Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-2 Watford

Benik Afobe (right) is the top scorer in the top four divisions of English football with 26 goals

Wolves and Watford both had a player sent off in injury time in an exciting draw at Molineux.

Tommie Hoban was shown a second yellow for Watford before Wolves' Bakary Sako was given a straight red after raising his hand to Fernando Forestieri.

Benik Afobe gave Wolves the lead early on before Matej Vydra levelled.

Jack Price restored the home team's advantage just after the break, but Troy Deeney equalised after showing good strength before the late drama.

The late red cards were out of keeping with a keenly fought match that had seen just two bookings in the first 90 minutes.

Hoban could have few complaints about his sending off for a second bookable offence, but Wolves may feel aggrieved by the red shown to winger Sako after Forestieri reacted theatrically to a push from the Mali international.

The hosts were looking to bounce back after losing at Bournemouth on Tuesday and got their rewards for a bright start.

Kevin McDonald had twice tried to play Afobe through on goal before getting the weight of his pass spot at the third time attempt to leave the 22-year-old January signing to slot home.

High-flying Watford went into the match on the back of three successive wins, but struggled to assert themselves in the opening exchanges before equalising against the run of play.

Vydra, who spent last season on loan at Wolves' local rivals West Brom, finished well after being played through by Deeney in the 30th minute.

Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes saved well from Afobe before the break, but may feel he should have done better with the effort that gave Wolves the lead for the second time.

Kortney Hause's shot took a heavy deflection off midfielder Price and the ball squirmed through Gomes's hands.

The Hornets, who would have gone top with a win, knew they could ill-afford to slip up and Ben Watson went close to a rapid equaliser when he rattled the bar from 12 yards out.

The visitors did have their leveller, however, when captain Deeney shrugged off two Wolves defenders before finishing for his 16th goal of the season.

Both teams pushed on in search of a winner without really threatening before Hoban and Sako were sent off in the dramatic finale.

Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett:

"There are still 30 points to play for and we will need a good total of those.

"But we are capable of going on the kind of run that you need to put the pressure on the top six and we have to keep doing that.

"The standard of this performance has to be repeated if we're to get the kind of points total we'll need to get into the top six."

Watford manager Slavisa Jokanovic:

"The Championship is crazy and there are so many strange results.

"What we must do now is keep going. The most important part of the Championship is in front of us.

"Now it is about who makes less mistakes and who has the Championship mentality."