Hornets claimed a point at The Madejski Stadium as they came from two goals down to net a last-gasp equaliser against Reading.
The Hornets were 2-0 behind at the break after an impressive opening 45-minutes from the hosts.
Adam Le Fondre struck early on before Jem Karacan struck the first of his two goals. Despite not being at their best for large parts of the game, the ‘Orns made the Royals battle hard after the interval.
First Davide Faraoni headed home for his fist for the club, before Karacan netted his second of the day for Reading, then Troy Deeney made it 3-2 from the spot after 76 minutes.
Sub Diego Fabbrini was the hero in the last minute as he slipped the ball past the impressive Alex McCarthy in the Reading goal.
Joel Ekstrand came into the Hornets’ starting XI, taking up his position on the left of a back three and replacing the injured Marco Cassetti.
Both sets of supporters were in good voice early on but it was the home support that had something to really cheer about.
The Royals were on top initially and they made that pressure count after eight minutes when Le Fondre volleyed home emphatically for his second of the season, after Manuel Almunia punched a ring-wing cross clear to the edge of the penalty box.
The Hornets were desperate to take the sting out of the game, to partly silence the home crowd and to get into their own passing rhythm, but they were unable to due to the Royals’ positive play.
Nick Blackman’s deflected shot flew wide of Almunia’s post on 14-minutes as the home side continued to force Zola’s men back. Royston Drenthe was the key man for Reading as he operated at the top of the Royals’ midfield diamond, pressuring Iriney whenever he could.
Watford’s first spell of real possession came after 21-minutes when Fernando Forestieri’s deflected cross was put behind for a corner, but Almen Abdi’s corner kick was easily collected by Alex McCarthy.
On the half-hour mark Lewis McGugan’s 20-yard effort was easily gathered by McCarthy and then a minute later the Hornets were caught cold but saved by Almunia.
Gabriele Angella was caught in possession by Le Fondre and the lively striker made his way towards goal but Almunia made himself big, before Angella got back in position and denied Le Fondre from a tight angle.
Just as you sensed the Hornets were starting to get into their stride, Adkins’ side doubled their lead in front of Watford’s travelling support.
A free-kick was drilled into the area and after Almunia’s save, the clearance went in off Karacan to make it 2-0.
Zola made a change at the break with Reece Brown came on to replace Ekstrand, then on 59 minutes Diego Fabbrini entered the field in place of Iriney.
On the hour mark Ikechi Anya’s ring-wing cross picked out Troy Deeney but McCarthy got a hand to it and somehow denied the in-form striker.
Watford started to move up through the gears and were rewarded with a goal on 66-minutes as Faraoni nodded home at the near post from an Abdi corner.
A minute later Forestieri’s effort was expertly tipped over by McCarthy who continued to impress in the Reading goal.
The Hornets were punished though as they pushed forward when Karacan grabbed his second of the game by smashing home from close range.
The game looked to have slipped away from the Hornets’ reach but the visitors responded in the right manner and Deeney made it 3-2 from the penalty spot after 76 minutes. Sub Fabbrini was tripped in box and Deeney made no mistake from the spot.
To their credit the Hornets didn’t give up and they were rewarded after 90 minutes when Fabbrini tapped the ball past McCarthy following McGugan’s initial effort from outside the box.
ROYALS: McCarthy (GK); Gunter, Bridge, Morrison, Pearce; Karacan (McCleary 83), Guthrie, Drenthe (Williams), McAnuff (c) (Robson-Kanu 74); Blackman, Le Fondre. Subs: Federici (GK), Kelly, Mariappa, Pogrebnyak
HORNETS: Almunia (GK) (c); Doyley, Angella, Ekstrand (Brown h/time); Faraoni, Abdi, Iriney (Fabbrini 59), McGugan, Anya; Deeney, Forestieri (Acuna 76). Subs: Bond (GK), Pudil, Smith, Battocchio.
GOALS: ROYALS; Le Fondre (8), Karacan (40, 69). HORNETS; Faraoni (66), Deeney (76), Fabbrini (90).
