Vivaldo Semedo's stoppage time equaliser denied Sheffield Wednesday their second league win of the season as Watford left it late to snatch a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.

The forward fired home with almost the last kick of the game to ensure Javier Gracia remains unbeaten at home since returning to the Hornets in October.

For a long time, Charlie McNeill's first-half strike looked to have given Henrik Pedersen's Owls all three points for the first time in 13 league games.

The hosts mustered 23 shots and had an Edo Kayembe equaliser ruled out for encroachment following a penalty, but were set for defeat until the final seconds.

Watford move up to 11th in the table, with Sheffield Wednesday 24th.

It had been almost 12 years to the day since Sheffield Wednesday had won on their travels at Vicarage Road, and they came within seconds of ending that run this time around.

The hosts themselves came into this one with the second best home record in the division, having lost just once – nearly three months ago to Blackburn.

Early signs that this would go to form came when Giorgi Chakvetadze forced a strong save from Pierce Charles in the visiting goal, and moments later when the keeper did not claim a free-kick from the left, he was grateful to see Yan Valery on the line to clear Othmane Maamma's goalbound effort.

Wednesday's first real foray forward put them in front. Neat play down the right allowed Valery time and space to cross, before the ball was only half cleared to McNeill, whose left-footed drive into the bottom corner comfortably beat Nathan Baxter.

Minutes later, with Watford still reeling, McNeill almost found space at the back post to make it two but saw Svante Ingelsson's cross diverted from his path at the final moment.

From that point on it was all about the hosts, with Maamma at the forefront of his side's attempt to draw level. First he forced a good save from Charles from a tight angle, before a mazy run created a shooting opportunity from Imran Louza, who couldn't direct his shot on target.

Maamma then fired an effort wide from the edge of the box, and with the half-time whistle approaching somehow comprised to miss the target from just a few yards out with only Charles to beat.

The second period mirrored much of the first, with substitutes Tom Ince and Nestory Irankunda, and Mamadou Doumbia all seeing chances to equalise slip by as the home fans began to grow restless.

It seemed the tension would lift when Marc Bola's shirt was pulled in the box and the referee pointed to the spot, but Louza could only hit the woodwork from 12 yards, and while Kayembe seemingly reacted to fastest to turn the ball home, he was adjudged to have been inside the penalty area when the kick was taken and the goal was ruled out.

With seven minutes of injury-time nearly up it looked as though the visitors would end their more-than-decade long drought for all three points against the Hornets, only for Semedo to pop up from 10 yards out with a sting in the tail.

Watford boss Javier Gracia told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It is the same situation that we have had in recent games, when we concede from the first shot we give away in the game and if you keep doing that in games it is difficult to win.

"We had good chances, many clear chances but it is something we are not doing so well in the last few games. When you are doing that it is not easy to win.

"It is a point for us, but it is not enough. We showed good character to compete and fight until the end, but today I am disappointed.

"We have the youngest squad in the championship, but we have to learn with these games, and these experiences. We have to compete better if we want to be in a better position at the end of the season.

On the disallowed goal: "I want to be honest and I think Edo was inside the box before Louza hits the ball."

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"The boys played with belief, togetherness and discipline, it made me proud. They wanted to support each other, and that was fantastic.

"I am very proud of my players tonight, they gave everything. On the other side we are disappointed because when it is so close and we couldn't finish it off, we invested so much, so it is mixed feelings.

"We have to turn it around. We can compete on a high level, and that is a positive. We see so many players growing and growing. We have to learn to see out games but we can be proud of a lot of good things tonight.

"The fans were great today, it was another good away game. Everyone is working so hard, the players, the staff. We are close, we just have to keep on going, we are going in the right direction."