Watford 3-2 Stoke City: Ismaila Sarr scores stoppage-time winner for Hornets

Ismaila Sarr scored a stoppage-time goal as Watford won for the first time in four Championship games by beating Stoke.

Sarr found the bottom corner from Ken Sema’s pass to settle a game in which the lead changed hands three times.

Stoke were given early impetus when Steven Fletcher converted Nick Powell’s low cross.

But Watford drew level when Tom Cleverley’s shot was judged to have crossed the line after being pushed on to the bar by keeper Angus Gunn, who was himself then barged over the line by Joao Pedro after gathering the bouncing ball.

Brazilian teenager Pedro made it 2-1 from the spot after Gunn was penalised for bringing down Sarr, who netted the decider after Powell scored his third goal in five games to bring Stoke level with a powerful low strike.

The victory lifted Vladimir Ivic’s side into fourth place, pending the outcome of the evening’s later kick-offs, with Stoke – who had won on six of their eight previous league visits to Watford – slipping down to 11th.

Ivic resisted the temptation for major changes despite Saturday’s disappointing performance at Barnsley, but brought in Christian Kabasele for William Troost-Ekong in defence.

It only took Stoke two minutes to find a way through, though, as Fletcher applied the finishing touch following a short corner routine.

Watford dominated possession but lacked a cutting edge until Cleverley’s controversial equaliser was given after Gunn had been bundled over the line by Pedro.

Fletcher glanced a header wide for Stoke after the break but Gunn was penalised when Sarr ran onto a short backpass and tried to go round him, and Pedro found the corner from the spot.

It was his final act as he and Cleverley were replaced by Andre Gray and James Garner and the former could have made it three when he headed wide from Kiko Femenia’s cross before Powell appeared to have earned Stoke a point, only for Sarr to make it four wins out of five for Watford at home.