Match ends, Watford 1, Brentford 2.
Pontus Jansson's last-minute header broke Watford hearts and gave Brentford a third successive Premier League win for the first time.
It looked like Emmanuel Dennis' powerful strike after the break had secured a point for Watford, but the final result pushes them even closer to an immediate return to the Championship.
Christian Norgaard had put the Bees ahead inside 15 minutes.
It was a game of small margins as moments before Jansson's strike, Imran Louza had missed a chance to win with the goal gaping.
The result leaves Watford in 19th, six points adrift of safety having played two more games than Everton.
Brentford took the lead through Norgaard; Kristoffer Ajer flicked on Ethan Pinnock's long throw, and the Dane was there to apply the close-range finish.
There was a stagnant feel to the game for much of the first half. Ismaila Sarr and Dennis were trying to combine and restore parity for Watford, but they struggled to impose themselves.
But the tide turned in the first 10 minutes of the second half. At one end, Ivan Toney squandered a chance to double Brentford's lead, before Dennis fired home from a tight angle to make it 1-1.
Initially disallowed for offside after Sarr's flick on from Moussa Sissoko's cross, VAR intervened and the goal counted to give Vicarage Road an entirely new impetus.
The home side pushed for a crucial winner, and after hitting the bar with a free-kick through Dennis, Louza somehow failed to score from an open goal before Jansson provided the Bees' sting in the tail.
Watford pay the price for poor first half
There was enough character and energy in the Watford second half performance to take something from the game, and they will rue Louza's chance for a long time, but in truth, their first-half display summed up their issues.
Boss Roy Hodgson looked dismayed on the touchline as his side failed to show the sort of desire and purpose required in their position.
In Sarr and Dennis, the Hornets have two potent attacking players, but once again, they showed their soft underbelly, particularly with the goal they conceded.
They hit the bar and the post, so there was bad luck - but evidence of why they are struggling was there once again.
Hodgson bemoaned his side's luck in front of goal but admitted time is running out for his side.
"Someone up there doesn't like us," he told BBC Sport. "Our first-half performance was nowhere near good enough, we conceded a very poor goal so that was very disappointing considering how much we built the game up with the players during the week. They recognised the game needed to be built up because it was one of the last-chance games we'd have.
"We haven't been lucky, but that doesn't alter the fact we haven't been good enough either. Today we should have been congratulating ourselves, if that is the right word, on a 1-1 draw. I didn't think we deserved to be contemplating another home defeat; taking the second half, that is probably the best we've offered our home fans. That doesn't say much."
Bees can prepare for another top-flight campaign
Relegation looked a real possibility for Brentford some weeks ago, and it wasn't really an issue coming into this game, but now they really can look forward to another season.
Christian Eriksen has made the difference since his arrival, and he again showed why he was such a key player, even if his impact waned as the game progressed.
Thomas Frank praised his side's character after they secured three points in the latter stages once again.
"[It was a] crazy, crazy finish," he said. "The third time we've won in the last minute; that is a credit to the boys and their character. Through the game, we gave very little away. First half, we were slightly better; second half, Watford were better than us, no doubt. Then you think, 'okay, take a point. If you can't win, don't lose'.
"I am very pleased with [Christian] Norgaard; he is a key player but adding goals is fantastic. Pontus [Jansson] has been very dangerous, big determination, very disciplined. I'm very happy he got this goal."
