Southampton travelled to Vicarage Road to take on Watford in the Championship today knowing that victory against the Hornets would keep the Saints in contention ahead of the international break.
Manager Will Still gave an immediate debut to Finn Azaz. Saints' new signing from Middlesbrough lined up through the centre behind Cameron Archer and between Ryan Fraser and Jay Robinson.
The Saints started brightly and took the lead after just nine minutes. After Jay Robinson and Cameron Archer linked up well, Robinson's goal-bound effort was saved by the keeper at the expense of a corner.
Goal! Watford 0-1 Southampton
9 mins - Nathan Wood rose highest from the resulting corner for Cameron Archer to smash home from a couple of yards out.
New signing, Finn Azaz looked lively in a first half which Southampton dominated.
26 mins - Watford had the ball in the back of the net from a corner but the referee had already blown for an incident.
Half-time: Watford 0-1 Southampton
51 mins - Southampton almost got a second when Archer latched on to a great volleyed pass by Azaz but the Hornets closed him down before he could get a shot away.
Goal! Watford 1-1 Southampton
65 mins - Watford substitute Kwadwo Baah pulled Watford level with a low shot across the face of Bazunu and into the bottom left-hand corner.
76 mins - With the balance of play shifting in the home side's favour, Will Still made a triple substitution bringing on Adam Armstrong, Damion Downs, and Kuryu Matsuki. The substitution did not take long to pay off.
Goal! Watford 1-2 Southampton
78 mins - Adam Armstrong was brought down on the edge of the Watford box and in a central position. Ryan Manning drilled the resulting free-kick left-footed and into the bottom left-hand corner to put the Saints back into the lead.
Goal! Watford 2-2 Southampton
81 mins - Watford got themselves level again when Irankunda struck a wonderful free-kick right-footed and into the top right-hand corner past Bazunu's left hand.
As the manager's left the dugout, Saints' manager, Will Still, pointed a finger in the direction of the Watford bench and was clearly displeased by something that had gone on.
Player Ratings
Gavin Bazunu - 6 - Unable to do anything about either Watford goal and looked solid otherwise
Mads Roerslev - 6 - Another solid performance down the right-hand side
Taylor Harwood-Bellis - 5 - Still looks off the pace in a back three that continues to shoot itself in the foot
Jack Stephens - 5 - The captain did not look assured in this one, particularly in the second half with Watford running at the Saints defence
Nathan Wood - 6 - The best of the Southampton back three and got an assist for Archer's goal
Ryan Manning - 5 - Another great free-kick can't gloss over Manning's lack of pace in the full-back areas. Completely sold himself for Baah's equaliser
Ryan Fraser - 5 - Almost anonymous in this match. Didn't match recent performance levels
Jay Robinson - 6 - One of Southampton's best performers. His quick feet and creativity was behind a lot of his team's good work goig forward. Did his fair share in defensive transitions too
Shea Charles - 6 - Excellent again defensively although the formation left him terribly exposed at times
Finn Azaz - 6.5 - A classy debut which should put to rest any doubts about the sale of Matty Fernandes
Cameron Archer - 6.5 - Another goal for Archer who is fast becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet. Perhaps could have made more of two more chances before being substituted in the second-half.
Subs:
Adam Armstrong - 6
Kuryu Matsuki - 5
Damion Downs - 5
Ronnie Edwards - 6
Ross Stewart - 6