Town again suffered injury time heartbreak as Watford sub Nathan Ellington netted a late equaliser to stretch the Blues’ winless run to 13 games. The result was very harsh on Town who were much the better side and should have added to Gareth McAuley’s early opener on innumerable occasions.

Roy Keane made two changes to his starting line-up, Lee Martin replacing Alan Quinn on the left and Carlos Edwards coming in for Jaime Peters on the right.

Town went ahead in the fourth minute when Jon Walters headed a freekick from deep across goal and Gareth McAuley nodded his second goal of the season past former Blues academy player Scott Loach.

The Blues had started like a house on fire and almost added to their lead moments later when Edwards sent Rosenior away on the right and the loanee from Reading sent in a cross which Walters crashed against the bar.

Town continued to have the better of the game and on 14 referee Trevor Kettle showed his first yellow card of the game to Jon Harley for a foul on a breaking Edwards. Two minutes later Pablo Couñago joined him for his second foul of the game.

Lee Martin shot over from 20 yards, then a long David Wright throw appeared to be flicked on by a Watford defender, forcing Loach to tip over.

The Blues were well on top and on 29 a corner was cleared to Rosenior, whose goalbound shot was deflected wide.

Watford’s first shot came on 31 when Henri Lansbury volleyed over from the edge of the box.

The rampaging Edwards caught Lloyd Doyley in possession on 37 and might have gone down under the defender’s challenge on the edge of the box, but took the ball in on goal and hit a shot across the face and wide.

Leadbitter hammered a 30-yarder only just over in the 40th minute, before Don Cowie caused Asmir Begovic an awkward moment with a cross-shot which looped wide of the Bosnian keeper’s right-hand post.

Town fully deserved their lead and applause at half-time. The Blues management had clearly spotted that Watford were susceptible to quick breaks with Edwards and Martin brought into the game swiftly in the wide positions. Town looked threatening with every set piece and enough chances had been created to have had the game already won.

Jaime Peters replaced Martin at half-time, the former Manchester United man having failed to get the better of Watford full-back Lee Hodson.

The early stages of the second half were evenly balanced with neither side creating much of note, but Watford took control for a spell but without testing Begovic. On 58 Connor Wickham replaced the tiring Pablo Couñago.

On 61 Jon Walters rolled his man as the ball was played into feet and fed Edwards on the right, the former Sunderland man hitting a low shot which Loach did well to save with his feet.

Wickham headed wide as the Blues again looked the more likely scorers, then at the other end sub Nathan Ellington hit a weak effort through to Begovic.

Edwards crossed from the right in the 76th minute, Walters headed back across the area and McAuley nodded over.

Trinidadian Edwards was enjoying the best game of his time with Town so far and on 78 Loach was forced to tip his cross-shot over the bar. From the corner, Wickham headed wide.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Loach tipped Wickham’s header from Leadbitter’s corner over. The Blues were pinning Watford back into their own penalty area and were winning corner after corner.

There was an appeal for a penalty when a Wickham shot appeared to strike an arm, then Smith headed Rosenior’s cross to Loach when he probably should have scored. Town continued to press and the ball was hooked from under the bar after another corner.

With three minutes of normal time left, Ellington curled a freekick into Begovic’s arms after Liam Trotter had been harshly penalised for a foul a few yards outside the area when he had clearly won the ball.

Leadbitter and Ross Jenkins were both booked for a clash after Harley had caught Edwards in the face with a boot, the former Chelsea man perhaps fortunate not to receive a second yellow card. Moments later Walters hobbled off and was replaced by Alan Quinn.

Town seemed to be holding on for their first win of the season but in the fourth minute of injury time — some of which appeared to have been added on for the time it took Leadbitter from one side of the pitch to the other to take corners — they were to face heartbreak once again. Danny Graham crossed from the left and Nathan Ellington out-muscled Tommy Smith and beat Begovic from close range.

Portman Road went silent and soon after the whistle went, another chance to end the winless run dashed at the latest possible moment.

The performance, probably the best of the season alongside the display at Sheffield United, was well worthy of a win and the Blues were applauded off at the end.

Edwards was the man of the match but there were fine displays all over the field with team looking more settled as the weeks go on, despite the continuing lack of a victory. As on Saturday, the Blues had more than enough chances to make the game safe but again too many were spurned.

It’s difficult to believe that lightning has struck late four times to deny Town either victories or draws in recent weeks but strike it has, at Doncaster, Sheffield United, Barnsley and now at home to Watford. If the Blues play anything like as well at Plymouth on Saturday, then surely that first league win of the season finally has to come.

Town: Begovic, Rosenior, D Wright, McAuley, Smith, Trotter, Leadbitter, Martin (Peters 46), Edwards, Walters (Quinn 90), Couñago (Wickham 58). Unused: Lee-Barrett, Priskin, Bruce, Colback. Att: 19,283.

Photo: Action Images

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