Sarr scores from own half as Watford draw at Baggies

Ismaila Sarr scored a spectacular David Beckham-style chip from his own half but then had a late penalty saved as Watford drew with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

This came against the run of play, Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann had already been kept busy, with a superb save from Darnell Furlong’s volley and two from Karlan Grant, and there were more to follow.

But Albion equalized two minutes into added time in the first half when Grady Diangana’s neat pass found Grant, who collected the ball superbly before finishing with his right foot from so close.

Watford were on the back foot for much of the second half but came closest to winning it when Sarr went down easily in the Albion penalty area under pressure from Semi Ajayi.

But Sarr’s spot-kick was tame, hitting Button too weakly to the left, and the Albion keeper stepped up to save.

It leaves Rob Edwards’ Watford with four points from two games, and will go into their next game, when they host another team with four points from two games, Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, at Vicarage Road on Friday.

Both will have a first chance to overtake Blackburn Rovers, the only team with a 100% record in the Championship after two games.

Steve Bruce’s Albion, on the other hand, have now lost just three of their last 14 Championship games – and while they have only drawn their first two games, the Baggies have come from behind in both – and would still have to have plenty to be positive about when they head to Blackburn on Sunday.

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Bruce told BBC Sport:

“Sometimes you don’t always get what you deserve, but this is as good as I’ve seen us play and to do it against such a good team made it feel even better.

“It’s very frustrating that we didn’t win, but it was a tremendous reaction from the players after conceding such a wonderful goal against the run of play.

“It’s desperate news that we’ve lost Daryl Dike to a thigh injury in training. He’s really looking forward to playing for his country at the World Cup, he’s a popular guy and he knew it as soon as he did.”

Watford manager Rob Edwards told BBC Sport:

“It was an incredible strike from Sarr. As soon as it came off the foot I knew it was in.

“A moment of genius. It’s pretty special when you see a goal like that, and also against the run of play.

“It would have been quite unfair for us to have scored the second goal from the penalty as Albion were on target and clearly the better team. But I would have taken it.”