Ipswich Town took maximum points against Watford courtesy of a dramatic winner from substitute Richard Chaplow deep into stoppage time.

Both sides looked threatening in the opening stages, and it was the hosts who claimed the first attack as Adlene Guedioura gave his marker the slip and fired over the bar.

Watford were dangerous on the counter and could have broken the deadlock in the 18th minute when Marco Motta whipped in a cross for Troy Deeney to head goalwards, but the Hornets skipper failed to hit the target.

There was bad news for Watford in the 29th minute as Joel Ekstrand landed awkwardly from an aerial challenge and suffered a suspected leg break, an incident that saw the Swede stretchered off to a round of applause.

After a fast-paced opening, the game lost momentum as the break approached, but Luke Varney tested Heurelho Gomes in the Hornets goal with a stinging shot as the Tractor Boys ended the half on the front foot.

Chances were even fewer in the second period as both sides closed up shop, but Watford might have taken the lead in the 67th minute if Guedioura had squared the ball to Deeney after regaining possession following a free kick, rather than going for goal himself and firing wide.

Ipswich almost snatched a goal late on as substitute Freddie Sears hit one from range, forcing Gomes into a save at full stretch to prevent the ball from creeping into the bottom corner.

But Mick McCarthy's side refused to settle for a draw and they peppered the opposition's goal in the dying stages, forcing a breakthrough in the 95th minute when Sears picked out Chaplow with a through-ball and the midfielder kept his cool to slot one beyond Gomes and steal maximum points.