Icelandic international Heidar Helguson kept Watford's First Division play-off hopes alive at Vicarage Road with a last-gasp winner against plucky Wolves.

Graham Taylor's men had been in the driving seat with two goals in the first 13 minutes and then saw Wolves reduced to 10 men after 32 minutes when Sean Connelly was sent off.

Wolves battled back to equalise and looked certain to pick up a point and reduce Watford's play-off hopes to those of rank outsiders.

Then, with almost the final attack of the game, Tommy Smith broke into the Wolverhampton penalty area and drove the ball across for Helguson to walk the ball into the net at the far post.

Watford had taken the lead when a Gifton Noel-Williams header had sent Smith away down the right after seven minutes and his cross was slid home by Tommy Mooney for his 22nd of the season.

After 13 minutes Smith attacked the heart of the Wolves' defence to beat keeper Michael Oakes with a low left-foot shot.

Then when Smith broke clear again after 32 minutes, Connelly pulled him back by the shirt and the referee duly issued the red card.

Two minutes from the interval Wolves' Michael Branch broke into the box and fell under the untidy challenge from Paul Robinson.

George Ndah stepped up to drive the ball to the keeper's right from the penalty spot.

Watford made heavy weather in the second half as they attacked 10-men Wolves but Allan Nielsen hit the post with one shot and Andy Oakes tipped the ball over from a Noel-Williams header.

Eleven minutes from time Wolves found the equaliser. Keith Andrews sent over a corner for Ndah to head goalwards and Adam Proudlock turned to hook the ball in from close range.

Teams

Watford: Chamberlain, Cox, Page, Palmer, Robinson, Vernazza, Nielsen, Kennedy, Smith, Noel-Williams (Helguson 88), Mooney.

Subs Not Used: Hyde, Day, Panayi, Cook.

Booked: Vernazza.

Goals: Mooney 8, Smith 14, Helguson 90.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Connelly, Pollet (Naylor 64), Lescott, Camara, Branch, Emblen, Andrews, Robinson, Roussel (Proudlock 45), Ndah.

Subs Not Used: Ketsbaia, Sinton, Stowell.

Sent Off: Connelly (34).

Goals: Ndah 44 pen, Proudlock 80.

Att: 13,765

Ref: M Jones (Chester).