Watford grab a point in a game of water basketball

In torrential rain, the two teams seemed at times to abandon the idea of stopping goals in a bold bid to simply outscore their opponents.

There were 46 goal attempts in the game, a statistic that accurately sums up the end-to-end, no-holds-barred nature of the game.

However, when the dust has settled, Watford will look back and know that some of their defending was not good enough, even allowing for the conditions and Plymouth’s cavalier approach.

It was the 10th consecutive game that the Hornets have failed to keep a clean sheet, and having taken the lead early on they managed to concede three before the break. One was a stunning strike, but the other two – and several other of Plymouth’s goal attempts particularly in the first half – should never have got that far.

What the game did showcase once again was the spirit and resilience of this squad. It was another game where, once it was over, you find yourself saying ‘we’d have lost that last season’.

But Watford cannot continue to rely upon digging deep in their barrel of resolve and courage, and finding the solid defensive shape that was evident earlier in the season must be a New Year’s resolution.

At the other end of the pitch Watford offered plenty of threat, and that came generally from the flanks or by midfielders breaking through the lines.

Mileta Rajovic had another disappointing afternoon. He needed to show more strength and bravery when running onto a dreadful back pass in the first half rather than back off as Hazard dashed off his line.

For a player of his size, the ball just doesn’t stick often enough, well enough. If he’s going to be the link-up man, then that has to change. Obviously his goal return is very good, but the way Watford play requires more from the No.9 position, and he needs to show he can deliver what the team require.

It was a crazy game packed full of incident, and a point apiece was fair, although a return of only two from the last three games means the festive fixtures end with a slightly more disappointing feel, especially given the boost of winning at both Preston and Blackburn before this most recent trio of fixtures.

There were three changes from Friday night’s starting line-up.

As expected, Rajovic came in for the suspended Vakoun Bayo, Ryan Andrews returned at right-back, and Edo Kayembe replaced Yaser Asprilla.

Watford made a very bright start and four minutes in Ismael Kone turned inside the box and his shot took a deflection, forcing Hazard to change direction and tip it over.

It was no surprise that they went ahead after 10 minutes. Matheus Martins took down a throw tight to the by-line but managed to drag the ball back and Kayembe was there to steer a low shot inside the near post.

Soon after it could easily have been two as a dreadful back pass from Pleguezelo almost allowed Rajovic in, but the striker appeared to hesitate and Hazard rushed out quickly enough to clear.

The first warning that Watford didn’t heed came in the 18th minute when they lost the ball in midfield and Plymouth worked it to Hardie, whose low shot beat Hamer but came back off the inside of the post.

Seconds later only a fine save from Hamer denied Whitaker, but the Watford keeper could do nothing in the 19th minute when a corner was cleared as far as Azaz who met the high, dropping ball with a magnificent first-time volley from 25 yards that flew into the net.

Watford should have been back in front in the 24th minute when Ryan Porteous brilliantly split the defence and Andrews raced onto it. He looked up and then played a low square pass intended for Rajovic in the middle, but Scarr managed to slide in and stop the ball getting to the striker.

And three minutes later the Hornets were made to pay as Whittaker saw his first shot blocked but then hammered the loose ball which appeared to go through the hands of Hamer on its way into the net.

The game continued to be ridiculously open and when Andrews lost his man on the right with a clever flick and turn, he raced into the area and then fired a shot that beat Hazard but fizzed just wide of the back post.

Back came Plymouth and Hardie was denied by a great save from Hamer, and the follow-up from Whittaker was then chested wide of the empty net by Jake Livermore.

From the corner the ball broke to Whittaker whose low drive was tipped round the upright by Hamer.

Then, in the 37th minute, Watford were back level with a cracking goal.

Kone who played a one-two with Chakvetadze before sending a searing, curling shot that dipped as it went past Hazard on its way to the top corner.

But in a game that resembled table-tennis, Plymouth made it 3-2 in the 42nd minute as Hardie ran into the box and held off Wes Hoedt before slotting a shot between Hamer and the post.

The second half was no less frantic than the first, though Watford certainly tightened up at the back.

They could easily have been level within a minute as Asprilla’s shot was diverted to Rajovic, who took a touch but then saw his shot deflected wide.

Back came Plymouth, and within a minute Whitaker was sent racing away with only James Morris for company, but the striker sent his shot over the target.

Morris then had a chance himself, being played in on the overlap on the left of the box before hitting a low skidding shot which Hazard parried at the base of the post.

Watford made it 3-3 after 56 minutes with a delicious finish from Ryan Andrews. Livermore floated a pass into the box, it cleared Rajovic but Andrews ran on and dinked it over the stranded Hazard.

Three minutes later Porteous missed a tackle and Hardie raced into the box but, as he was about to shoot, the Watford defender slid in to deny him.

Chakvetadze shot straight at Hazard from 20 yards before Hamer made a fine stop to keep out a well-struck Whittaker free kick.

The Watford keeper did even better in the 77th minute, stretching out an arm to tip away a goal-bound free-kick from Azaz.

Scarr almost slid Morris’s cross into his own net with seven minutes and Hamer saved his best until last, taking off to get fingertips to a rasping shot on the turn from Whittaker.

Watford: Hamer; Andrews (Louza 84), Porteous, Hoedt, Morris; Livermore, Kayembe (Asprilla ht), Kone (Dele-Bashiru 71); Chakvetadze (Healey 71), Rajovic, Martins. Subs: Bachmann, Sierralta, Ince, L Pollock, Grieves.