Match Report: Watford 2 Boro 1

Rodrigo Muniz scored his first goal in a Boro shirt but Chris Wilder's side were punished late on at Watford's celebration of 100 years of their Vicarage Road home.

Boro played some outstanding football at times - as did the home side - and the fans both in attendance and watching at home on TV were rewarded with an ansolute cracking advert for the Championship.

Watford are the best side Boro have crossed paths with the season, but Wilder's side were excellent at times and could themselves have left with all three points.

That wasn't to be, though, as substitute Vakoun Bayo delivered a cruel conclusion with a stoppage time winner for the hosts.

Wilder made one change from the side which beat Swansea City with Muniz coming in for his debut in place of Duncan Watmore. Liam Roberts also continued in goal in place of the injured Zack Steffen.

And it took the Brazilian striker less than four minutes to make an impact on his full debut. Alex Mowatt fed Ryan Giles down the left, he delivered a superb cross and Muniz got up well to head beyond Daniel Bachmann.

It was a fantastic start by Boro, who were on the front foot and playing with an intensity that didn’t allow the home club to settle.

Mowatt almost created another opportunity moments after the goal, and Riley McGree almost found a way through to goal.

Muniz almost got on the end of a great cross from Isaiah Jones, but Bachmann reacted quickly to prevent the chance.

Watford found themselves back on level terms when Joao Pedro slipped in Ismaila Sarr and while the Boro players looked for an offside flag, Sarr spun and tucked the ball beyond Roberts.

The Boro keeper reacted quickly to spread himself well moments later when Sarr next escaped an offside flag to find himself clear on the goal.

Boro were almost back in front when Muniz showed great skill on the edge of the box to feed McGree who delivered a ball in for Jones to go close. McGree also had a shot deflected for a corner.

It was a breathless first half and moments before the whistle Roberts made a fine save to maintain parity.

Wilder made a change at half-time with Anfernee Dijksteel replacing Jonny Howson, Paddy McNair stepping into the central midfield role.

Bachmann had to punch away a Giles corner and McGree sent one wide, but there was a moment of concern when Darragh Lenihan went down injured. Dael Fry was the man to replace him.

Fry’s first involvement was to read a pass from the outstanding Edo Kayembe to perfection and cut out what would have been a real opportunity for the home side.

But it was Boro who almost took the lead once again when Giles floated a cross into the box and Bachmann had to save well from Matt Clarke.

Clarke and Crooks were denied again by defensive blocks after Watford struggled to clear their lines and Wilder’s men were playing some great football against the best team they have come up against yet.

Fry escaped without being penalised when Sarr went to ground in the box, and the Boro defender responded by making a perfectly timed challenge to deny Pedro a clear sight of goal.

It was pulsating stuff and at the other end, Giles curled a shot over the top after a short-corner routine.

Both sides were looking for a winner in the closing stages, McGree sending a shot over the bar and Vaskoun Bayo failing to make the most of a good ball into the box.

Muniz looked to win it late on when he tried to catch Bachmann napping with a long-distance lob over the Watford keeper, who scrambled back to claim. 

Moments later, though, and the Hornets delivered the sting in the tail as Bayo found space and time to roll home.