West Brom 2 Watford 2 - Report and pictures

The Watford forward, who was superb throughout, nodded in a free-kick with practically the last moment of an eventful game.

The Baggies had raced into a two-goal lead in the first half thanks to a classic Tony Pulis one-two in the space of three minutes.

Salomon Rondon put the hosts ahead in the 18th minute with his first goal at The Hawthorns in 2017 after an inch-perfect ball over the top from man of the match Grzegorz Krychowiak.

Three minutes later Jonny Evans nodded in a second from a Matt Phillips corner to put Albion in command.

But Watford, who arrived at The Hawthorns with a 100 per cent away record in the league, roared back and reduced the deficit with an Abdoulaye Doucoure goal before half-time.

Marco Silva's team huffed and puffed in the second half, but couldn't find an equaliser until the dying embers of the game, when Richarlison's header made it six games without a win for Tony Pulis in all competitions.

Pulis dropped Allan Nyom to the bench against his former club in one of three changes that saw Hal Robson-Kanu and Jake Livermore also benched in favour of Chris Brunt, Matt Phillips and Rondon.

Having played wing-backs for the past two games, the Baggies returned to a traditional back four that mirrored Watford's formation, although on the frequent occasion Kieran Gibbs flew up the left wing, right-back Craig Dawson tucked in to form a three-man defence.

Marco Silva gave talismanic skipper Troy Deeney his first start of the season, hours after Pulis had admitted he was interested in the striker.

It was the visitors who started on the front foot, but they failed to test Ben Foster in the opening exchanges.

The Baggies were soaking up the pressure with ease, and they sprung the perfect counter-attack in the 18th minute thanks to Krychowiak's quick-thinking.

Kieran Gibbs won the initial header on the edge of his box, and it fell to the Polish midfielder, who turned and played an inch-perfect 60-yard ball over the top for Rondon to run onto.

There was still plenty for the Venezuelan to do, but he outmuscled Christian Kabasele before tucking the ball under Heurelho Gomes from a narrow angle.

It was just his third Albion goal in 2017, and his first at The Hawthorns.

Rondon rushed away again two minutes later, before playing a flying Gibbs on the overlap. His cross was nervously turned behind by Kabasele, but then the Baggies scored from a resulting corner.

Phillips's ball was flicked on by Abdoulaye Doucoure at the near post, giving Evans a simple header at the back post from three yards out, even if he was clattered by Ahmed Hegazi in the process.

That put Albion in command, and Hegazi could have made it three when Gomes came and missed Brunt's corner, but his header from three yards out flew over the crossbar.

The visitors weren't beaten though and they came roaring back in style.

Ten minutes before the break Richarlison, who gave Craig Dawson a torrid afternoon, played a one-two with Deeney that got him in behind.

His cross-come-shot found Andre Carrillo at the back post, but even though it came quickly at the Watford man, he still should have scored in the open goal.

That was a warning sign for the Baggies, and Dawson in particular, because three minutes later Watford pulled one back when the right-back was turned by Richarlison in the middle of the park.

The Brazilian fed Doucoure on the overlap, and he stood up Evans, before dragging the ball to his left and firing a low shot into the opposite corner.

Pulis moved Brunt into the middle at half-time and put Rodriguez out on the wing in an effort to take control of the central areas, but Doucoure and Etienne Capoue were playing well and Watford started the second half on top, just like the first.

They nearly equalised when Capoue's shot hit Evans's ankles and squirted inches wide after he was given possession by a rare Gibbs mistake.

Watford looked stronger and hungrier, so Pulis brought James McClean and Jake Livermore on for Phillips and Brunt in an attempt to add some steel to midfield while Silva sent on fleet-footed Roberto Pereyra to pick the lock.

The Hornets kept their foot on the gas, while Albion struggled to get out of their box.

It wasn't sticking up front with Rondon so Pulis sent Hal Robson-Kanu on instead, and the Wales international immediately sprung an attack that led to Gomes spilling a McClean shot behind.

Silva sent on £18.5m signing Andre Gray and stuck two up front with 15 minutes to go, but even though Livermore and Evans picked up a couple of late bookings for professional fouls, it looked as though Albion had managed to see out the win.

But late on, McClean was penalised for a lunging tackle on Richarlison. Although he got the ball, he left the floor and referee Michael Oliver deemed it a free-kick.

The ball was sent in, and it flew just over Hegazi's head before the Brazilian nodded in an equaliser that sent the visiting fans behind the goal into delirium and left the home fans gutted.

Key moments

18 GOAL ALBION - Gibbs wins a header and the ball lands at Krychowiak's feet. His quick-thinking and inch-perfect ball over the top sends Rondon clear. He outmuscles Kabasele before tucking the ball under Gomes from a tight angle.

21 GOAL ALBION - Phillips's corner is flicked on at the near post by Doucoure and Evans is on hand to nod in at the back post, even though he gets clattered by Hegazi in the process.

37 GOAL WATFORD - Richarlison turns Dawson in the middle of the pitch and finds Doucoure powering outside him. The midfielder stands Evans up before dragging it to his left and firing a shot into the opposite corner.

94 GOAL WATFORD - Richarlison nods in a free-kick after McClean's late lunging foul.

ALBION MAN OF THE MATCH

Grzegorz Krychowiak - A supreme midfield performance from the PSG loanee.

Teams

Albion (4-2-3-1): Foster, Dawson, Evans, Hegazi, Gibbs, Krychowiak, Barry, Brunt (Livermore 62), Rodriguez, Phillips (McClean 57), Rondon (Robson-Kanu 73). Unused subs: Myhill, Nyom, Morrison, Chadli.

Watford (4-2-3-1): Gomes; Femenía, Mariappa, Kabasele, Holebas; Doucouré, Capoue (Pereyra 62); Carrillo (Gray 75), Cleverley, Richarlison; Deeney. Unused subs: Karnezis, Janmaat, Britos, Hughes, Watson.

Referee: Michael Oliver

Attendance: 24,606 (2,715 away)

Read more in-depth analysis on this game in Monday's Express & Star.