Watford have clinched a 2-2 draw against Southampton in Saturday's Premier League encounter at Vicarage Road thanks to Abdoulaye Doucoure's controversial 90th-minute equaliser.

The 25-year-old used his right hand to divert Troy Deeney's header past Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy from point-blank range to snatch a point for the Hornets.

Southampton broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Shane Long's low cutback was only half-cleared and the ball fell to James Ward-Prowse, who had time to pick his spot and slot into the bottom corner beyond Heurelho Gomes.

The Brazilian goalkeeper was then called into action to claw away Long's looping header, before needing to tip Wesley Hoedt's speculative chip from 45 yards over the top.

Despite Gomes's heroics, Mauricio Pellegrino's charges struck again through Ward-Prowse, who had the simple task of converting Dusan Tadic's cutback after more good work from Long.

Marco Silva introduced Deeney at the interval following his four-match ban and Watford began showing signs of improvement, with Richarlison seeing a ferocious effort blocked.

On 58 minutes came the Hornets' first goal, Daryl Janmaat seeing his effort tipped onto the bar by McCarthy before the unchallenged Gray followed up by nodding into the net on the rebound.

Southampton regained their composure but were cruelly and unjustly caught out by Watford's equaliser, palmed home by Doucoure just as the game was heading into injury time, with referee Roger East ignoring the visitors' complaints.

WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Gomes; Janmaat, Wague, Kabasele, Zeegelaar; Doucoure, Watson (Deeney 46'); Carrillo, Cleverley (Pereyra 35'), Richarlison; Gray (Okaka 73')

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): McCarthy; Soares, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand; Hojberg, Romeu; Ward-Prowse (Sims 90+3'), Tadic (Boufal 90+2'), Davis (Lemina 63'); Long