Aston Villa have recovered from falling behind to ensure that they go into half time level at 1-1 with Watford in the Premier League clash at Villa Park.
Watford looked to press from the first whistle, and they spurned the first chance of the game after only three minutes when former Villa academy player Troy Deeney fired a first-time strike over the bar from Odion Ighalo's lay-off.
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Villa began to work their way into the game and tested visiting goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes through Jordan Ayew's low effort, but they fell behind in disastrous circumstances after 17 minutes.
Brad Guzan denied Odion Ighalo's initial effort, but the American's hesitant defence failed to clear and after Ben Watson was unable to convert, Ighalo was on hand to turn the ball home for his eighth goal of the season.
Remi Garde's side should have found an equaliser shortly after falling behind, but Ayew somehow sliced wide from close range when completely unmarked.
The half began to take on a frantic pace as first Watford were gifted an opportunity to double their lead through Carlos Sanchez's mistake when Guzan saved from Etienne Capoue, before Idrissa Gana curled just wide from distance.
Gomes parried Ayew's stinging effort and held Scott Sinclair's headed rebound before producing a fine save to tip Sinclair's drive away as a desperate Villa sought an equaliser before the break, and they finally found it four minutes before the whistle.
After Alan Hutton had been brought down, Jordan Veretout's free kick from the right found Micah Richards unmarked, and the captain thumped a header past Gomes to a wave of relief at Villa Park.
Tom Nightingale
