance. Saints then introduced Stuart Armstrong, Adam Armstrong, Will Smallbone and Ryan Fraser and stepped up their intensity.
And the former then made Watford pay when he collected the ball on the edge of the area before firing into the near post to send the travelling fans wild.
Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong told BBC Sport: “It wasn’t ideal or what we wanted before the game.
“The fans were superb the whole game so we gave them something to smile about.”
Watford defender Wesley Hoedt told BBC Sport: “I think it was a good performance. Both teams were mixed up a bit. They had changes, we had changes.
“We played a very good first half. In the second, we should have been clearer with the possession we had and scored the second. We didn’t and you know Southampton are going to put on their main strikers and we defended well.
“It is tough to take but it is what it is. They were dangerous in the second half and a draw is a fair result.”
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Watford
Formation 4-1-4-1
1Bachmann45Andrews15Pollock4Hoedt6Lewis3Sierralta37Martins11Koné16Chakvetadze18Asprilla19Bayo
- 1Bachmann
- 45Andrews
- 15Pollock
- 4Hoedt
- 6LewisSubstituted forMorrisat 62’minutes
- 3Sierralta
- 37MartinsSubstituted forDennisat 76’minutes
- 11KonéSubstituted forInceat 76’minutes
- 16ChakvetadzeBooked at 45minsSubstituted forPorteousat 86’minutes
- 18AsprillaSubstituted forSemaat 62’minutes
- 19Bayo
Substitutes
- 5Porteous
- 7Ince
- 8Livermore
- 9Rajovic
- 12Sema
- 25Dennis
- 40Roberts
- 42Morris
- 59Grieves
Southampton
Formation 4-3-3
13Lumley6Holgate21Harwood-Bellis5Stephens29Meghoma19Rothwell24Charles22Alcaraz33Dibling10Adams18Mara
- 13Lumley
- 6HolgateBooked at 4mins
- 21Harwood-Bellis
- 5Stephens
- 29MeghomaSubstituted forAmo-Ameyawat 78’minutes
- 19RothwellSubstituted forS Armstrongat 63’minutes
- 24CharlesSubstituted forSmallboneat 63’minutes
- 22AlcarazBooked at 40mins
- 33DiblingSubstituted forA Armstrongat 63’minutes
- 10AdamsSubstituted forFraserat 63’minutes
- 18Mara
Substitutes
- 1McCarthy
- 2Walker-Peters
- 3Manning
- 9A Armstrong
- 16Smallbone
- 17S Armstrong
- 26Fraser
- 27Amo-Ameyaw
- 35Bednarek
Referee:Michael SalisburyAttendance:16,688
Match Stats
Home TeamWatfordAway TeamSouthamptonPossessionHome31%Away69%ShotsHome13Away19Shots on TargetHome4Away8CornersHome6Away6FoulsHome8Away7
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Watford 1, Southampton 1.
- 90’+7′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Watford 1, Southampton 1.
- 90’+7′
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90’+6′
Post update
Delay in match (Southampton).
- 90’+6′
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Andrews (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Vakoun Bayo.
- 90’+6′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Will Smallbone (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Fraser.
- 90’+4′
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Daniel Bachmann.
- 90’+4′
Post update
Attempt saved. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong with a cross.
- 90’+3′
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Wesley Hoedt.
- 90’+3′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Carlos Alcaraz.
- 90’+2′
Post update
Attempt missed. Sam Amo-Ameyaw (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mason Holgate.
- 90’+1′
Post update
Jack Stephens (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90’+1′
Post update
Foul by Tom Ince (Watford).
- 90’+1′
Post update
Offside, Watford. Ken Sema is caught offside.
- 89’goal
Goal!
Goal! Watford 1, Southampton 1. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
- 89′
Post update
Attempt saved. Sékou Mara (Southampton) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jack Stephens.
- 87′
Post update
Sam Amo-Ameyaw (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 87′
Post update
Foul by Ryan Porteous (Watford).
- 86′
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Ryan Porteous replaces Giorgi Chakvetadze.
- 86′
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Ryan Andrews.
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