Alan Tate netted a dramatic injury-time equaliser to grab a point for Swansea after Danny Graham's strike had looked to be enough for Malky Mackay's Watford to claim an important away win.

The imposing defender fired into the top left corner in the dying minutes to give the hosts the point they deserved, after Graham had given the visitors the lead with 25 minutes to go with a well-struck right-footed strike.

For Paulo Sousa's Swansea, it saved what was a frustrating afternoon as they failed to make the most of their first-half domination and the creation of several decent chances,

It will be a further disappointment for the Hornets, who having sold Tommy Smith to Portsmouth earlier this week, were forced to start without key defender Mike Williamson, also a transfer target of Pompey.

He did not travel to Wales for the game after declaring himself unfit after the Hornets rejected his transfer request.

The opening exchanges suggested it would be a very different afternoon for the Swans as Alan Tate was presented with the game's opening opportunity after just 10 minutes.

However, he could not find the target with his header from just six yards out after connecting with Andrea Orlandi's outswinging corner.

Mark Gower then came close, hitting the bar for the Swans with a firm shot from the edge of the area six minutes later.

The hosts continued to look the most likely in a dominant first-half display, with Tate and Craig Beattie both having decent efforts at goal, although Cleverly and Danny Graham ensured Swans keeper Dorus de Vries did not get too bored with testing efforts before the half-time whistle.

The second half brought more of the same as Jordi Lopez struck at goal first, although his right-footed effort was straight at Scott Loach in the Watford goal.

Graham then turned the game with the first goal.

The lively Tom Cleverley broke free down the left and found the formidable frontman 18 yards from goal. Graham turned and struck the ball into the top right corner to give Watford a crucial lead.

However, going behind seemed to inspire Swansea to launch attack after attack in the remaining 25 minutes.

First Craig Beattie, on his debut, saw his 18-yard effort acrobatically tipped around the post by Loach, before Marco Painter's header was blocked strongly from the resulting corner.

Orlandi then drew another save from the in-form Loach with a thunderbolt of a shot from 25 yards out.

But Loach was finally beaten in the dying moments as Tate struck to ensure the spoils were shared.

Teams:

Swansea De Vries, Williams, Painter, Tate, Collins,Britton (Trundle 70), Orlandi (Idrizaj 85), Dyer (Morgan 76),Lopez, Gower, Beattie.

Subs Not Used: Cornell, MacDonald, Richards, Bond.

Booked: Painter, Williams, Orlandi.

Goals: Tate 90.

Watford Loach, Mariappa, DeMerit, Doyley, Hodson, Lansbury,Cowie (Harley 76), Jenkins, Cleverley, Sordell (Ellington 53),Graham (Hoskins 81).

Subs Not Used: Lee, Severin, Bryan, Eustace.

Goals: Graham 66.

Att: 14,172

Ref: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).