Graham Taylor had spent the week praying for a "miracle" to save his Watford side.

Well, Allan Smart's 78th minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham might not exactly constitute divine intervention, but it was welcome all the same in a scrappy game at Vicarage Road.

It still leaves battling Watford nine points adrift of safety and virtually doomed at the foot of the Premiership with just eight games remaining.

But at least Smart's goal rewarded Watford's courage and eased the painful memory of a quite farcical blunder by Watford goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain, whose bungled clearance had presented Spurs with the lead when Chris Armstrong side-footed home.

For Spurs it is another two points thrown away as they bid to qualify for Europe - and it is easy to see exactly why Spurs boss George Graham admits he tears his hair out in away matches.

Most of his heartache is caused by the enigmatic David Ginola, who, as it happened, was by far Tottenham's most creative player this afternoon.

It was the rest of Tottenham's underachievers who threatened to turn Graham completely bald after a match they should have won handsomely by half-time and was as predictable and as depressing as tax in your pay packet.

Ironically, the fact that they hadn't was in large part down to Chamberlain. First he beat away a fierce shot from Darren Anderton which was too hot to hold after Ginola had split the defence with a precisely-weighted through ball.

Then Anderton, who last week signed a new deal at White Hart Lane based on appearances, fired in a 20-yard free-kick which forced Chamberlain into a scrambling, sprawling save down to his left.

The odd shot flashed over the bar from Watford but, in truth, their strike force appeared so impotent that it was difficult to see where salvation might have come from.

That feeling was reinforced when in the 52nd minute Spurs were handed the opening goal with a goalkeeping blunder of biblical proportions.

There seemed no danger whatsoever as Chamberlain raced out to clear a long, hopeful Spurs through ball. But the goalkeeper dawdled at the fateful moment and instead of lifting the ball high into the Vicarage Road stand he proceeded only to hit it into the back of Spurs striker Armstrong, who had followed in hopefully.

The ball spun wildly and deflected back into the path of Armstrong who had the simple task of walking the ball into the net. When events go so cruelly you are entitled to feel it is not your season, let alone your day and with the rain teeming down there looked no way back for Watford.

But, while Taylor's side may not possess quality they certainly have fight and courage aplenty. And their battling qualities were rewarded when Nordin Wooter weaved his way through the Spurs defence in the 78th minute and fed Smart.

Watford's top scorer conjured up a delicate piece of footwork to lift the ball over Spurs keeper Walker and Watford were level.

In a typically frantic finish they might even have stolen victory but for some poor finishing by Tommy Smith, though it should be said that Ginola's screaming late drive might have sent Graham home happy.

It was always likely to be a game of graft rather than guile, a match for the committed rather than the purist.

Watford were scrapping for their Premiership lives, rock bottom and nine points adrift from safety.

Spurs were desperate to prove that they are more than just a mid-table side and capable of gaining a place in Europe.

In truth, after this scrappy and fitful performance, neither ambition looks likely to be fulfilled.

Teams:

Watford: Chamberlain, Kennedy (Perpetuini 66), Page (Williams 74), Palmer, Robinson, Cox, R. Johnson, Hyde, Wooter, Helguson (Smith 66), Smart.

Subs Not Used: Day, Bonnot.

Booked: Helguson, Williams, R. Johnson, Robinson.

Goals: Smart 78.

Tottenham: Walker, Taricco, Scales, Perry, Carr, Ginola, Anderton, Freund, Leonhardsen (Clemence 26), Armstrong, Iversen (Ferdinand 76).

Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Korsten, Young.

Goals: Armstrong 51.

Att: 20,050

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).