FILE this one alongside Derby, Portsmouth and Preston as a big missed opportunity for Middlesbrough.

For so long the better team at Watford, Michael Carrick’s side were well positioned to be going into the international break on the back of three straight wins and clean sheets after George Edmundson’s opener at Vicarage Road.

Before and after, Boro had the chances to put the game to bed but, not for the first time this season, they paid the price for a lack of cutting edge in front of goal.

Dropping two points would have been frustrating enough but somehow Boro contrived to lose it. Watford’s substitutes changed the game. Edo Kayembe stepped off the bench to lash home a leveller 15 minutes from time – a goal Boro looked in no danger of conceding for 20 minutes after Edmundson’s opener. Suddenly Watford, who’d spent most of the game chasing and defending, sensed an opportunity and Kwadwo Baah completed the turnaround three minutes from time.

The comeback halts Boro’s fast-building momentum after the Stoke and West Brom wins and will leave a sour taste as we move into the second stoppage of the season. Carrick will find consolation in the fact his side were so dominant for so long at Vicarage Road – where Watford are unbeaten – but until they start killing teams off they’ll remain at risk of throwing points away.

Boro had 90% of the possession in the first 10 minutes, which set the tone for what would follow, and they should have turned that dominance of the ball into a lead at the break.

Finn Azaz missed a glorious headed chance early in the half and Latte Lath followed suit just before the break.

In between the ball was often glued to a man in blue and white but Boro were sloppy in the final third, failing to make the most of several promising openings and opportunities.

Ben Doak was the target every time Boro had the ball but Watford left wing-back Ken Sema had the pace to match the Liverpool loanee, who was stopped in his tracks on a couple of occasions.

Rav van den Berg stopped the charging Daniel Jebbison in his tracks with a brilliant tackle when the Watford striker set off on a driving run towards the box, which came just a moment or two after the Bournemouth loanee had tapped the ball into an empty net but only after Moussa Sissoko had been flagged offside in the build-up.

Micah Hamilton, in for his first Championship start in place of Riley McGree, was bright and confident and brought a save out of Bond before Azaz lashed a left-footed strike just over the bar. Neto Borges followed van den Berg’s lead in making a fine defensive interception at full-stretch before Teessider Mattie Pollock did the same at the other end to deny Azaz a tap-in.

Boro were still dominating and controlling the ball and the possession stats were weighed more than 75% in their favour at the half-hour mark but that didn’t trouble Watford. They were happy to wait for counter attacking opportunities led by the pace of Jebbison. One rapid break led to a chance for Tom Ince, who lifted the ball over Dieng and, to Boro’s relief, the crossbar.  

Ince’s carelessness led to Boro’s opening goal nine minutes after the restart. The Watford winger conceded possession near his own corner flag with a sloppy backheel and Azaz was fouled. The forward picked himself to take the free-kick which wasn’t dealt with and Edmundson reacted quickly to prod home.

Boro weren’t interested in sitting back and defending their lead. Latte Lath had the ball in the net but was flagged offside then Bond could only parry the striker’s shot from the edge of the box but recovered well to twice deny Doak on the rebound.

Watford had barely threatened after falling behind but drew level on 75 minutes. Ryan Andrews squared for Kayembe, who lashed past Dieng. And now it was the Hornets pushing, with the winner coming three minutes from time when Mattie Pollock flicked on Andrews' long throw and Baah turned the ball home.