Watford 1-1 Southampton: Rhys Healey's stoppage-time goal secures a point for Hornets
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Rhys Healey's late goal saw Southampton's gap to third-placed Leeds increase to three points
Rhys Healey's stoppage-time goal ensured a point for Watford as they drew 1-1 with fellow play-off chasers Southampton.
Ken Sema and Francisco Sierralta had good efforts for the Hornets shortly before the break in a cagey opening period at Vicarage Road.
Che Adams broke the deadlock when he swept home Adam Armstrong's header to put the visitors in front after both sides had gone close.
But late substitute Healey's shot following a Vakoun Bayo header ensured a dramatic end to the game.
The 10th-placed Hornets are two points off the play-off places as a two-game winning run came to an end, while Saints stay fourth, .
A tight first half saw both sides struggle to make chances - the Hornets hit the post from Sema's 24th-minute cross, but the flag had been raised for offside.
Saints came close from a corner seven minutes from the break when Adam Armstrong's flick from a Jan Bednarek header went over the bar before Gavin Bazunu denied Sema after the Watford man had broken through.
The Swede then set up Sierralta whose header when just wide as Watford ended the half strongly.
Both sides could have gone ahead early in the second half - Adams flashed an effort across the face of goal for Saints before Bazunu superbly saved Yaser Asprilla's half-volley.
Adams' fourth goal of the season - and first in four months - came soon after as Ryan Fraser's floated cross was nodded back by Armstrong and the Saints man controlled the ball on his chest before firing home left-footed.
Watford upped the ante as Edo Kayembe had a shot deflected wide, while Ismael Kone's weak effort was saved and Tom Ince fired straight at the goalkeeper.
But former Milton Keynes Dons striker Healey, who returned to England in the summer after a spell with French side Toulouse, scored his first Watford goal when Bazunu dived over his first-time effort after Bayo's headed down Ryan Porteous' punt forward.
Watford manager Valerien Ismael told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"I'm incredibly proud of the players, the evolution from the team you see.
"It's always the comparison with the Leeds game and now, against the third relegated team from the Premier League you see clearly how the team evolves.
"Before we conceded the goal we had two big chances to take the lead, with Ken Sema just before half-time, but the keeper made a massive save.
"For our evolution to attack the top of the table we have to become more ruthless."
Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:
"I'm really disappointed with how it ended of course. I thought we were managing the game really well up to that point, I don't think we were hanging on at any point really.
"It felt as though we looked the more likely to score when they were committing so many bodies and kept playing through.
"The nature of the goal we concede is what's frustrating me the most. I think it's such a poor goal to concede, they smash one big ball up the middle of the pitch, we should head it clear, and there's a bit of a lack of communication.
"I was pleased with the second half performance, I thought we were good - the first half we gave the ball away way too much in the middle third."