A GOAL from Damien Francis with just two minutes on the clock was enough to send a disappointing Watford side into the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time since 2003.

Damien Francis strokes home the late winner

Francis finished clinically with his left foot after a lovely move involving Kabba, Smith and Henderson to kill off an Ipswich side who can consider themselves very unlucky.

Jim Magilton's team had to play with a man down for the whole second half after having George O'Callaghan sent off in first half stoppage time for an apparent lash out at Dan Shittu.

Aidy was forced into three changes from the team which beat West Ham last week with Lee, Powell and Shittu coming in for Foster, Mackay and Stewart.

Young Scott Loach had his first taste of the big time with an appearance on the bench backing up Lee.

Watford were the first to threaten on five minutes when Kabba's shot from 15 yards deflected over the bar with keeper Price scurrying backwards in fear of it dropping in the net.

Kabba again, three minutes later really should have broken the deadlock after Powell's throw was flicked on by both Shittu then Smith and landed temptingly at the feet of the former Sheffield United striker but he was unable to organise his feet and turn it home, allowing Price to gather.

Ipswich came into game more and started to look threatening - indeed Legwinski rattled the crossbar with a proper 30-yard thunderbolt that had Lee beaten all ends up.

There was another scare moments later when Haynes put a shot just wide of the near post after a nice exchange of passes with Harding on the left.

After a bright start, the game had slipped into an untidy spell with neither side managing to get the ball down and play much football.

Harding became the first name to go into referee Bennett's book on 40 minutes for scything down Tommy Smith but Watford were unable to take advantage of the resulting free kick.

The game took a sudden and unexpected change in first half injury time when Mr Bennett sent O'Callaghan off afater an apparent off-the-ball kick at Shittu.

Half Time: Watford 0 Ipswich Town 0

Neither side made any changes at the break and Watford started the half looking determined to put their disappointing opening half behind them.

DeMerit came close with a header from Smith's cross but he opted to go back across the six-yard box rather than go for goal and no one was able to connect with it.

It was Henderson's turn to come close just seconds later when his header from Smith's corner was desperately cleared off the line by Harding as the Hornets got on top.

Gavin Mahon fired in the loose ball only to see it blocked by a mass of bodies in front of the Town goal.

However it looked like Watford were a goal down on 55 minutes.

Harding thundered in a powerful shot from fully 30 yards that cannoned off the bar and down onto the line.  Haynes stooped to head home the rebound and raced away to celebrate only to see the flag up for offside.  A lucky escape for the Hornets.

As the game got untidy for a spell, Aidy looked to pep things up by bringing on Hameur Bouazza for Johan Cavalli on 65 minutes and Jim Magilton reacted by replacing Haynes with Billy Clarke.

There were still too many miss-placed passes and the visitors looked comfortable despite having had to play with a man down for such a sustained period.

More changes came for Ipswich when Trotter replaced Peters with ten minutes to go.

Thier hearts were broken when the Hornets scored out of the blue with just three minutes left. 

A beautiful flick by Kabba sent Smith clear down the right.  The wideman's cross was cleverly dummied by Henderson, creating space for the onrushing Francis to finish clinically from 12 yards with his left foot.

Francis knows he's won the match for the Hornets

It was a cruel blow for the visitors who must have thought they had done enough to earn a Portman Road replay.

As the game entered stoppage time, Aidy gave Tamas Priskin an outing, in place of Kabba.

Jim Magilton's frustration is clear

Line Ups

Watford: Lee; Mariappa, DeMerit, Shittu, Powell; Smith, Francis, Mahon (c), Cavalli (Bouazza 65); Henderson, Kabba (Priskin 89). Subs not used: Loach (GK), Doyley, Bangura

Ipswich: Price; Wright, Bruce, Casement, Harding; O'Callaghan, Richards, Legwinski (c), Roberts; Peters (Trotter 80), Haynes (Clarke 72). Subs not used: Supple (GK), Currie, Sito

Cards: Watford: None Ipswich: O'Callaghan Red Cad 45 mins, Harding Yellow Card 35 mins, Roberts Yellow Card 80

Referee: Mr. S. Bennett

Attendance: 17,016