Watford 1-1 Southampton: Saints strike late to earn FA Cup replay and extend unbeaten run

Report as Stuart Armstrong's last-gasp leveller cancels out Matheus Martins' early free-kick; Hornets had led the tie for 85 minutes but sides will go to a replay at St Mary's; winner will play Liverpool at Anfield in the fifth round

Sunday 28 January 2024 17:53, UK

Watford and Southampton face a replay for a place in the FA Cup fifth round and a trip to Liverpool, following a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.

Saints substitute Stuart Armstrong struck late to force a replay after Matheus Martins' early free-kick looked enough to take the Hornets through.

Both sides made substantial changes to their most recent Championship starting line-ups — Watford swapped six, Southampton nine — and the visitors fell behind in the fifth minute.

Mason Holgate was booked for fouling Yaser Asprilla just outside the box on the left and Martins, the Brazilian winger, whipped the free-kick past a wall comprising of just one man and beyond goalkeeper Joe Lumley at his near post.

Carlos Alcaraz forced Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann into his first save with a header soon after but Saints were back under pressure straight away.

Sekou Mara fouled Francisco Sierralta 25 yards in front of goal and this time it was ex-Saint Wesley Hoedt who took the free-kick, which the centre-back fired straight at Lumley.

Jayden Meghoma did well to stop Martins bursting through but Sierralta put a free header wide at the back post from the corner that followed.

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Jamal Lewis was the next Hornet to test Lumley with a low drive from distance but the goalkeeper was fortunate when he rushed out of his box and was beaten to the ball by Vakoun Bayo only for the striker to fail to find a colleague in front of an untended goal.

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