Nestory Irankunda (left) scored his first goal at Vicarage Road since 30 August
Nestory Irankunda's emphatic finish earned Watford a point and denied Charlton Athletic a first win in four matches in a chance-laden Championship draw at Vicarage Road.
Watford, who had 31 attempts at goal but have won just three of their past 16 league matches, are now seven points from the play-off places and have fewer games to play than each of the top seven, while Charlton are eight points clear of the relegation zone with five games remaining.
Winger Irankunda raced on to Imran Louza's incisive pass from the halfway line and found the far corner of the net as part of an electric display, including a long-range shot against the crossbar shortly after Matty Godden's clinical opener for the visitors.
The hosts also hit the woodwork during the first half through Louza's curling delivery and had a Mamadou Doumbia goal ruled out for offside, although Charlton might have gone ahead sooner but for Greg Docherty's header hitting a post 10 minutes before half-time.
Former England international Conor Coady started for Charlton in his 500th club career appearance but was stretchered off after a lengthy delay during second-half added time, having been hit in the face by a shot.
Visiting goalkeeper Will Mannion shone in a lively contest, turning Irankunda's early drive behind and producing a one-on-one save after the Australia international won the ball inside his own half, exchanged a one-two with Louza and surged inside the box.
The ever-creative Louza beat Mannion but not the woodwork with a second crossing attempt following a corner, and Docherty followed suit at the other end in the culmination of a Charlton set-piece routine from a free-kick won by the restored Tyreece Campbell.
On his 50th Watford appearance, Doumbia then found the net with a first-time strike from Louza's free-kick but was immediately denied by an offside flag against Saba Goglichidze, who charged clear and tested Mannion with a low shot in the first attack after the interval.
A minute after his introduction, Godden scored his first goal of the season in style by controlling the ball on his chest in front of goal and swivelling to angle in a fierce finish, giving the Addicks hope of a league double in the fixture for the first time in 30 years.
Irankunda had other ideas, cannoning a piledriver off the bar and forcing Mannion to tip his shot away either side of his scintillating fourth goal of the season, continuing the 20-year-old's splendid form after netting twice for his country against fellow World Cup participants Curacao six days ago.
Mannion stopped a Louza shot while Goglichidze and Mattie Pollock sent headers wide as Watford pushed for a winner, before Coady's misfortune caused both sets of players to show their concern for the on-loan Wrexham defender.
What's next for both teams?
The sides are next in action on Saturday (15:00 BST), when Watford will aim to end a two-match losing away run by visiting second-bottom Oxford United and Charlton will seek to stop a run of two straight home defeats by taking on 14th-placed Preston North End.
'We should have won'
Watford head coach Ed Still told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We made the alterations we needed with and without the ball in the second half and completely dominated.
"We had chances from distance, in the box, on transitions and open play. That's the real positive. We're gutted we haven't taken [more] of them.
"We conceded off a second ball from a throw-in. We weren't quite impactful enough on defensive set-pieces. Despite that, we should have won."
Still: 'It was a game we should've won really'
Charlton head coach Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London:
"It's a good point. Watford have outstanding individuals who can change and win a game - players who have cost millions, talented individuals from all over Europe.
"When we got the goal, they made a plethora of positive subs. We found that difficult to contain but we didn't give them any clear-cut chances and, when they shot from distance, Will Mannion had a wonderful game.
"We need to get a win very, very soon, so it just settles everyone down and we can start planning. We'll probably have to lose every game to be embroiled in anything, but the message is to finish the season strongly."
Jones: "Delighted with a point, to defend the way we did."
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