Player of the match
EriksenChristian Eriksen
Watford
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameFosterAverage rating
6.53
- Squad number25Player nameDennisAverage rating
5.59
- Squad number23Player nameSarrAverage rating
5.17
- Squad number27Player nameKabaseleAverage rating
5.15
- Squad number10Player nameJoão PedroAverage rating
5.12
- Squad number19Player nameSissokoAverage rating
5.11
- Squad number21Player nameKiko FemeníaAverage rating
5.07
- Squad number22Player nameSamirAverage rating
5.00
- Squad number33Player nameKuckaAverage rating
4.93
- Squad number8Player nameCleverleyAverage rating
4.88
- Squad number14Player nameKamaraAverage rating
4.86
- Squad number6Player nameLouzaAverage rating
4.86
- Squad number7Player nameKingAverage rating
4.78
- Squad number15Player nameCathcartAverage rating
4.65
Brentford
Avg
- Squad number21Player nameEriksenAverage rating
8.95
- Squad number6Player nameNørgaardAverage rating
8.22
- Squad number18Player nameJanssonAverage rating
8.07
- Squad number17Player nameToneyAverage rating
8.06
- Squad number19Player nameMbeumoAverage rating
7.98
- Squad number27Player nameJaneltAverage rating
7.95
- Squad number20Player nameAjerAverage rating
7.88
- Squad number5Player namePinnockAverage rating
7.78
- Squad number3Player nameHenryAverage rating
7.75
- Squad number1Player nameRayaAverage rating
7.66
- Squad number11Player nameWissaAverage rating
7.60
- Squad number29Player nameBech SørensenAverage rating
7.55
- Squad number14Player nameGhoddosAverage rating
7.39
- Squad number8Player nameJensenAverage rating
7.28
Line-ups
Watford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Foster
- 21FemeníaSubstituted forCathcartat 87'minutes
- 27Kabasele
- 22Samir
- 14KamaraBooked at 53mins
- 19Sissoko
- 6LouzaBooked at 87mins
- 33KuckaSubstituted forCleverleyat 84'minutes
- 23Sarr
- 10João PedroSubstituted forKingat 84'minutes
- 25Dennis
Substitutes
- 2Ngakia
- 4Etebo
- 7King
- 8Cleverley
- 15Cathcart
- 16Gosling
- 26Bachmann
- 39Kayembe
- 47Forde
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 20Ajer
- 18Jansson
- 5PinnockSubstituted forBech Sørensenat 21'minutes
- 3Henry
- 27JaneltSubstituted forJensenat 74'minutes
- 6Nørgaard
- 21Eriksen
- 19Mbeumo
- 17ToneyBooked at 62mins
- 11WissaSubstituted forGhoddosat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Jensen
- 10Dasilva
- 14Ghoddos
- 24Fosu-Henry
- 26Baptiste
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 30Roerslev
- 36Stevens
- 40Fernández
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 20,747
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Watford 1, Brentford 2.
Goal!
Goal! Watford 1, Brentford 2. Pontus Jansson (Brentford) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Hassane Kamara (Watford).
Post update
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Imrân Louza (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Joshua King (Watford) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Joshua King.
Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Saman Ghoddos.
Post update
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Watford).
Post update
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Watford. Conceded by David Raya.
Post update
Attempt saved. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top left corner.
Post update
Ismaïla Sarr (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Pontus Jansson (Brentford).
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Craig Cathcart replaces Kiko Femenía.
Booking
Imrân Louza (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Tom Cleverley replaces Juraj Kucka.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Joshua King replaces João Pedro.
Post update
Foul by Juraj Kucka (Watford).
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Comments
Join the conversation
What a late goal from Jannson, and bitter for Watford to concede so late
Well played Brentford, a well run club that plays good football on a low budget.
As for Brentford, you have been wonderful this season and fully deserve your place in the EPL. As a Watford fan, our owners would do well to take note of the Brentford Model, not the Watford Model.
What a player. ;-)
I fell in love with Brentford 2014/15 season after I heard them singing at Forest, away... We're going up with the Derby, up with the Derby. Great team, great supporters. It's fantastic that they're on a win streak and I look forward to coming to their new stadium. All the best..DTID.
I hope the board can up their game and give the club clear direction for the next few years.
Somehow I sadly doubt it. Watford have got many issues to look at closely, including how the board can still hold their positions, represent the club and watch it going downwards in such poor style. Miserable to watch.
Look forward to seeing you play in the Premier League next year!
Just not good enough. Too much belief by the Watford hierarchy that they can breeze the season and be ok by the April.