Barnsley were denied a priceless win in their battle to avoid the drop after a 1-1 draw at Watford.
Macken goal only enough to earn Barnsley a point
Barnsley were denied a priceless win in their battle to avoid the drop after being held to a 1-1 draw at Watford.
Jon Macken's goal midway through the second half appeared to have done enough to earn the Tykes the points at Vicarage Road.
However, Tommy Smith pounced for an 88th-minute equaliser which should all-but guarantee Watford's place in the Championship for next season.
Watford named the same side which drew 2-2 at Vicarage Road with Southampton on Tuesday, while Barnsley made one change, with Daniel Bogdanovic starting in place of Hugo Colace after the midweek loss to Sheffield United.
Both sides created early openings. Barnsley striker Michael Mifsud headed straight at Scott Loach and Jamal Campbell-Ryce shot wide from 20 yards.
Watford went close through Ross Jenkins, who rifled the ball over from the edge of the penalty area before Campbell-Ryce tested Loach with another 20-yard effort.
Priskin post
The home side were then denied a 22nd-minute lead when Priskin's angled drive from similar distance hit the post before Jobi McAnuff was just off target trying his luck from outside the area.
Barnsley midfielder Anderson De Silva headed wide from Andranik Teymourian's corner as the visitors forced Watford on to the back foot in a see-saw encounter.
The South Yorkshire side were first to threaten after the interval when Loach was forced into a smart save from Mifsud's shot.
Mifsud's Malta international team-mate Bogdanovic was replaced by on-loan Liverpool winger Adam Hammill early in the second half and Watford responded by sending on young midfielder Danny Rose for Aleksandrs Cauna.
Slight edge
In terms of possession and chances Barnsley had a slight edge for the first 20 minutes after the break and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 67th minute.
Hammill swung in a fine cross from the right wing and Macken raced into the six-yard box to despatch the ball beyond Loach for his first goal in seven matches.
The former Preston and Manchester City forward went close to doubling his side's advantage two minutes later when he drilled a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Odejayi replaced Mifsud in the 81st minute and his goalbound header was brilliantly saved by Loach soon after before the Hornets rescued a point in the closing stages.
McAnuff made space on the right and his ball in was met by Smith, who made no mistake from six yards.
