Mamadou Doumbia came off the bench to earn Watford a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth, capitalising on a late mistake from visiting goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid in a tight Championship contest at Watford. The result moved Portsmouth out of the Championship relegation places, while Watford’s hopes of regaining a play-off place at the other end of the table were thwarted.
Adrian Segecic had fired Portsmouth ahead in the 73rd minute after a neat move involving Millenic Alli and Conor Chaplin, but Doumbia struck six minutes later to rescue a point for Javi Gracia’s team. It was the decisive twist in a match that saw Portsmouth start the brighter, through new recruits Ebou Adams and Alli, before Watford grew into the game and finally forced an error to avoid defeat.
Pompey’s new faces set the early tone
Portsmouth settled more quickly and created the game’s first chances, with Ebou Adams, making his full Portsmouth debut, seeing a 20-yard effort blocked by a defender. Millenic Alli, another fresh face at Fratton Park, then tried his luck from distance after Watford surrendered possession cheaply, his shot taking a deflection that sparked a series of corners culminating in Chaplin hooking wide.