The home fans, who filled the field before the match went into stoppage time, did not take into account that even though Watford’s head coach had changed, some habits were difficult to get rid of.
Tom Cleverley had his head in his hands as he saw his team go another minute into extra time, thus negating a 2-0 lead and coming home from The Hawthorns with a point in a 2-2 draw.
But the yellow players returning home knowing they had let two points slip away is also a sign of the progress Watford have made in such a short time under Cleverley.
Once again they played 3-5-2 and once again they looked very well prepared, organized and eager.
The home side were outplayed at the start and needed two excellent saves from Dan Bachmann to prevent them taking an early lead.
But once the game was over the Hornets remained within arm’s reach of the Baggies and although they didn’t do much going forward, they looked comfortable against a team unbeaten for seven games.
After half-time Watford stepped up a gear, scoring twice and everything looked set for an improbable away win.
Edo Kayembe’s fierce strike, a controlled 20-yard effort followed by a very typical Mileta Rajovic goal from just a few yards clearly shook the home team and their fans.
If it had stayed 2-0 for a while, that might have been enough.
But when Albion got a comeback within five minutes, their tails rose, the noise in the stadium rose and from then on it became a case of clockwatching.
Watford had chances to put an end to the game and when those chances were not taken there was a nagging feeling that they were running out of steam faster and faster as the seconds ticked by.
A minute into stoppage time the home side equalized and the game ended with Watford looking more uncomfortable than they had all afternoon.
It’s always painful to let points slip away, especially when the lead has been a few goals away and the equalizer comes so late.
But this was once again a determined, combative display from Watford, who knew their job and did it well.
Albion have lost just three games at home all season and are still in the play-off race, and what Watford showed today (as well as on Friday) was that they can stack up with the top teams in the Championship.
After all, only the most optimistic of Hornets fans could have predicted that their side would not lose both games during the Easter Window.
There were two changes in the starting 11. With captain Wes Hoedt suspended in defense, Mattie Pollock dropped to the bench, while Ismael Kone replaced Yaser Asprilla on the bench.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old striker Zavier Massiah-Edwards was also on the bench for the first time. The youngster is recognized by Tom Cleverley as a regular in the Under 18s and is a very attacking, skilful and crafty winger.
Giorgi Chakvetdaze was not included in the squad due to his illness.
The first half started at a high tempo, but then it slowed down and at the end of 45 minutes, the match looked like a last-day match.
Almost complete disaster struck in the seventh minute when Francisco Sierralta lost the ball in the middle of his own half and Thomas-Asante raced towards goal.
Bachmann made a great save to deny him and then when the ball came loose Johnston intervened but his follow-up was blocked by Ryan Porteous.
Watford’s first and only attempt on target came soon after but Kayembe’s low 20-yard drive was headed straight at Palmer.
Bachmann was dominant again in the ninth minute when he darted to his left and headed in Thomas-Asante.
That was pretty much it in terms of goal efforts until the final minute of the half, when Fellows attacked down the right wing and got to the byline, but Thomas-Asante looked on with a header.
The Hornets took the lead six minutes after the restart and really brought the game to life.
A great strike came from Kayembe, who controlled Tom Dele-Bashiru’s half-cleared corner at D on the edge of the penalty area and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
Minutes later Dele-Bashiru’s searing 25-yard drive was pushed over by Palmer, Emmanuel Dennis collected the loose ball on the left, danced along the byline and then hit the post with a low shot.
In the 65th minute, Watford took control of the game and took the lead 2-0.
It was a typical Mileta Rajovic goal as the substitute slid to the back post to convert Lewis’ low cross, which was released by a very clever pass from Asprilla.
However, five minutes later, the home team returned to the game.
Thomas-Asante moved behind the defense on the right wing and beat Bachmann with a good shot at the near post.
Watford continued to press and Asprilla sent a shot straight at Palmer before Andrews saw the goalkeeper hold on to a side-foot volley.
When the match came to extra time, the home team broke Watford’s heart with the equalizing goal.
The Hornets defense were slow to close down Furlong when he received the ball from just outside the box on the right wing and beat Bachmann with a rising shot into the far corner.
Watford: Bachmann; Porteous, Sierralta, Hoedt; Andrews, Dele-Bashiru, Kone (Asprilla 54), Kayembe (Livermore 84), Lewis; Bayo (Rajovic 54), Dennis (Martins 73). Substitutes: Hamer, İnce, Pollock, Morris, Massiah-Edwards