Watford had to dig in and show plenty of character as they came from a goal down to score twice in the last 15 minutes and beat Middlesbrough 2-1.

Tom Cleverley shook the pack and made six changes to the starting line-up from Wednesday night.

In came Ryan Porteous, Ken Sema, Ryan Andrews, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Tom Ince and Daniel Jebbison.

Meanwhile, out went James Morris, Festy Ebosele, Yasser Larouci, Imran Louza, Edo Kayembe and Kwadwo Baah, all of whom were on the bench.

From the outset the visitors dominated the ball but with Watford happy to sit a bit deeper the play was often trapped either side of the halfway line.

Jonathan Bond barely had a save to make despite Boro having 69% possession and it was all very low-key stuff up to the break.

There was more to the game after the interval, and when the visitors went ahead it was hard to see a way back for Watford.

However, the substitute did the job as Edo Kayembe and Kwadwo Baah scorede the goals to complete the win.

Here’s how the game unfolded:

16 - Short throw to Chakvetadze who cuts in from the left and shoots from 20 yards, but Dieng holds comfortably.

25 - Sharp turn in the box from Hamilton but Bond drops to hold his low shot.

26 - Boro took a quick free kick and Azaz advanced towards goal but shot way over the top.

29 - Very quick Watford break saw Jebbison away down the right. He tried to chip the ball to Ince, a defender blocked but the ball ran loose and Ince got there first, but saw lob clear the bar.

36 - Quick free kick set Sissoko in the box on the left. He drilled the ball low across the six-yard box and a Boro defender deflected it just out of reach of the incoming Ince.

39 - Azaz clipped a looping ball into the box and Latte Lath nodded it over the bar.

Half-time – Watford 0 Middlesbrough 0

53 – Watford 0 Middlesbrough 1 (Edmundson)

Horror moment for Sema who, as Azaz's low free-kick comes to him, lets it go through his legs and Edmundson bundles the ball in from close range.

62 - Fine double save from Bond to push away Latte Lath's effort from the edge of the box, and then get to his feet to deny Doak on the follow-up.

75 – Watford 1 (Kayembe) Middlesbrough 1

Best bit of football all afternoon from the Hornets as they shift the ball from left to right where Andrews has space to attack. He gets to the box and squares for Kayembe to cut past a challenge and shoot beyond Dieng.

76 - Dieng goes full length to keep out a Kayembe shot.

86 – Watford 2 (Baah) Middlesbrough 1

So simple, so effective. Andrews' long throw, Pollock flicks on and Baah hooks a volley home.

Full-time – Watford 2 Middlesbrough 1

Watford: Bond; Porteous, Ogbonna, Pollock; Andrews, Dele-Bashiru, Sissoko (Kayembe 68), Sema (Larouci 90+3); Chakvetadze, Ince (Baah 61); Jebbison (Bayo 61). Subs: Marriott, Louza, Vata, Morris, Ebosele