Report: Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Watford

• Watford start on front foot and deservedly take early lead - Bayo's sixth Watford goal in four league games 
• Plymouth respond with a stunning finish, predictably by Andre Gray
• Watford see out host's post-goal momentum, and retake lead before half-time through Porteous
• Hornets restrict hosts to half-chances for majority of second half, only for Gray to snatch draw late on

Watford conceded a frustrating equaliser deep into stoppage time as they drew 2-2 away at Plymouth Argyle.

The Hornets were quick out of the blocks and soon took the lead when Vakoun Bayo converted an excellent Yasser Larouci cross, but the scores were levelled following former Hornet Andre Gray's first-time finish.

A well-worked free-kick allowed Ryan Porteous to sweep home late in the first half, restoring a lead Watford held on to right until the death, when Gray produced another brilliant finish to see the spoils shared.

Tom Cleverley, watching from the stands due to a one-game touchline ban, opted for two changes as club football returned following the international break, with Moussa Sissoko and Larouci returning to the 11.

Watford began the much stronger of the two sides, and soon made this promising start count.

Larouci was given space to run into down the left, with the wing-back delivering an excellent, inch-perfect cross that the in-form Bayo was able to bundle over the line at the second attempt.

The Hornets continued to look threatening, with Larouci again delivering a dangerous cross that didn't get the touch it deserved, and Giorgi Chakvetadze curling an outside-the-box effort over the bar.

It was going to take something pretty spectacular to draw the hosts level, and that's exactly what happened.

With their first attempt on goal, Gray sweetly struck Lewis Gibson's over-the-top ball on the volley, flashing it across the goal and into the far corner to restore parity for Plymouth.

This sparked the Pilgrims into life, with Morgan Whittaker and Michael Obafemi both firing over the bar soon after their equaliser as they looked to capitalise on the momentum.

The Golden Boys weathered the storm, and again started to turn the tide back in their favour.

Ryan Andrews turned defence into attack with his speed, getting back to mop up a loose ball after Plymouth looked to counter, before driving forward and finding Bayo, who could only shoot high from outside the box.

Watford looked threatening once again, and were able to regain the lead before the break with a set-piece routine straight off the training ground.

Imrân Louza lofted the free-kick into space in the right of the box, with Mattie Pollock chasing it down and sending a cross across goal that Porteous finished with the confidence of a striker.

It was the hosts who started the quickest following the interval, with both Darko Gyabi's first-time long-range shot and Lewis Gibson's header from a long throw going over the bar.

Chakvetadze then had two chances in quick succession; a shot inside the box was blocked, before a curling effort from the edge of the area was pushed away by Daniel Grimshaw. 

With the clock ticking down, Sissoko rolled back the years with a gut-busting run through the midfield before excellently playing Bayo through one-on-one, but Grimshaw was equal to his driven effort.

Substitute Callum Wright then went close as he sent a left-footed shot just wide of the far post, before Gray diverted a shot over from a corner soon after.

With a tense finale set up, the former Watford striker could only direct a header off target deep in stoppage time, but he would still get another chance to deny his former employers the three points.

Gray received the ball to the far left of the box, taking a touch to settle himself before guiding a curled effort into the top-right corner, leaving Bachmann with little chance as the Pilgrims salvaged a dramatic point.

Watford - who were on the end of the fifth goal Plymouth have scored in stoppage time this season - move up to fifth in the table before the rest of the weekend's action.

Watford: Bachmann; Porteous, Pollock, Morris (Sierralta 90+4); Andrews, Sissoko (C), Louza, Larouci (Sema 85); Baah (Ince 90+4), Chakvetadze (Kayembe 74); Bayo.

Unused subs: Bond, Vata, Tikvić, Doumbia, Ramirez-Espain.