Monday 28 December: Daily Mail
Bristol City 2 Watford 2: John Eustace strikes at the death to grab point for the Hornets
JOHN Eustace bundled home a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to deny 10-man Bristol City a win at Ashton Gate.
The experienced midfielder used his hip to convert Heidar Helguson's knock back for a goal that ensured both sides have now gone four games without a win.
Watford had trailed twice, with Danny Haynes and Paul Hartley scoring either side of Tom Cleverley's equaliser, while City had Lewin Nyatanga sent off midway through the second half.
Despite Eustace's goal coming in the 93rd minute, it was no more than Watford deserved as they had already had two Helguson goals wiped out by the officials. Having fallen to defeat at QPR on Boxing Day, City were keen to impress early on and should have led after three minutes.
Watford defenders Adrian Mariappa and Jay DeMerit both went for the same ball and their error allowed Nicky Maynard to race free. From there he squared for David Clarkson, but the Scotland striker, without a goal since the opening day of the season, could only slice wide.
Maynard then saw a fizzing drive blocked, while at the other end, Henri Lansbury, whose loan from Arsenal has now expired, drew a smart save out of Dean Gerken.
Helguson, another whose loan spell with the Hornets is now over, then saw a low strike well blocked by Jamie McAllister.
Watford's influence on the game was growing and Helguson had a close-range goal from a free-kick into the box chalked off for offside. That let off proved to be the catalyst for City to open the scoring 38 minutes in.
Clarkson was again involved as he cut the ball back for Maynard, but, after Lansbury took the ball off the striker's boot, Haynes was on hand to lash home his fourth of the season. Their lead was shortlived, though, as Cleverley levelled five minutes later.
The midfielder gave Gerken no chance with a clinical drive from just inside the area after a poor clearing header from McAllister.
But again, the scoreline changed within minutes, as right on the stroke of half-time Hartley lashed home a 30-yard free-kick that went in off the underside of the bar.
Clarkson joined Helguson in having a goal ruled out by the linesman after the interval following another slip by DeMerit, but Gerken was the busier of the two goalkeepers at this stage.
He had to produce a stunning one-handed save to deny Danny Graham as Watford probed for a second equaliser, while Scott Loach had to be at his best to keep out Maynard's strike.
Graham continued to forge ahead and was unlucky to see his long-range effort hacked away by Gerken, while the keeper saved again from Helguson after another hashed clearance by McAllister.
Watford's pursuit of a goal was aided by Nyatanga's dismissal for a second yellow card issued for a foul on Lansbury but they were again denied by the officials when Helguson was deemed to have fouled Gerken on his way to scoring with 10 minutes remaining.
And then, when it looked as though their efforts would be in vein, Eustace struck to earn Malky Mackay's men a point.
Monday 28 December: BBC Sport Online
Bristol City 2 - 2 Watford
WATFORD'S John Eustace grabbed a dramatic injury-time equaliser to deny 10-man Bristol City victory.
Danny Haynes put the visitors in front in the 38th minute before on-loan midfielder Tom Cleverley equalised with a fierce drive five minutes later.
But Paul Hartley regained the lead for City with a fine 30-yard free-kick on the stroke of half time.
Lewin Nyatanga was red carded in the 79th minute before Eustace bundled in from close range to earn a point.
The goal came in the 93rd minute and was deserved reward for a spirited display by the home side, who had two Heidar Helguson goals disallowed by the officials.
Neither side have recorded a victory in four games and are level on 32 points in the league.
Haynes notched his fourth of the season after excellent work from David Clarkson, but Manchester United midfielder Cleverley, who has impressed during his loan spell at Vicarage Road, punished a poor Jamie McAllister clearance to smash the equaliser two minutes from time.
But the Hornets conceded two minutes into first-half stoppage time courtesy of Hartley's powerful free-kick.
City keeper Dean Gerken produced a superb one-handed save to deny Danny Graham in the second half before denying Helguson minutes later.
Nyatanga's dismissal for a second yellow card issued for a foul on on-loan midfielder Henri Lansbury allowed Watford to push forward.
And they were rewarded right at the death as Eustace latched on to Helguson's touch.
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson on his side conceding a stoppage-time goal for the fourth time in seven game: "Again we have let in a last-gasp equaliser and feel like we have lost, rather than drawn.
"I don't know what more we can do except to keep drilling the players on how to clear their lines.
"At the moment when the stoppage time board goes up it seems to create a siege mentality and we cannot hold onto the ball. It has cost us so many points this season and I'm more than frustrated by it."
Watford manager Malky Mackay: "We have a young side and I'm very proud of the way they kept battling right up until the final whistle.
"City's goalkeeper has pulled off a string of fine saves in the second half and I was starting to think it just wasn't going to be our day.
"But we knew of their tendency to let in late goals so when five minutes of stoppage time was signalled I felt we still had every chance."
Monday 28 December: Daily Mirror
Bristol City 2-2 Watford match report: The Daily Mirror verdict
GARY Johnson labelled Lewin Nyatanga "unprofessional" for the reckless sending off that punished City.
The home side has made a habit of conceding late goals this season and were clinging to a 2-1 lead when Nyatanga was dismissed for a scything 68th minute foul on Henri Lansbury.
The defender had already been booked and his challenge saw the last game of Lansbury's loan spell from Arsenal end with him being carried off.
Watford capitalised on their man advantage when John Eustace touched home a stoppage-time equaliser to leave home boss Johnson fuming.
"Lewin is a good young player, but he was unprofessional in this instance and losing him was the last thing we needed," he said.
"We keep giving away late goals, which make draws seem like defeats and it's happened again.
"I don't know what more we can do than keep drilling the players in how to clear their lines.
"At the moment when the stoppage time board goes up it seems to create a state of panic and we cannot hold onto the ball."
Danny Haynes volleyed City in front against the run of play on 38 minutes, only for Tom Cleverley to equalise five minutes later with an equally fierce shot from inside the box.
Paul Hartley then gave Johnson's men a half-time lead with a superbly struck free-kick from 30 yards, but Watford never gave up and fully deserved their point.
Boss Malky Mackay admitted he and his players were aware of City's tendency to concede late in games.
"When five minutes of injury time was signalled I knew we still had a chance," he said. "We were on top and the lads kept going right to the final whistle.
"I'm proud of them because City's goalkeeper pulled off a string of saves and we could have been forgiven for thinking it wasn't our day."
Of Lansbury's injury, Mackay added: "He's taken a pretty bad knock on an ankle and will have a scan in a couple of days time.
"We are already in talks with Arsenal about hanging onto him and I wouldn't think the injury will affect that."
Both sides gave the ball away in a scrappy first half, but Watford looked to be gaining a grip when Heidar Helguson volleyed in Cleverley's free-kick at the far post only to have the effort disallowed for offside.
Haynes' goal came against the run of play and it was no surprise when Cleverley wiped out the advantage so quickly, only for Hartley's moment of pure quality to give City the half-time edge.
The home side also had a goal wiped out for offside on 50 minutes when Clarkson found the bottom corner with a low drive after being put in by Maynard.
Dean Gerken protected City's lead with a brilliant 60th minute save from Don Cowie's volley, also reacting superbly to stop the follow-up effort from Danny Graham, who was judged offside.
Then Watford keeper Scott Loach performed heroics to block Maynard's shot with an outstretched boot after Haynes had set up the chance.
Danny Graham's 30-yarder flashed just wide as the visitors continued to press. Then Gerken made another fine save, diving to his left to keep out Helguson's shot.
