Sarr nets from own half as Watford draw at Baggies

Ismaila Sarr has been linked with a move back to the Premier League this summer

Ismaila Sarr scored a spectacular David Beckham-style chip from his own half but then had a late penalty saved as Watford drew with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Despite being second-best for most of the match, Watford took the lead in sensational style on 12 minutes when Senegal forward Sarr took down a clearance, nudged the ball out from under his feet and coolly lifted it over the stranded David Button from almost 60 yards.

That came against the run of play, Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann having already been kept busy, with one superb save from Darnell Furlong's volley and two from Karlan Grant - and there were more to follow.

But Albion found an equaliser two minutes into first-half added time when Grady Diangana's fine lofted pass found Grant, who took the ball down excellently before finishing right-footed from close range.

Watford remained on the back foot for much of the second half, yet they came closest to winning it when Sarr went down easily in the Albion penalty area under pressure from Semi Ajayi.

But Sarr's spot-kick was tame, struck far too feebly to Button's left - and the Albion keeper swooped to save.

It leaves Rob Edwards' Watford with four points from two games, going into their next game - when they host another side with four points from two games - Vincent Kompany's Burnley, at Vicarage Road on Friday.

They will both have an early chance to overtake Blackburn Rovers, the only side with a 100% record in the Championship after two games.

Steve Bruce's Albion, by contrast, have now lost just three of their past 14 Championship games - and, although they have only drawn the first two matches, the Baggies have come from behind in both - and should still have plenty to feel positive about when they head to Blackburn on Sunday.

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Bruce told BBC Sport:

"Sometimes you don't always get what you deserve, but that's as good as I've seen us play and to do it against such a good side made it feel even better.

"It's very frustrating that we didn't go on to win but it was still a tremendous reaction from the players after conceding such a wonder goal against the run of play.

"It's desperate news that we have lost Daryl Dike with a thigh injury in training. He so wants to play for his country at the World Cup, he's a popular lad and he knew as soon as he'd done it."

Watford manager Rob Edwards told BBC Sport:

"It was an incredible strike from Sarr. As soon as it left his foot I knew it was in.

"A moment of genius. It's pretty special when you see a goal like that - and against the run of play too.

"It would have been pretty unjust if we had nicked that second goal from the penalty as Albion were up for it and were clearly the better side. But I'd have taken it."

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsWest Brom

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Button2Furlong6Ajayi4O'Shea3Townsend14Molumby8Livermore17J Wallace19Swift11Diangana18Grant

1Button2FurlongBooked at 69minsSubstituted forPhillipsat 90+1'minutes6Ajayi4O'Shea3Townsend14MolumbyBooked at 45mins8LivermoreSubstituted forYokusluat 78'minutes17J Wallace19Swift11DianganaSubstituted forReachat 88'minutes18Grant

Substitutes

5Bartley7Robinson10Phillips20Reach24Palmer27Mowatt35Yokuslu

Watford

Formation 3-4-2-1

1Bachmann27Kabasele31Sierralta15Cathcart14Kamara8Cleverley39Kayembe12Sema23Sarr25Dennis10João Pedro

1Bachmann27KabaseleBooked at 74mins31SierraltaSubstituted forTroost-Ekongat 83'minutes15Cathcart14KamaraSubstituted forPérez Martínezat 77'minutes8Cleverley39Kayembe12Sema23SarrSubstituted forGoslingat 90+5'minutes25DennisSubstituted forManajat 83'minutes10João Pedro

Substitutes

3Pérez Martínez5Troost-Ekong9Manaj16Gosling18Asprilla20Quina26Hamer

Referee:Tim RobinsonAttendance:22,365Match StatsHome TeamWest BromAway TeamWatfordPossessionHome69%Away31%ShotsHome19Away5Shots on TargetHome7Away3CornersHome12Away0FoulsHome7Away13Live TextPost update

Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Watford 1.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Watford 1.

90'+5'Substitution

Substitution, Watford. Dan Gosling replaces Ismaïla Sarr.

90'+4'Post update

Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by João Pedro.

90'+3'Post update

Okay Yokuslu (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

90'+3'Post update

Foul by Rey Manaj (Watford).

90'+1'Substitution

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Matt Phillips replaces Darnell Furlong.

90'Post update

Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'Post update

Foul by Rey Manaj (Watford).

89'Post update

Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

89'Post update

Foul by Rey Manaj (Watford).

88'Substitution

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Adam Reach replaces Grady Diangana because of an injury.

87'Post update

Attempt missed. Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jed Wallace with a cross following a corner.

87'Post update

Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by William Troost-Ekong.

83'Substitution

Substitution, Watford. Rey Manaj replaces Emmanuel Dennis.

83'Substitution

Substitution, Watford. William Troost-Ekong replaces Francisco Sierralta because of an injury.

78'Substitution

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Okay Yokuslu replaces Jake Livermore.

77'Post update

Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

77'Post update

Foul by Christian Kabasele (Watford).

77'Substitution

Substitution, Watford. Mario Gaspar replaces Hassane Kamara.

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Source: bbc.com