A third penalty save in two games from Richard Lee was not enough to secure the three points for Watford as they drew to Cardiff 2-2 at Vicarage Road tonight.

The home side went in front in the first two minutes through John-Joe O’Toole and added another soon after when Will Hoskins scored a lucky second.

But Tamas Priskin was sent off mid-way through the first-half and despite holding on until the second period, Jay Bothroyd grabbed two to level.

Aidy Boothroyd has been saying this week that he wants his side to start games better and his players duly replied with a goal in the second minute.

The Hornets’ manager showed his intent from the off, picking O’Toole ahead of the more defensive-minded John Eustace.

And the change paid off when the Irishman scored his sixth of the season.

Leigh Bromby launched in a long throw, the ball fell to Tommy Smith who chipped in and the arriving O’Toole headed past Tom Heaton.

Cardiff had a chance to pull one back minutes later when Peter Whittingham fired a long-range effort just over after good hold-up play from Ross McCormack.

McCormack is the Championship’s top goal scorer and the summer signing from Motherwell had a penalty claim turned down after O’Toole was dispossessed deep in his own half.

Kevin McNaughton will know he should have done better with his first-time shot from the edge of the box, after Bromby was out-muscled by Bothroyd.

Watford started to get back into the game a bit more as the half went on and they grabbed a comical second.

Bromby played a seemingly wasteful long ball which for some reason caught McNaughton unaware and Hoskins struck a tame shot down the middle of the goal, but it was deflected off the Bluebirds full-back and dribbled past the wrong-footed Heaton at his front post.

But the home fans’ hopes of a win took a substantial blow when, while waiting for a free-kick to be taken on the edge of Cardiff’s box, Priskin become involved in a tussle with a defender. And, after the referee consulted with his assistant, Priskin became the first Hornet this season to be red-carded.

Cardiff’s first chance to capitalise on the extra man came around ten minutes later when McCormack headed over a difficult Whittingham cross from five yards out.

Despite being a man down, Watford looked relatively strong at the back, with Bromby in particular putting in a near-faultless first-half performance.

Watford’s centre-halves seemed comfortable dealing with Cardiff’s front men but it was their counterpart Roger Johnson who came closest, when the defender volleyed towards the top corner, but it was tipped wide by Lee.

The Welsh side had another chance to score when Adrian Mariappa gave away a needless free-kick, however, McCormack’s strike was straight at Lee and Watford held on to their two-goal lead until half-time.

Watford started the second period as they did the first with substitute Eustace testing Heaton from 30-yards.

But former Leeds midfielder Stephen McPhail went straight down the other end and did the same, but luckily for Lee it just went wide.

The home side’s defence was then caught napping when McCormack was left free in the box but his header was deflected wide.

Johnson could also not hit the target with his header after coming up from the back.

After keeping a clean sheet and saving two penalties in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Southampton, Lee continued to look solid, continuously coming for crosses and making saves.

Watford were camped in their half for large spells of the second half and Cardiff’s full-backs were constantly pushing forward and causing problems.

One of them, McNaughton, had a good chance to score from the edge of the box but his effort was neither a shot or a cross.

Watford’s lead looked set to be cut when they conceded another penalty when Tommy Smith brought down Whittingham.

But Lee remarkably saved his third penalty in two games, denying the league’s top scorer McCormack down at the keeper’s right.

Watford’s third choice stopper then made another great save at his near post from a Cardiff corner.

He then did just about enough to deny Whittingham a near certain goal, when the creative midfielder missed from two yards out.

Both teams then brought on an international in a bid to secure the three points.

First Cardiff introduced American Eddie Johnson, who was soon followed by Watford’s Polish striker Grzegorz Rasiak, who was returning for the first time since he broke a bone in his shoulder in August.

Lee then made two saves in quick sucession; first denying McCormack and then Bothroyd at his near post.

But the keeper could do nothing about Cardiff’s first. Bothroyd’s shot from just outside the area was deflected over him into the top corner.

And before Watford had chance to settle, the former Coventry and Perugia striker got his second.

Purse climbed highest for a corner and headed down to Bothroyd, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Watford had a good chance to regain the lead when, after some steady build-up play, Smith forced Heaton to save low with a powerful drive from outside the area.

And then the away side thought they had scored when McCormack sent in a deep cross to the back post for Johnson, but Darren Ward made a goal-saving block.

Jon Harley then had a chance to win it in injury-time when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box but his volley was weak.

Watford: Lee, Mariappa, Bromby, Ward, Sadler; Smith (McAnuff, 89), Williamson (Eustace, 46), O’Toole, Harley; Priskin, Hoskins (Rasiak, 67). Not used: Doyley and Tyler.

Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton (Comminges, 72), R Johnson, Purse, Kennedy; Parry, McPhail, Rae, Whittingham (E Johnson, 65); McCormack, Bothroyd. Not used: Enckleman, Gyepes and Blake.

Bookings: Priskin sent off for violent conduct after 29 mins; Smith for dissent after 60 mins; Rae for a push on Harley after 76 mins.

Attendance: 13,461.

Referee: Richard Beeby.