There may have been a degree of smash and grab about it, but Watford’s breathtaking comeback in the last ten minutes to take all three points at Blackburn showed they can – as Valerien Ismael keeps saying – score at any time.

The fact both goals came from substitutes emphasised the head coach’s view that he needs every player within his squad, while the way the Hornets fought on underlined his opinion that this group are now able to compete mentally, physically and tactically with anyone.

So, if ever there were a game that confirmed so much of what the Watford boss has been saying, then this was it.

Last season Ewood Park was the scene of one of the most spineless defeats – this afternoon, the amount of backbone Watford displayed was a million miles away from so much of what was served up a year ago.

Even going a goal down early and having to ride the storm that a buoyed Blackburn offered didn’t upset them, and as the game wore on it looked more and more likely they would go home with something.

In the first half Watford just didn’t hit the heights of recent games, but as the game went deeper into the second half they  began to show why they have only lost two in 13 games.

Ten minutes from the end it would have taken a brave man to predict Watford would take all three point, but once one had gone in it was all about whether the home side could hang on – and they couldn’t.

To see Mileta Rajovic pounce from his customary six yards or less was as positive as Vakoun Bayo getting back among the goals last week, while Rhys Healey showed once again he has the poacher’s instinct – it’s hard to believe he won’t get more game time.

However, the sub that really changed the game was Yaser Asprilla. He caused havoc down the flank, and when he cut inside Rovers didn’t know whether to tackle or back off. The Colombian has clearly benefitted from a spell out of the side.

It all made for a tremendous journey home for the 1100 Watford fans who must be in dreamland: three consecutive away wins after more than a year without one earlier in the season.

There was just one change to the team that beat Preston 5-1 at Deepdale a week ago, with Ryan Porteous coming back in and Francisco Sierralta dropping to the bench.

The home side went ahead in their first attack after only two minutes, as Wharton was played in on the right of the box and hammered a shot across Ben Hamer and into the top far corner. Whether he meant it as a shot was another matter…

Watford were rocked back and took until the 13th minute to register a chance, Ken Sema sending over a cross from the left that was just too high and Vakoun Bayo could only head into the side netting.

There were then some nervy moments as Hoedt sliced a clearance wide for a Hamer's ball out from the back was intercepted and narrowly avoided landing at the feet of Ennis, and Sema tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick, got tackled and Watford had to scramble clear.

The home side went close again in the 20th minute as a clever backheel by Travis set up Sigurdsson in the box but Hamer saved well with his legs.

Two minutes later a great bit of skill from Sema on the left set him free in the box, but his drag-back eluded two teammates and Tom Dele-Bashiru's shot from 14 yards was blocked by a diving defender.

As the half wore on Watford started to enjoy longer spells in the Blackburn half, but were struggling to create clear chances.

That was summed up five minutes before half-time when a series of four crosses were cleared, and on the final occasion Porteous hammered the loose ball wide from 20 yards.

Three minutes later a lovely quick break finished with Lewis rolling the ball left to Sema for a shot that was deflected over the bar.

The Hornets made two changes during the break, sending on Ryan Andrews and Asprilla for Dele-Bashiru and Matheus Martins.

There was nearly another slow start to the second half as Sigurdsson was played in through the middle but as he was closed down he shanked his effort wide.

Four minutes into the half came Watford’s best moment so far. Andrews broke down the right and played an early ball to Bayo. He hit an early angled drive that Wahlstedt pushed away at full stretch before racing to gather the loose ball.

In the 59th minute there was a tremendous save from Hamer, who sprung away to his right to palm Garrett's 20-yard free-kick round the post.

Watford had the next chance when Sema's pass was deflected into the path of Kayembe who hooked a volley wide from 20 yards.

The next few minutes turned into the Hamer show, as first he blocked from Leonard with the rebound fired just wide by Carter. Then in the next attack he palmed away a fierce shot from Garrett.

Two minutes later the keeper was there again, readjusting to tip away a header from Hyam that was deflected off Bayo.

Watford broke with men over in the next attack but Bayo's flighted cross from the right was too high for Kone.

As the game entered the last 20 minutes, Watford sent on Rajovic and Giorgi Chakvetadze for Bayo and Livermore.

Eleven minutes from time Kone let fly with a rocket from 25 yards that Wahlstedt had to palm away with both hands.

Watford had been knocking at the door and the Blackburn press was tiring, and they finally drew level in the 82nd minute.

Asprilla cut inside and shot from 20 yards, Wahlstadt parried and Rajovic was there to tap in from his favourite place: inside the six-yard box.

Three minutes later it should have been 2-1 as Asprilla sent Healey racing clear with a sublime pass. The striker had a touch to steady himself but saw Wahlstedt dash off his line to block.

But if the travelling fans – and Healey – thought the chance had gone, seconds later it all changed.

Sema’s corner was cleared as far as Kayembe 25 yards out. He took a shot on first time and the ball flew into a crowded box, took a ricochet and Healey was there to turn it into the net.

Watford saw out the rest of normal time and five minutes of stoppages relatively comfortably, and the final whistle saw the players charge down the pitch to celebrate with the away fans.

Watford: Hamer; Dele-Bashiru (Andrews ht), Porteous, Hoedt, Lewis; Livermore (Chakvetadze 71), Kayembe, Kone (Healey 81); Martins (Asprilla ht), Bayo (Rajovic 71), Sema. Subs: Bachmann, Sierralta, Ince, Pollock