It wasn’t a win, it was another two-goal lead surrendered and it was a long last away trip of a bitterly disappointing season – but at least Watford showed fight and character.

With Sunderland needing a way for their play-off push and the Hornets merely playing for pride, there was perhaps a script that many people had in mind that the visitors would just roll over.

After all, they’ve rarely shown any backbone or spirit.

However, this was a bit different. Certainly not stunning or breathtaking, but enough to shine a little bit of sunlight on a season spent under a cloud.

Two goals that were so simple yet brilliantly effective, and then bodies in the blue away kit who were prepared to chase, throw themselves in the way and battle.

Sadly, the gap between 2-0 and 2-1 was not long enough. The home side may have lost heart had they not got one back so fast but, when they did, there was almost an air of expectancy that Watford would crumble.

The very fact they didn’t was a most pleasant surprise, and in the end it took a really good goal deep into stoppage time for the home side to take a point which, on their second half performance, they probably deserved.

However, this was a performance, a couple of goals and a point that really were an unexpected oasis in a very arid season.

There were three changes for Watford, the most notable being the complete absence of Pedro. Click here to read more.

Both Bacuna and Kone dropped the bench, while Asprilla, Choudhury and Davis came into the starting line-up.

Bachmann held an early shot from Ekwah and then was relieved to see a curling free kick from Amad go wide.

Out of nowhere, in the 16th minute, Watford went ahead with a very simple goal. Louza swung over a corner from the left and Kabasele rose with very little challenge to head home.

Sunderland tried to respond and Porteous had to head a low cross wide of his own goal before Bachmann tipped a low shot from Amad round the target.

However, Sunderland started to look more unsure and Watford were getting more confident.

In the 25th minute a steady build-up ended with Andrews letting fly from the edge of the box. Patterson seemed to see it late and it rebounded off the keeper, but Davis miscued his follow-up effort.

Asprilla then dragged a shot wide after Sunderland made a real hash of defending a lofted pass forward.

Sunderland attacks were becoming less threatening and their best effort of the remainder of the half was when Roberts ended a probing run with a shot just wide of the back post.

Four minutes before the break Watford threatened again. Davis sent Sarr away down the right and the forward got into the box and dragged the ball back. It was half cleared but ran into the path of Sema whose shot was blocked.

Early in the second half it could so easily have been two. Sarr left his marker on his backside, got into the box and then drilled a cross which was deflected and partly blocked. Sema hooked the rebound goalwards but it hit Davis and dropped into the arms of Patterson.

Hume then met a cross from the right at the back of the six-yard box but his header was palmed away by Bachmann and Amad put the rebound wide.

Then, in the 68th minute, it was 2-0 – and so simple again. Another Louza corner, and Porteous made a late run to head down and beyond Patterson.

However, 90 seconds the later the hosts had one back. There was pinball in the Watford box after the ball came back off the bar from a corner, and eventually O'Nien turned it in from close range.

Two minutes from the end Cirkin weaved his way into the box, his cross was stopped but not cleared by Bacuna, and Clarke blasted way over from a great position.

But, five minutes into stoppage time, Sunderland salvaged a point.

A series of crosses and balls into the box had been cleared or blocked but when the ball landed at the feet of Roberts on the right corner of the box he sent a curling, dipping shot beyond Bachmann and into the top left corner.

Watford: Bachmann, Choudhury, Louza, Davis, Sema, Kamara, Asprilla (Bacuna 57), Porteous, Sarr (Ngakia 81), Kabasele, Andrews (Hoedt 86). Subs: Hamer, Kone,