The Hornets were 2-0 behind at the break after an impressive opening 45-minutes from the hosts.
Adam Le Fondre struck early on before Jem Karacan struck the first of his two goals. Despite not being at their best for large parts of the game, the ‘Orns made the Royals battle hard after the interval.
First Davide Faraoni headed home for his fist for the club, before Karacan netted his second of the day for Reading, then Troy Deeney made it 3-2 from the spot after 76 minutes.
Sub Diego Fabbrini was the hero in the last minute as he slipped the ball past the impressive Alex McCarthy in the Reading goal.
Joel Ekstrand came into the Hornets’ starting XI, taking up his position on the left of a back three and replacing the injured Marco Cassetti.
Both sets of supporters were in good voice early on but it was the home support that had something to really cheer about.
The Royals were on top initially and they made that pressure count after eight minutes when Le Fondre volleyed home emphatically for his second of the season, after Manuel Almunia punched a ring-wing cross clear to the edge of the penalty box.
The Hornets were desperate to take the sting out of the game, to partly silence the home crowd and to get into their own passing rhythm, but they were unable to due to the Royals’ positive play.
Nick Blackman’s deflected shot flew wide of Almunia’s post on 14-minutes as the home side continued to force Zola’s men back. Royston Drenthe was the key man for Reading as he operated at the top of the Royals’ midfield diamond, pressuring Iriney whenever he could.
Watford’s first spell of real possession came after 21-minutes when Fernando Forestieri’s deflected cross was put behind for a corner, but Almen Abdi’s corner kick was easily collected by Alex McCarthy.
On the half-hour mark Lewis McGugan’s 20-yard effort was easily gathered by McCarthy and then a minute later the Hornets were caught cold but saved by Almunia.
Gabriele Angella was caught in possession by Le Fondre and the lively striker made his way towards goal but Almunia made himself big, before Angella got back in position and denied Le Fondre from a tight angle.
Just as you sensed the Hornets were starting to get into their stride, Adkins’ side doubled their lead in front of Watford’s travelling support.
A free-kick was drilled into the area and after Almunia’s save, the clearance went in off Karacan to make it 2-0.
Zola made a change at the break with Reece Brown came on to replace Ekstrand, then on 59 minutes Diego Fabbrini entered the field in place of Iriney.
On the hour mark Ikechi Anya’s ring-wing cross picked out Troy Deeney but McCarthy got a hand to it and somehow denied the in-form striker.
Watford started to move up through the gears and were rewarded with a goal on 66-minutes as Faraoni nodded home at the near post from an Abdi corner.
A minute later Forestieri’s effort was expertly tipped over by McCarthy who continued to impress in the Reading goal.
The Hornets were punished though as they pushed forward when Karacan grabbed his second of the game by smashing home from close range.
The game looked to have slipped away from the Hornets’ reach but the visitors responded in the right manner and Deeney made it 3-2 from the penalty spot after 76 minutes. Sub Fabbrini was tripped in box and Deeney made no mistake from the spot.
To their credit the Hornets didn’t give up and they were rewarded after 90 minutes when Fabbrini tapped the ball past McCarthy following McGugan’s initial effort from outside the box.
ROYALS: McCarthy (GK); Gunter, Bridge, Morrison, Pearce; Karacan (McCleary 83), Guthrie, Drenthe (Williams), McAnuff (c) (Robson-Kanu 74); Blackman, Le Fondre. Subs: Federici (GK), Kelly, Mariappa, Pogrebnyak
HORNETS: Almunia (GK) (c); Doyley, Angella, Ekstrand (Brown h/time); Faraoni, Abdi, Iriney (Fabbrini 59), McGugan, Anya; Deeney, Forestieri (Acuna 76). Subs: Bond (GK), Pudil, Smith, Battocchio.
GOALS: ROYALS; Le Fondre (8), Karacan (40, 69). HORNETS; Faraoni (66), Deeney (76), Fabbrini (90).
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