Forgotten man Bolasie halts Watford’s run

REMEMBER Yannick Bolasie? He was once the most in-demand winger in the Premier League and won a £25million move to Everton from Crystal Palace five years ago. He sits on the Middlesbrough bench these days and that is where he had been for 73 minutes of this game, watching his team-mates fail to conjure a single effort on goal. But then, within five minutes of his belated introduction, the Everton loanee (below) headed his first goal in English football for two and a half years, saving a point for Neil Warnock’s side. ‘I made that goal, didn’t I?’ said Warnock. ‘It wasn’t Paddy (McNair, who took the free-kick). Yannick was coming over to take it, so I yelled at him, “Get in the box”. Then he goes and scores.’ The equaliser was of greater significance to Watford than Boro, who needed a victory to reignite their play-off hopes. But for Xisco Munoz’s visitors the loss of two points in their pursuit of automatic promotion — and a seventh straight win — will be keenly felt. The only moment worthy of mention from the first half was Watford’s goal on 32 minutes. Winger Ken Sema saw his low drill saved by Marcus Bettinelli but, when the ball ran free, defender Marc Bola swiped hopelessly to Philip Zinckernagel on the edge of the area. There was a suspicion he used his arm to control before returning a shot that Bettinelli would have no doubt gathered. But it was sent on a different course by the unsuspecting ankle of Ismaila Sarr, who gratefully accepted his 10th goal of the season. It was not until the 72nd minute that Watford came close again, Joao Pedro brushing the post. They soon paid the price as Bolasie’s head emerged amid a crowd of bodies to steer into the bottom corner.