Warnock backs Watford for automatic promotion despite Boro snatching point

Bolasie 78

Neil Warnock tipped Watford to clinch an immediate Premier League return despite his Middlesbrough side fighting back to halt their six-match winning run.

A first goal for 16 months from Yannick Bolasie rewarded a dogged display by the hosts to leave Watford five points behind leaders Norwich, having played a game more.

“Norwich and Watford will walk it, they are the two best teams in the league, so everybody else is playing for the play-offs,” Warnock said after a result that all but ended his side’s top-six hopes.

Watford coaching staff offered an irate Warnock an ipad on which to review referee Tim Robinson’s decision to allow Ismaila Sarr’s 32ndminute goal. Middlesbrough had protested that Philip Zinckernagel handled before his 20-yard shot was diverted past Marcus Bettinelli by Sarr.

Warnock later questioned Robinson again when Nathaniel Chalobah escaped with a caution for an ugly lunge at Sam Morsy that ended the midfielder’s campaign. Warnock said: “Sam’s out for the rest of the season, it looks like he’s done his medial ligaments. It might have been a different decision from the referee with Var because their lad has got both feet off the floor.”

Paddy Mcnair’s set-piece delivery aside, the hosts were largely devoid of inspiration. Watford fashioned what few chances there were. Pedro fired wide when meeting Sarr’s cutback, before curling another opening narrowly off target.

They proved to be costly as substitute Bolasie, the on-loan Everton forward, headed in Mcnair’s 78th minute free-kick.

Xisco Munoz, the Watford head coach, reflected. “It’s a hard-earned point against a strong opponents.”

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1) Bettinelli; Fisher, Hall, Mcnair, Bola; Howson, Morsy (Coulson 30); Spence, Saville, Kebano (Bolasie 73); Watmore (Akpom 73). Subs Johnson, Fletcher, Archer (g), Mendez-laing, Coburn.

Watford (4-3-3) Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-ekong, Sierralta, Masina; Chalobah, Hughes, Zinckernagel (Gosling 77); Sarr, Pedro, Sema (Success 83). Booked Chalobah. Subs Foster (g), Ngakia, Cathcart, Lazaar, Gray, Kabasele, Sanchez.

Referee Tim Robinson (West Sussex).