There are many good 90-minute comedies featuring the actor Steve Martin – but when it comes to his namesake who refereed this game, it was a performance that was anything but funny.

Watford had controlled the first half and scored their first goal before the break in 10 games through Ismaila Sarr to lead at half-time.

When debutant Ryan Porteous headed home just after the interval to make it 2-0, there was only one direction the game was heading. Reading looked beaten and Watford were in control.

Enter Mr Martin. He decided that when Shane Long and Craig Cathcart fell down together in the box as they chased a through ball, the Watford skipper had brought Long down.

There seemed no intent on Cathcart’s part and Long certainly made sure he hit the deck as soon as there was contact.

When Tom Ince tucked the spot kick away Reading regained hope, but it could have been snuffed out shortly after – except Mr Martin intervened again.

Matheus Martins shot under keeper Joe Lumley, although there seemed to be a deflection on the way. Britt Assombalonga, who had been in front of the keeper, wheeled away to celebrate – had he not, neither Lumley or the officials may have realised the ball had taken a nick off him.

There was no initial flag but when Lumley ran over to the touchline, Mr Martin clearly contacted his colleague, who then raised his flag. The goal was ruled out, and shortly after Jeff Kendrick hammered home a volley to snatch a point.

It was a game that turned on Mr Martin’s first contentious decision. But for that penalty, Reading were showing no signs of salvaging anything.

There’s no doubt it was two points dropped, but on this occasion there were definitely mitigating circumstances – and Mr Martin was at the heart of them.

The Hornets gave full debuts to Araujo and Porteous, while Pedro was back on the bench, alongside Hoedt and Assombalonga.

After Watford had bossed the opening period in terms of possession, the first chance went to Reading in the 16th minute as Ince drove on from midfield and his low 20-yard shot was tipped away by Bachmann

The resultant corner wasn't cleared and when the ball was driven low across the six-yard box Sarr had to clear from near his own line

Three minutes later Araujo and Davis combined to free Sarr on the left, he steadied himself as he got to the box and then curled a shot round his defender but wide of the target.

After 29 minutes Watford went ahead with a well-worked goal. Martins moved the ball to Gaspar on the right of the box. He saw Araujo moving between defenders and played the ball into the striker, who turned and squared across the six-yard box to give Sarr a tap-in from almost on the line.

Seven minutes before the interval, Kamara's throw enabled Araujo to run into the box and fire an angled shot into the side netting

Two minutes after the restart a quick break from Watford saw Martins run from halfway to the edge of the box. He played in Sarr but Lumley blocked.

From the corner Martins sent the ball over from the right and Porteous ran to the near post, virtually unmarked, and headed past Lumley

Ten minutes later a quickly-taken free kick from Porteous released Martins down the right, he cut in and fired low towards the near post where Lumley had to get down and block.

Bachmann made a comfortable save to get down and hold a well-struck shot from Loum before the visitors were handed a route back into the game in the 65th minute when referee Steve Martin gave them a penalty.

Cathcart and Long were chasing a ball on the right of the box, they seem to entangle legs and the official decided Cathcart had brought the striker down and pointed to the spot.

Bachmann went the right way but Ince found the bottom corner.

Suddenly the home side were on the ascendancy and when Azeez let fly from 20 yards Bachmann did well to push the swerving shot away.

After 77 minutes Watford had the ball in the net and thought they had their third.

Kamara made a great run down the left and dragged the ball back. Martins turned and shot, the ball got a nick off Assombalonga and rolled under Lumley.

The Watford players went off celebrating while keeper Lumley ran to the linesman claiming Assombalonga was offside. The referee walked towards his linesman, who then raised his flag and Mr Martin ruled the goal out.

That decision took on even more significance in the 79th minute. A corner was hit deep to the back of the box and Kendrick lashed a first-time volley from 12-yards into the top corner.

It could even have been worse three minutes from the end as Kendrick had a shot blocked, the ball span loose and Meite fired over the bar.

Watford: Bachmann, Gaspar, Porteous, Cathcart, Kamara; Choudhury, Bacuna (Kone 80); Sarr, Davis (Assombalonga 70), Martins (Adeyemo 80); Arouja (Pedro 70). Subs: Hamer, Morris, Hoedt.