Richarlison’s 90th minute strike proved the difference as Watford claimed a dramatic 2-1 win over Swansea City.

A bright start saw the visitors take the lead through Andre Gray’s first for the club before Tammy Abraham came from the bench to level early in the second half.

The Swans had the better of the second half before Watford’s Brazilian winger forced his way through their defence to bag the winner.

After the 6-0 drubbing against Manchester City last time out, the win is a welcome one for Watford and leaves the fifth ahead of a trip to West Brom next week.

Marco Silva was forced into one change as a knee injury for Nathaniel Chalobah ruled the summer arrival out – in his stead Etienne Capoue came in for his first league start this term.

Watford started the brighter of the two sides and Gray was presented with a fine chance to break his duck inside five minutes.

A fine ball down the right from Andre Carrillo released the fit-again Kiko Femenia down the right channel and his smart pull back found Gray in space in the box.

Watford’s record signing connected well with a placed strike but a fine block from Mike Van Der Hoorn sent the ball behind for a corner.

Gray would not have to wait long for his first in Watford colours, however, making the most of a loose ball to fire home.

Again the danger came down the right as Carrillo’s low cross was diverted back towards his own goal by a retreating Sam Clucas.

Unchecked on the edge six yard box, Gray had a simple task and fired confidently past Lukasz Fabianski to give the visitors a merited lead.

The strike will undoubtedly do the world of good for the forward, who signed for £18.5 million in August, with Silva accepting, despite being impressed with the former Burnley man that strikers thrive on goals.

Carrillo thought he had a goal of his own with just over half an hour played after Fabianski made a meal of a long shot from Femenia and parried to Richarlison.

His cross found Carrillo unmarked for a tap in, but the linesman’s flag correctly denied the Hornets a second.

Gray was clearly enjoying himself after finding the net early on and was gifted a fine chance for his second by Alfie Mawson.

Collecting the ball in little danger wide of the left, the ex-Wycombe Wanderers defender played a sloppy pass inside to allow Gray a run on goal.

With the angle growing increasingly acute, Gray fired low across Fabianski but could only guide his shot just wide of the far post.

Swansea’s threat grew as the half reached its conclusion and they should have levelled through Wilfried Bony, who guided a close range header just wide.

The Ivorian really should have done more with the chance and his profligacy ensured Watford stayed ahead at the break.

Paul Clement saw fit to change things up at the break and introduced Tammy Abraham from the bench to play in a front two with Bony.

And it would be Abraham who made the decisive impact with 56 minutes on the clock when Bony forced a superb stop low to Gomes’ left.

The Brazilian did well to deny Bony, but got no luck as his parry fell to the alert Abraham who turned in the scraps to equalise.

Abraham looked set to grab his second just beyond the hour mark after controlling Martin Olsson’s deep cross and lashing goalwards.

His strike would surely have had too much power for Gomes, but Mariappa did superbly to get across and make a fine sliding block.

An injury to Capoue had seen Silva bring Molla Wague on at half-time and change to a back five, which saw Watford lose control of the game in the middle of the park.

The issue meant chances were hard to come by in the second period and the hosts had the better of the game after the restart.

However, with the game ticking into its final minute, both sides looked set to be left with a share of the spoils but a succession of errors and Richarlison’s persistence proved decisive.

After Roque Mesa had given the ball away, Richarlison powered beyond a weak tackle from Mawson and lifted a shot beyond Fabianski.

His effort struck the underside of the bar and over the line to send the travelling Hornets fans into wild celebrations.

The result sees Watford win three away games on the spin for the first time in the top flight and continues their fine start to life under Silva.

Watford: Gomes; Femenia, Mariappa, Kabasele, Holebas; Doucoure, Cleverley; Carrillo (Pereyra 74), Capoue (Wague HT), Richarlison; Gray (Deeney 86).

Subs not used: Karneszis, Janmaat, Success, Watson.

Swansea: Fabianski; Van der Hoorn (Abraham HT), Mawson, Fernandez, Naughton; Fer, Clucas (Mesa HT), Carroll, Olsson; Ayew, Bony (Sanches 85).

Subs not used: Narsingh, Nordfeldt, Routledge, Rangel.