DANI Ayala`s injury-time headed earned a last-gasp point for Middlesbrough, extending Waford`s winless run to four games in the process.
Albert Adomah put Middlesbrough ahead in the 23rd minute when he beat Manuel Almunia at the near-post, but Troy Deeney equalised nine minutes later when he coolly slotted past Jason Steele following Marco Cassetti`s lofted pass.
With 17 minutes of the second-half remaining, Fernando Forestieri put the Hornets into the lead with a neat finish.
Deep in injury-time, on-loan Norwich defender Ayala sunk a header to earner the hosts a point for ‘Boro.
The Hornets made three changes to the side that went down 3-0 to Leicester last week with Marco Cassetti coming in for Joel Ekstrand, Iriney in for former Middlesbrough loanee Josh McEachran and Davide Faraoni in for Ikechi Anya.
Middlesbrough caretaker Mark Venus brought Ben Gibson in for George Friend and Mustapha Carayol in for Jozsef Varga.
The away side had the first real chance of the match on 11 minutes after Faraoni met a pass from Lewis McGugan but he sent his shot straight at ‘Boro ‘keeper Steele.
However, it was the home side who took the lead after 23 minutes. A smart back heel from Rhys Williams found former Bristol City winger Adomah, who beat Almunia at his near post to make it 1-0.
This lead did not last for long though. Watford replied nine minute later after striker Deeney latched on to a fabulous ball from Cassetti and calmly slotted the ball past Steele; Deeney’s first goal since the 5-1 defeat of Barnsley in September.
That was how the teams went into the half time break, but on the stroke of halftime Watford were dealt a blow as Lloyd Doyley went down with what looked to be a hamstring injury. That meant that Algerian international, Essaid Belkalem, came on following the break to replace him.
Half-time: 1-1
Watford started the second period the brighter and almost took the lead after Sean Murray found space on the right. Unfortunately he wasn`t given any support and his shot went well wide.
Next up was Deeney, who saw an effort from the edge of the box go wide as the Golden Boys looked for the go ahead goal.
Shortly after Forestieri worked extremely hard to create a chance out of nothing.
The ball was played through to him but it looked like the Middlesbrough defender had it under control. However Forestieri hassled him into making a mistake, winning the ball and showing great composure to twist past the defender and slot the ball home to give the away side a 2-1 lead with less than 20 minutes left.
Murray almost made it three with 12 minutes to go but his shot from the edge of the box went over the bar. And then Forestieri saw a free kick go close with seven minutes left as Watford looked for one more to make the game safe.
With five minutes left, Middlesbrough pilled the pressure on. Kei Kamara saw his close range header saved by Almunia and shortly after Grant Leadbitter also saw his effort saved by.
With four minutes added on, Watford looked to keep the ball to kill the game off. This worked until centre-back Gabriele Angella tried a chipped pass which didn`t come off. This led to McEachran being forced to concede a corner.
Leadbitter swung the corner into a great area and Ayala met it in the air and rescued a point for the home side.
Gianfranco Zola will be very disappointed at this result, especially as it looked like the game was over and done with and it was a silly error that has cost his side once again.
Full Time 2-2
Middlesbrough: Steele; Williams, Hines (Friend), Ayala, Gibson; Carayol (Butterfield), Smallwood, Leadbitter, Adomah; Emnes (Halliday) & Kamara (capt).
Subs not used: Leutwiler (GK), Whitehead, Jutkiewicz & Richardson.
Watford: Almunia (capt); Cassetti, Angella, Doyley (Belkalem); Faraoni, Murray, Iriney (McEachran), McGugan (Battocchio), Pudil; Deeney & Forestieri.
Subs not used: Bond (GK), Anya, Fabbrini & Acuna.
Attendance: 14 344 (624 Watford fans)
Referee: Mr P Tierney
