Watford and Southampton face a replay for a spot within the FA Cup fifth spherical and a visit to Liverpool, following a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Street.
Saints substitute Stuart Armstrong struck late to drive a replay after Matheus Martins’ early free-kick regarded sufficient to take the Hornets by means of.
Either side made substantial modifications to their most up-to-date Championship beginning line-ups – Watford swapped six, Southampton 9 – and the guests fell behind within the fifth minute.
Mason Holgate was booked for fouling Yaser Asprilla simply exterior the field on the left and Martins, the Brazilian winger, whipped the free-kick previous a wall comprising of only one man and past goalkeeper Joe Lumley at his close to put up.
Carlos Alcaraz compelled Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann into his first save with a header quickly after however Saints have been again beneath strain immediately.
Sekou Mara fouled Francisco Sierralta 25 yards in entrance of objective and this time it was ex-Saint Wesley Hoedt who took the free-kick, which the centre-back fired straight at Lumley.
Jayden Meghoma did effectively to cease Martins bursting by means of however Sierralta put a free header vast on the again put up from the nook that adopted.
Jamal Lewis was the subsequent Hornet to check Lumley with a low drive from distance however the goalkeeper was lucky when he rushed out of his field and was overwhelmed to the ball by Vakoun Bayo just for the striker to fail to discover a colleague in entrance of an untended objective.
Southampton rallied in the direction of the tip of the half, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis heading a good likelihood over from a free-kick, however the half ended with Bayo firing vast on the different finish following a defensive lapse.
The second interval started with Alcarez sending a free-kick that resulted from a foul on Holgate over the bar. Holgate was quickly required on the different finish to cease Asprilla stealing in on the again put up.
Mara fired a Saints reply at Bachmann earlier than a Watford counter noticed Martins’ effort deflected.
The guests despatched on 4 skilled campaigners simply after the hour mark in Adam and Stuart Armstrong, Will Smallbone and Ryan Fraser.
Stuart Armstrong blasted an effort vast as Watford have been compelled to dig in for some time however Martins noticed a 72nd-minute effort ping again off a put up.
Saints pushed exhausting for a leveller, with Holgate forcing Bachmann right into a flying save, however the Hornets goalkeeper was overwhelmed with a minute remaining.
Bachmann batted out a drive from Mara however Stuart Armstrong seized on the rebound on the left of the field and foxed the Austrian with a roller contained in the close to put up.
It was all Saints in added time, with Adam Armstrong seeing a shot deflected vast and Bachmann tipping a Harwood-Bellis header round a put up.
What’s subsequent?
Watford are again in Championship motion and journey to Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday 31 January.
Southampton are at Rotherham subsequent on Saturday 3 February.