Only a late, late equaliser denied Watford all three points as they gave an excellent performance to earn a thoroughly-deserved 2-2 draw at Sunderland.

Despite going behind the Hornets never look unsettled and had more of the ball.

A penalty just before half-time brought them level and it looked they’d won it with a stunning Imran Louza goal seconds after the break, but the home side levelled in the 89th minute.

Goalkeeper Egil Selvik came into the team to make his Watford debut, while as expected with Vakoun Bayo suspended, Kwadwo Baah injured and Rocco Vata ill, teenager Mamadou Doumbia led the line.

A very youthful bench included the likes of Michael Adu-Poku, Leo Ramirez-Espain and Amin Nabizada, who between them have 132 minutes of football for the Hornets.

It was a strange first half as although Sunderland looked threatening when they got forward, Watford dominated possession and had more attempts at goal.

The Black Cats got the lead helped by some woeful marking at a corner but the Hornets enjoyed 66% of the ball and when Doumbia was tripped they won a penalty confident tucked away by Tom Dele-Bashiru.

Seconds into the second half Watford had the lead courtesy of a quite magnificent goal from Louza, and from that point on the home side increasingly struggled to create anything.

Indeed, Watford had not looked like conceding until the home side levelled it up from a corner in the final minute of normal time.

Then, in stoppage time, Selvik twice denied Sunderland in one-on-one situations as the home side piled forward to try and take all three points.

Here’s how the game unfolded:

6 - Cirkin had space in the box and teed up Rigg, but his low shot from 12 yards was easily smothered by Selvik.

16 – Sunderland 1 (O’Nien) Watford 0

Corner hit deep, everyone went towards the ball and when it was played back into the six-yard box O'Nien was unmarked and headed home from close range.

18 - Le Fee curled a free-kick from just outside the box that Selvik held.

25 - A good, sustained spell of Watford possession ends with Sissoko, who isn't popular around these parts, sending a volley way over the top.

37 - Roberts was teed up in space just inside the box and his goal-bound shot was deflected wide for a corner.

38 - O'Nien got on the end of a cross from the right but his glancing header flew wide of the back post.

40 - Kayembe lashes a shot into the side netting after excellent approach work from Chakvetadze.

42 – Sunderland 1 Watford 1 (Dele-Bashiru 42pen)

Doumbia saw his header from a Larocui cross saved and as he chased down the loose ball, he was tripped by Cirkin. Dele-Bashiru stroked the resultant penalty into the corner.

45+2 - Larouci cross runs all the way to Andrews at the back post and his volley whips across the face of goal and is just wide.

Half-time – Sunderland 1 Watford 1

46 – Sunderland 1 Watford 2 (Louza 46)

What a goal. What. A. Goal. Louza gathers the ball five yards outside the box and curls a sublime shot into the top-left corner.

53 - Mepham is unmarked as he meets a free kick but had teammates behind him better placed and his header on the stretch loops over.

63 - Isidor controls the ball at the near post and with Abankwah refusing to give ground, the striker hooks a shot over the top.

73 - Chakvetadze exchanges passes with Sissoko and shoots from 20 yards but straight at Patterson.

87 - Le Fee turns sharply in the box but his low shot lacks power and Selvik holds it.

89 – Sunderland 2 (Cirkin 89) Watford 2

What a way to concede. Corner takes a flick at the near post and runs for Cirkin to stroke home.

90+2 - Isidor is sent clear with Ababkwah in chase, but his attempt to slot past Selvik is blocked by the keeper.

90 +3 - This time Aleksic is free in the box but Selvik stays big and blocks. Fine save again.

Watford: Selvik; Andrews, Pollock, Abankwah, Larouci (Ngakia 60); Louza, Dele-Bashiru; Chakvetadze, Kayembe, Sissoko (Sierralta 84); Doumbian (Ince 81). Subs: Bond, Keben, Morris, Adu-Poku, Ramirez-Espain, Nabizada