Kevin Bond was impressed with Watford’s performance during their last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers this afternoon.

The Hornets started the game five points outside the play-offs but they were on course to close that gap further when Mathias Ranegie gave the visitors a deserved lead early in the second half. However, Joey Barton equalised for the home side before Charlie Austin secured the points in dramatic fashion in the last minute of normal time when Watford were caught short of bodies at the back as they pressed for a winner at a corner.

The Rangers assistant manager, who also deputised for Harry Redknapp on post-match media duties after the 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road earlier in the season said: “Obviously they still thought they had a chance of the play-offs and they looked strong and I was impressed with them, I thought they played well in the first half and we never really got our game going. I think the longer the half went on we got hold of the ball and kept it a little better which I think helped us.

“We didn’t start the second half as well as we would have liked, went a goal down – a good goal from their point of view and obviously disappointing from ours – we made a couple of substitutions and I think that made a difference to us as well and we finished the game really well.”

Reflecting on Austin’s winner, Bond said: “It looked like we were about five-to-one against them at one stage and we nearly contrived not to score a goal. I haven’t seen it again but I thought under severe pressure, he kept his composure really well and it was a great finish.”