Watford's faint hopes of automatic promotion ended as they were held to a draw against Wolves.

The Hornets cannot now catch Sheffield United in second place, while Wolves' own frustration increased as they failed to build on a promising first-half performance.

Their failure to win meant they have only a mathematical chance of reaching the play-offs.

A run of one win in seven games has seen to that, but in the opening period they dominated Watford - already guaranteed a play-off spot - and a 17th-minute strike from Jeremie Aliadiere gave them a deserved half-time lead.

But Watford took control in the second period with Marlon King equalising with his 21st goal of the season before being sent off late on for using abusive language to the referee's assistant.

The home side's first attack came in the seventh minute with Colin Cameron playing a long ball wide for Aliadiere.

The ball was then worked across for Paul Ince, who found Tomasz Frankowski in the penalty area but the Polish striker's control deserted him.

Wolves goalkeeper Stefan Postma made a number of mis-kicks, most notably in the ninth minute when his sliced clearance was headed goalwards by Darius Henderson, although the Dutch goalkeeper got back across in time.

Wolves were back on the attack in the 13th minute with Maurice Ross playing a one-two with Ince deep on the right but his cross was just too long for Cameron to direct on target.

Watford's Ashley Young then had a 20-yard effort saved comfortably by Postma, and moments later Wolves took a deserved lead.

Frankowski took possession in a counter-attack and the Pole slipped the ball through for strike partner Aliadiere and the French youngster sidefooted past Ben Foster from 16 yards.

Wolves almost doubled their lead when Mark Kennedy, deployed in a central midfield role alongside Cameron and Ince, dispossessed King and played the ball wide for Lee Naylor, whose 30-yard drive flew narrowly wide.

Naylor was then on target with an inswinging free-kick but Foster gathered with Keith Lowe ready to pounce on the rebound.

Ince was replaced by Rohan Ricketts in the 36th minute after pulling his hamstring before Frankowski found himself clear on the halfway line after a Watford corner was cleared.

But just when it seemed he would finally claim his first goal for the club, Foster managed to block his shot.

From another Watford corner just before the break, Henderson's header across goal was cleared at the back post.

The visitors continued to press forward after the restart, although the half's first shot came in the 53rd minute when Cameron blazed over from the edge of the box.

Watford's pressure then told with King picked out behind the Wolves defence, but the in-form striker fired wide from a good position.

But that was just a sighter for King, who struck the equaliser in the 65th minute.

The Wolves defence failed to deal with Lloyd Doyley's long throw-in from the right and the ball fell for King to fire a superb half-volley past Postma on the turn.

Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle brought on Carl Cort and Seol Ki-Hyeon for Frankowski and Ross in the 72nd minute, shortly after the home crowd began chanting for his departure, but they failed to bring about a response from the home side.

Postma was out well to deny Young after Malky Mackay nodded down Gavin Mahon's long free-kick and Young then miscued after a knock-down by King.

King then appeared to have been brought down by Joleon Lescott after being played in by Matthew Spring, but the referee waved play on.

King appeared to make a comment to the referee's assistant shortly afterwards and was subsequently shown a straight red card in the 85th minute.

Wolves then surged forward through Aliadiere, but after his run was blocked, Cameron sidefooted wide and Wolves had to settle for yet another draw.

Teams

Wolverhampton Postma, Edwards, Lescott, Lowe, Ross (Seol 72),Cameron, Ince (Ricketts 36), Kennedy, Naylor, Aliadiere,Frankowski (Cort 72).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Little.

Booked: Aliadiere.

Goals: Aliadiere 17.

Watford Foster, DeMerit, Mackay, Carlisle, Doyley,Eagles (Chambers 90), Mahon, Spring (Bangura 87), Young, King,Henderson (McNamee 61).

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Blizzard.

Sent Off: King (85).

Goals: King 65.

Att: 22,584

Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).