Chris Brunt grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser to sneak a point for West Brom against struggling Watford.
10-man Watford denied victory at the death
West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt grabbed an equaliser deep into stoppage time to sneak a 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Watford at Vicarage Road.
The Baggies could have set themselves up to clinch promotion if they managed to secure a victory against Malky Mackay's side.
But the contest seemed to be heading for a goalless draw until Hornets midfielder Jon Harley was sent off with a little over 10 minutes left.
It was then 10-man Watford who grabbed an unlikely lead when Danny Graham fired home a superb long-range effort.
However, Brunt pounced in the 95th minute as he headed into the net during a prolonged spell of added time.
It was a further blow for Watford, who look to have lost on-loan youngster Tom Cleverley for some time after he was stretchered off with a serious-looking knee injury.
Albion went into the game knowing victory for them combined with a draw or defeat for third-placed Nottingham Forest against Cardiff would secure their immediate return to the Premier League.
Promotion
And although automatic promotion was not secured on Saturday, it does seem to be a case of if and not when for Roberto Di Matteo's side.
The West Brom boss was able to rotate his ranks and call upon established attacking duo Giles Barnes and Roman Bednar, while Gianni Zuiverloon also came in at right-back for the injured Steven Reid.
In stark contrast, out-of-sorts Watford were without the key trio of Henri Lansbury, Heidar Helguson and Martin Taylor due to suspension and injury.
Despite Albion's possible impending promotion, the hosts were quick to remind them of their desire for all three points to aide their cause at the other end of the table.
Baggies keeper Scott Carson was forced to make a fine point-blank save from Adrian Mariappa before Mackay saw his selection problems worsen with the early loss of Lloyd Doyley to injury.
West Brom were struggling to get a foothold in the game, with their passing game not helped by a difficult surface.
Although Di Matteo's side steadily came into the match as the first half wore on, West Brom did not pose a serious threat to Hornets stopper Scott Loach.
A fiery scuffle involving Watford skipper John Eustace and Graham Dorrans, which was joined by a host of other players, raised the temperature inside Vicarage Road.
Deadlock
But, with Will Buckley firing off target when in a good position, half-time came with the deadlock still in place.
The first notable attempt after the break came from Mariappa, who stung the gloves of Carson with a rasping 30-yard drive in the 53rd minute.
At the other end, Bednar went down in the area under pressure from substitute Jay DeMerit but his appeals fell on deaf ears.
Robert Koren then saw his effort well blocked by Dale Bennett as Albion, minus the injured Zuiverloon, started to impose themselves.
As well as Doyley, Watford had also lost Buckley to injury when they were dealt a severe blow as Manchester United loanee Cleverley was stretchered off with his leg in a splint.
Matters went from bad to worse for the hosts as Harley saw red for a second bookable offence in the 79th minute.
But just minutes later Graham popped up to send the home crowd wild when his marvellous strike from distance looked to have settled matters.
The Baggies streamed forward, however, and after James Morrison missed a glorious chance to level, Brunt headed home from six yards to equalise at the last possible opportunity.