A stunning goal from Ismaila Sarr was enough to give Watford a point at West Bromwich Albion - but it was a draw that only the most hardcore fan would say they warranted.

The much-admired and sought after striker did nothing to help deter suitors by firing home from inside his own half to put Watford in front early on at The Hawthorns.

But after creating chance after chance, Karlan Grant equalised on the stroke of half-time on they kept pressing in the second period.

Watford should have won it when they awarded a penalty but Sarr's effort was pitiful and David Button made the save

The 1-1 draw maintains Watford's unbeaten start even if it is a result that lands firmly on the fortunate side of the coin.

They won't have too long to mull over the flaws and put them right before Burnley come to Hertfordshire on Friday but there is definitely work to do.

Watford fans will at least be able to talk endlessly about Sarr's wonder-strike.

It was a goal of outrageous audacity and yet was executed with an air of almost nonchalance.

The striker was in his own half but after taking a touch he looked up and drilled it over the head of David Button in the home goal and in.

That was on 12 minutes and at that point Watford had barely been in the home half.

Sarr had their only other shot in the half but from a narrow angle, Button was never going to be beaten.

That was as good as it got though as West Brom dominated. They should have scored long before Grant fired home in the second minute of stoppage time.

They should have scored loads to be fair.

Dan Bachmann made two saves in the opening five minutes to stop first Darnell Furlong and then Grant.

The keeper made a third point-blank save on 35 minutes while Kabasele put in a huge block to deny Grant after Tom Cleverley had lost the ball in midfield.

Grant and his strike partners were simply lacking conviction in front of goal, the former skewing a Jed Wallace cross wide from six yards.

Watford's defence though was guilty of giving them the chances to put things right and Grant did just that before the break.

But too often the ball was dropped over their heads or pushed down their left, with Wallace and Furlong slinging in searching crosses.

Manager Rob Edwards resisted what must have been a strong urge to change things up but it was Conor Townsend who had the first shot of the second period, Buchmann again pushing it away.

And there was no change to the direction of traffic, it was all towards the Watford goal.

The plus was West Brom were not taking anything. Grant swivelled and fired over from 12 yards while a late run into the box from Conor Townsend saw him meet a corner but get underneath it and head away from goal.

And from out of nowhere Watford should have been in front again.

Sarr went racing through and video evidence showed a clip of the heels had sent him tumbling.

The officials only needed a short chat to confirm the penalty but Sarr spurned the opportunity, shuffling towards the ball before side-footing it way too close to Button.

The long-forward changes came after that with Mario Gaspar getting his debut in place of Hassane Kamara.

The replacements took the sting out of the game and Watford got through to the end without any further alarms.

They will take a draw, boy will they take a draw.

 

Watford: Bachmann, Cleverley, Joao Pedro, Sema, Kamara (Gaspar 77), Cathcart, Sarr (Gosling 90+5), Dennis (Manaj 83), Kabasele, Sierralta (Troost-Ekong 83), Kayembe.

Subs (not used): Hamer, Asprilla, Quina.

Goal: Sarr 12

Booked: Kabasele 74

 

West Bromwich Albion: Button, Furlong (Phillips 90+1), Townsend, O'Shea, Ajayi, Livermore (Yokuslu 78), Diangana (Reach 88), Molumby, Wallace, Grant, Swift.

Subs (not used): Palmer, Bartley, Mowatt, Robinson.

Goal: Grant 45+2

Booked: Molumby 45, Furlong 69

 

HT: West Bromwich Albion 1 Watford 1

Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)

Attendance: