Segecic strike earns Pompey point against Watford

Substitute Adrian Segecic scored in the 79th minute to level the game at 2-2

Adrian Segecic scored deep into the second half to salvage a point for Portsmouth against Watford in the Championship.

The Blues took the lead in the fifth minute thanks to a volleyed strike from the edge of the box by on-loan 19-year-old Yang Min-hyeok.

Watford fans were left bemused after 35 minutes when Nestory Irankunda was substituted and the Australian forward vented his frustrations at the bench before storming down the tunnel.

The visitors drew level just 27 seconds into the second half though as Imran Louza fired the ball home after a cross from Irankunda's replacement Rocco Vata, who then poked in from close range 10 minutes later to give Watford the lead.

But with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Segecic fired a low shot into the back of the net to give Portsmouth a share of the points.

Road traffic delays close to kick-off meant that as the game got under way, a number of fans were still taking their seats.

But it did not take Portsmouth long to settle into things as they took an early lead with a well-taken goal by Min-hyeok in the fifth minute.

Marlon Pack launched a long throw into the penalty area that Watford failed to clear, and when the ball was poked to the edge of the box, the Tottenham loanee caught the ball on the bounce and volleyed it into the far corner.

Minutes later the hosts carved Watford's defence open again as Conor Chaplin played a ball down the right to Jordan Williams, who then cut the ball back for Min-hyeok, whose shot was superbly saved by Egil Selvik.

Tensions rose on the Watford bench when Irankunda was hooked 10 minutes before the interval, with Vata sent on in his place.

After running off, Irankunda appeared to punch a chair on the bench before storming straight down the tunnel, with sections of the travelling fans chanting "sacked in the morning" towards their head coach Paulo Pezzolano.

But after making two more changes at the break, Watford levelled just 27 seconds into the second period.

Vata dashed into space down the left flank before cutting the ball back to Louza, who managed to poke the ball into the net past Josef Bursik before celebrating right in front of the away fans.

The Hornets then went in front in the 56th minute when Moussa Sissoko broke down the right and from his cross, substitute Vata was able to divert it home among a host of bodies.

But Portsmouth drew level when John Swift had a shot blocked in the box before it fell to Australian Segecic, who fired it low into the back of the net.

A point lifted both teams up two places in the Championship table, Watford to 16th, Pompey a place behind in 17th.

Reaction: 'Rocco did incredibly well'

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:

"It does feel like a game we should have won. We gave the ball away a little really cheaply at times which meant we got countered on which was a real frustration.

"It was important to end the losing run. We thought we could come here and win the game but it feels like a bit of a hammer blow the way we went behind.

"We have another home game here on Saturday which is a chance to get back to winning ways."

Watford boss Paulo Pezzolano told BBC Radio 3CR:

"Two different parts completely. Maybe the first part, we were too stretched. Second part, we were more compact, we showed a better face.

"The good news is that the team are showing that character to turn around the games."

On substituting Nestory Irankunda before half-time:

"He [Irankunda] didn't seem fresh. He didn't seem like he was able to recover after an effort and I didn't want to take any risk with injury. Rocco came in and did incredibly well.

"It's good for him and for the team. He's a young player, he's been scoring goals, he's been having some good performances. This is good for him but the important thing is not taking any risks."