Watford made it six away games unbeaten in a row in the Sky Bet Championship as they drew 1-1 with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Tom Dele-Bashiru gave the Hornets the lead by converting the first penalty Valérien Ismaël’s side have been awarded all season on 13 minutes, but Scott Twine levelled for the hosts later in the half.

Both sides had spells on top but neither could find the winner as the game ended all square.

Ismaël made three changes from the side which won 2-1 away at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday (January 14) as his charges looked to avenge the 4-1 defeat to the Robins at Vicarage Road on Boxing Day.

Mileta Rajović started in attack in place of Rhys Healey, who completed a switch to Huddersfield Town yesterday, while centre-back Ryan Porteous and midfielder Ismaël Koné returned to the side after being named as substitutes last weekend due to illness.

Francisco Sierralta and Matheus Martins both dropped out of the team to the bench as Bristol City handed Twine his debut following the midfielder’s loan move from Burnley this week.

Koné marked his return to the side with an early driving run but Dele-Bashiru’s resulting shot from a Giorgi Chakvetadze cross was blocked.

Wesley Hoedt then attempted to recreate his long-range wonder goal against Hull City but home goalkeeper Max O’Leary was equal to his effort, which this time came from inside his own half.

The Hornets took the lead from the spot when James Morris’ whipped free-kick into the box was met by the outstretched right arm of Rob Dickie.

Dele-Bashiru calmly dispatched the first penalty Watford had been awarded since January 2023 for his third goal of the season.

City grew into the game after going behind and Twine, who scored for Hull against Watford earlier this season, snatched at a shot and dragged the ball wide following a mistake from Morris.

Jake Livermore, the two-goal hero at QPR, then made a crucial touch to clear the ball away as it bounced around dangerously in the Watford box, but Twine was to make no mistake just moments later.

Tommy Conway charged down the ball and although his shot was saved by Ben Hamer, Twine jumped highest to head the rebound into the net.

Watford had a great chance to regain the lead after 41 minutes when excellent link-up play between Rajović and Chakvetadze saw the latter slide a pass across to Yáser Asprilla, but the Colombian took the ball too close to O’Leary and the keeper was able to block.

Asprilla was then the target of a long Hoedt pass but he couldn’t get a clean shot away and the teams went in at the break level.

There was to be no further action for Asprilla as he was replaced at half-time by Martins, and Watford endured an early scare as Ross McCrorie placed a free header over the bar from a Twine corner.

The Golden Boys struggled to show the swift breaks which had troubled the home side in the first half in the early going as the hosts claimed the ascendancy, and Jason Knight sent a header straight into Hamer’s gloves.

With Ismaël readying changes, Watford suddenly sprung into life with Martins seeing a shot blocked and Chakvetadze’s effort then deflecting wide.

Jamal Lewis, back from injury, and Vakoun Bayo, returning from suspension, were then introduced for Morris and Rajović.

Bayo looked to be in a perfect position to shoot following a quick counter but the ball ran under his feet after Ryan Andrews’ cutback.

Koné showed great footwork before curling an effort off target with just under 20 minutes to play, with the game delicately poised and both sides breaking effectively.

A powerful Andrews drive from 30 yards went straight down the throat of O’Leary and the same player was then unable to turn and shoot when found by Dele-Bashiru’s flicked pass in the box.

Dickie’s header from a corner was well held by Hamer as the game entered the last 10 minutes, and Bristol City came close with just four minutes left of normal time.

Hamer beat away Knight’s header and Livermore did superbly to clear away from Cameron Pring on the line.

Andrews nearly played in Bayo at the death but it wasn’t to be as both sides settled for a point.