New Watford boss Brendan Rodgers watched on as Tommy Smith earned his side a 1-1 draw at Bristol City.
Rodgers watches on as Smith secures point
New Watford boss Brendan Rodgers watched on as Tommy Smith earned his side a 1-1 draw at Bristol City.
A close game exploded into life at Ashton Gate inside the last 20 minutes when Nicky Maynard put the Robins ahead.
However, the Hornets replied almost instantly as Smith pounced for his ninth goal of the campaign to secure a point.
Watford appointed Rodgers as their new manager on Monday and the 35-year-old will like what he will have seen from the stands after a decent performance.
The former Chelsea reserve-team coach takes charge of his first game at home to Doncaster on Saturday where he will bid to begin a move away from the relegation zone.
But it was Gary Johnson's side who started brightly as Maynard twice fired shots wide in the opening minutes before Stern John wasted a glorious chance.
Michael McIndoe beat Lloyd Doyley to the byline and flashed a cross into the near post but John was unable to guide his header on target.
Let-off
It was a let-off for the Hornets and after their slow start they began to get into the game.
Winger Jobi McAnuff had the first effort on goal for the visitors when he collected Tamas Priskin's lay-off at the edge of the area and arrowed in a low drive which whistled a few yards wide of Adriano Basso's right-hand post.
Jon Harley then thundered a shot into Basso's midriff after he was released by Priskin before defender Adrian Mariappa was also denied by the Brazilian goalkeeper.
McIndoe sent a shot wide after a bright run in the opening minutes of the second period as the hosts again started brightly before giant centre-half Jamie McCombe had a half chance.
Lee Johnson, son of manager Gary, delivered a corner to the near post where McCombe met it on the volley but 17-year-old Watford midfielder Ross Jenkins made a fine block.
The Robins were now well on top and Johnson should have put them ahead in the 54th minute.
Piling on pressure
David Noble made a powerful burst through the middle before sliding in Johnson on the left but the midfielder was only able to guide his shot into the side-netting.
The hosts were piling on the pressure and they duly took the lead in the 71st minute.
Louis Carey sent a long ball forward up to John who cleanly won the flick-on ahead of Darren Ward.
Maynard was alert to the header and sharply turned inside Jay DeMerit before calmly lifting the ball over goalkeeper Scott Loach and into the back of the net.
It was a fine finish from the former Crewe striker but Watford showed admirable character to equalise just two minutes later.
Harley was the architect and after he managed to feed a ball through to Smith on the edge of the area the forward produced a superb goal.
He rolled McCombe and simply passed the ball wide of Basso and into the bottom corner.
