Watford and Bristol unmoved after lively draw
Watford extended its unbeaten run to three matches but perhaps should have taken all three points from an entertaining 1-1 draw with Bristol City at Vicarage Road in the EFL Championship.
The visitors came into the match off the back of two straight defeats and looked bright early on, but fell behind to a goal from Marc Bola on six minutes.
Left back Bola collected a pinpoint, raking long ball from Imran Louza over the back of the Robins' defence before slotting home calmly through the legs of goalkeeper Radek Vítek.
Australia international Nestory Irankunda should have double the lead on 18 minutes after he was allowed to run into the box unmarked at the far post to meet Louza's corner, but the Socceroos teenager could sort out his body parts and only succeeded in awkwardly deflecting the ball behind.
That would prove costly just before the half hour when the Robins won a free-kick on the edge of the box, and Scott Twine delivered yet again from a set-piece this season, catching Watford keeper Egil Selvik off guard at his near post and sneaking the ball home.
Bola, who had injured his left hand in scoring the opener but was patched up and able to continue, should have put Watford back in front 10 minutes into the second half after excellent work from Irankunda.
The Socceroos star finished a jinking run from the left wing with a perfect cut back from the byline directly to the feet of Bola, but the south Londoner couldn't finish.
Both sides had chances to win it late in a less energetic second half, but ultimately had to settle for a point that does little to improve their league position, with Watford still 11th and Bristol City seventh with a full card of fixtures still to come this weekend before the international break ensues.
