Match ends, Ipswich Town 1, Watford 1.
IpswichIpswich Town1WatfordWatford1
Troy Deeney's late goal earned Watford a draw at Ipswich Town in Beppe Sannino's first game in charge of the Hornets.
The hosts took a controversial lead through David McGoldrick's penalty after Gabriele Angella was adjudged to have handled Frank Nouble's cross.
But Sannino, who became Watford's new head coach on Wednesday, saw his side level with nine minutes remaining.
Deeney slid the ball home from Cristian Battocchio's low cross to equalise.
However, Ipswich nearly grabbed a late winner when Luke Hyam headed against the crossbar after McGoldrick's shot had been parried by Watford goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
Sannino took charge at Watford after former boss Gianfranco Zola resigned on Monday following a run of just one win in 10 matches.
The hosts went ahead through McGoldrick's 73rd-minute penalty, his ninth goal of the season, but their advantage only lasted eight minutes before Deeney's leveller.
Watford finished third in the Championship last season and are now 14th in the table, while Ipswich, unbeaten in five games, are ninth, three points off a play-off position.
Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy said:
"I will take a point as Watford are a good side. Last year they came here and absolutely murdered us. So it shows how far we have come.
"Overall, maybe they deserved a point because we weren't that dominant.
"I like him [Sannino], I like his passion on the side and he had a smile on his face."
Watford head coach Beppe Sannino said:
"It was a dream for me to land in England and this game was 90 minutes of my life that I was always dreaming about.
"I have only been here for two days and I am not a magician. I knew the kind of football in the Championship but my first thoughts are with Gianfranco Zola.
"He did an amazing job last season and this was his team. I was able to show my passion on the touchline and I thought, tactics-wise, we were good, but there is a lot of work to do."
Line-ups
Ipswich
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Gerken
- 4Chambers
- 3Cresswell
- 19Hyam
- 6Berra
- 5SmithBooked at 12mins
- 8Skuse
- 16Tunnicliffe
- 10McGoldrick
- 35Nouble
- 9Murphy
Substitutes
- 1Loach
- 7Edwards
- 11Anderson
- 15Mings
- 17Graham
- 18Tabb
- 26Taylor
Watford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Almunia
- 27Cassetti
- 18PudilBooked at 60minsSubstituted forAnyaat 80'minutes
- 6EkstrandBooked at 72mins
- 4Angella
- 12Doyley
- 16MurraySubstituted forBattocchioat 77'minutes
- 29ThorneBooked at 77mins
- 9Deeney
- 20FabbriniSubstituted forForestieriat 83'minutes
- 10McGugan
Substitutes
- 7Battocchio
- 8McEachran
- 11Forestieri
- 21Anya
- 23Santos Da Silva
- 30Bond
- 33Nosworthy
- Referee:
- Graham Scott
- Attendance:
- 16,385
Match Stats
Home TeamIpswichAway TeamWatford
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 1, Watford 1.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Tunnicliffe (Ipswich Town).
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Troy Deeney (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town).
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Attempt missed. Ikechi Anya (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lewis McGugan.
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Attempt missed. Frank Nouble (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
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Luke Hyam (Ipswich Town) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box.
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Attempt saved. David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Frank Nouble.
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Ryan Tunnicliffe (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Marco Cassetti (Watford).
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Fernando Forestieri replaces Diego Fabbrini.
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Foul by Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town).
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Diego Fabbrini (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Ipswich Town 1, Watford 1. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Ikechi Anya replaces Daniel Pudil because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town).
Post update
George Thorne (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Cristian Battocchio replaces Sean Murray.
Booking
George Thorne (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
