Watford 2-1 Middlesbrough: Vakoun Bayo scores late winner on historic night for Hornets
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Ismaila Sarr scored his second goal of the campaign for Watford as they beat Middlesbrough
Vakoun Bayo scored a stoppage-time winner for Watford as they beat Middlesbrough 2-1 on a historic night at Vicarage Road.
Rodrigo Muniz opened the scoring for Boro with his first goal for the club after only four minutes, heading in from a Ryan Giles cross.
Ismaila Sarr levelled for the hosts 20 minutes later, pairing up with Joao Pedro to break through the Middlesbrough defence in an entertaining first half.
But Bayo kept his composure deep in injury time to tap in the winner on the night Watford celebrated a centenary of football at Vicarage Road.
Watford were playing in a black and white kit to commemorate the occasion - similar to the strip worn by the team against Millwall on 30 August 1922 - on what was a night to remember and celebrate for the home side.
But it took only four minutes for Boro to put a dampener on the occasion when Giles broke down the left and whipped in a perfectly weighted, floating cross into the box.
As Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann came off his line and misjudged his attempt to clear, Muniz - who signed for Boro on loan from Fulham last week - was there to head into the net.
Having finally got their Championship campaign up and running on Saturday with a win over Swansea City, there was a confidence about Chris Wilder's side going forward, something that was initially missing for Watford.
Joao Pedro and Sarr combined in a one-two that beat the offside trap but Sarr's shot was blocked while Yaser Asprilla sent a free-kick high and wide from a dangerous position.
Sarr and Joao Pedro have been linked with moves away from Watford and showcased what their partnership can do when it is firing. Sarr scored a stylish equaliser for the hosts, turning and switching the ball between his feet, after Joao Pedro broke down the left and cut inside to set him up.
Middlesbrough pressed for a winner after the break and Matt Crooks did well to evade the Watford defence, but dragged his shot agonisingly wide.
Matt Clarke's header from a Giles free-kick then forced Bachmann into an impressive diving save from close range, while Crooks and Clarke had further efforts blocked.
As a draw seemed the most likely outcome, Watford struck.
Ivory Coast striker Bayo slotted the ball past Liam Roberts into the bottom corner.
Watford manager Rob Edwards told BBC Three Counties:
"Really pleased for the supporters, for everyone connected to the club. It was a special night, it was a special occasion, and we're pleased that we could top it off, if you like.
"Full credit to the players, we didn't start the game well and it's something we've got to make sure we address. But then we grew into the game and from maybe around 15, 20 minutes then I thought we started to look very, very good. Deservedly got the equaliser and maybe could have gone ahead in that first half, but we didn't.
"Get to the 94th minute and think that's going to be it, it's a draw and it's an incredible feeling. I'm well aware that the game was very tight. Middlesbrough had one or two chances that we had to rely on Dan Bachmann, who made a great save and for a couple of blocks from a set-piece as well.
"We had to dig in and be resolute, but we found a way and good teams find a way."
Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Tees:
"We didn't deserve that. Not at all. I thought we were excellent second half, especially as we had to survive and we had to suffer a little bit first half, we withstood that with the players that they've got.
"These are two players who really shouldn't be anywhere near this league. The two players at the top of the pitch, Sarr and Joao Pedro, you can see why they are going for 25, 30, 35 million and why arguably they should be playing in the Premier League.
"But second half we handled them and we were the better side, but they go home as winning footballers and we don't."