A DRAMATIC finale at Vicarage Road saw John-Joe O'Toole draw the scores level before Bristol City substitute Darren Byfield won the game for the visitors in injury time.

The Robins snatched the game in the four minutes of added time played by the referee when Byfield buried the ball from inside the box ,after a dangerous cross was played in from the City right that saw 'keeper Mart Poom diving around the box.

It was a last-gasp sucker punch for the league leaders as they had just moments earlier drawn level through substitute O'Toole with the game looking to be heading for a draw. This was after Enoch Showunmi had given the visitors the lead with a 75th minute strike.

O'Toole-d up! John-Joe and co. celebrate

Watford welcomed back two ex-Golden Boys within Bristol City's management ranks, with boss Gary Johnson and his first team coach Keith Millen returning to Vicarage Road.

Boss Aidy Boothroyd welcomed back Jobi McAnuff into the side and he replaced Steve Kabba on the left of midfield, while loanee Lionel Ainsworth stepped up to the bench.  

The Hornets started with a high tempo, obviously wanting to get Tuesday's display against Burnley straight out of their system.

Clearly they didn't want the visitors to settle and went about attacking at every opportunity. Fit-again McAnuff was joining in with the strike partnership of Marlon King and Darius Henderson to good effect.

The Robins started with five in midfield with ex-Luton striker Showunmi playing the lone front role. Bristol's first noteworthy pressure on the Watford goal came thanks to two corner kicks. Marvin Elliott met the ball at the far post but his header sailed up and over the bar.

Goalkeeper Poom, starting only his second match back after injury, had to be at his best after 10 minutes. Captain Gavin Mahon lost out in a midfield battle and Ivan Sproule took advantage, but the Estonian was quick off his line and did well to save.

Sproule was involved in the next Bristol attack when he cut in from their right flank and curled a cross to the back post but it was too far for Showunmi who was lurking dangerously.

Watford reacted in the correct manner and hit back with further attacks. First Jay DeMerit saw his shot blocked and then the ball fell to Mahon out wide. He chipped in a lovely ball to Dan Shittu at the far post. The big defender couldn't get his shot in and ran out of space, but was getting forward whenever possible after three goals in two games.

Tommy Smith then blasted over from inside the box after Bradley Orr slipped on Bristol's right flank. McAnuff didn't need to be asked twice and took possession to hit a cross in to the back post. Henderson was waiting but the ball was taken away from him before it fell to Smith and his first-time effort was hit over the upright.

Hendo hangs around... Darius delivers a header

Sproule was proving to be the thorn in Boothroyd's side when he latched on to a long throw in, which went over the heads of the Watford players. With Sproule bearing down on goal and Shittu chasing after him, Poom was quick off his line and gathered the ball in one swoop.

Showunmi's height caused problems for the Hornets for the first time midway during the first half.  His far post header hit the post after Bristol took a short corner, it had Poom beaten and was a big let off for the Golden Boys.

Watford were starting to be frustrated by City who were packing the midfield and cutting off the supply lines to the attackers. 

However they did manage to break through after quick interplay between King and Henderson.

Marlon makes up ground on the City defence

King's shot was tipped onto the post by 'keeper Adriano Basso and then McAnuff's follow-up shot was gathered by the sprawling City player.

Before the interval midfielder Lee Williamson picked up a pass from Henderson, who had drifted out wide, and hit a shot that fizzed wide of Basso's post. That proved to be it before time was called by referee Mr Joslin.

Boothroyd's side put the Robins under pressure after the interval and despite strong crowd appeals for a penalty the referee waved play on twice. With plenty of balls going into the box the Hornets could only muster a deflected King shot which did little to trouble Basso in goal.

Full back Jordan Stewart was alert and cleared the lines after DeMerit missed a clearance. It was a vital interception by the ex-Leicester man with Showunmi ready to pounce at any moment.

The Hornets made a breakthrough when Smith fed King, who was on the right hand side of the box ,and his quick fire shot hit the side netting. 

King again tried his luck just minutes later as he blasted his drive over the bar. Then Stewart arrived late in the box and picked up an inch-perfect pass from McAnuff ,but the defender could only hit his shot at the Basso.

The Robins had largely been subdued for the second period, but caught the Golden Boys napping when Showunmi was unmarked at the far post. He rose to head past Poom to finish off a deep cross into the box. 

It was another sucker punch for the Hornets and despite periods of pressure they had again been largely frustrated.

Now confident after their strike, City substitute Cole Skuse's teasing ball in the box found Showunmi again who, this time, fired in a rasping drive that hit the side netting.

Boothroyd brought on Academy graduate John-Joe O'Toole and within three minutes of being on the field he had scored his first goal for the Hornets, which many thought had rescued a point.

Go John-Joe... O'Toole scores first ever 'Orns goal

A deep corner into the far post was headed towards goal by DeMerit and O'Toole coolly nodded past Basso from a matter of yards out - cue wild celebrations in the stands and on the pitch.  

Then, with only a minute of added time left, substitute Byfield broke Watford's hearts and Bristol City returned to the west country with all three points for their first win in six games.

Wheeling away in celebration after John-Joe scores

WATFORD (4-4-2): Poom; Doyley, Shittu, DeMerit, Stewart; Smith, Mahon (c) (O'Toole 83), Williamson, McAnuff; King, Henderson (Ellington 74). Subs: Ainsworth, Jackson, Mariappa.

BRISTOL CITY (4-4-2): Basso; Orr, Fontaine, Carey (c), McCombe; McIndoe, Elliott, Johnson, Noble (Trundle 70), Sproule (Skuse 76); Showunmi (Byfield 92).  Subs: Vasko, Weale (gk).

BOOKINGS: WATFORD; McAnuff (simulation 70), Henderson (foul 73). BRISTOL CITY; Showunmi (foul 63).

SENDINGS OFF: WATFORD; none. BRISTOL CITY; none.

GOALS: WATFORD; O'Toole (86). BRISTOL CITY; Showunmi (75), Byfield (90+3).

REFEREE: P J Joslin.

ATTENDANCE: 16,689 (893 Bristol City supporters).