On this day 14 years ago, Reading walked away from Vicarage Road with a hard-earned point, but it could have been much worse as one of the goals should not have stood.

Going ahead on 13 minutes, a Stephen Hunt corner was met by Watford defender John Eustace, directing the ball to the side of the goal.

Somehow, referee Stuart Atwell deemed the ball to have gone between the sticks and across the line- wrong on both accounts- giving Steve Coppell's men a controversial lead.

The Hornets fought back and lead with 25 minutes remaining, former Royal target Tommy Smith and midfielder John-Joe O'Toole turning the game on its head.

An 87th minute Hunt penalty salvaged a point in Hertfordshire, their second point on the road of the season.

Winning their next three matches, the newly-relegated outfit would go on to have a fine first half to the season, challenging for automatic promotion until a poor turn of form in the second half rendered them play-off hopefuls instead.

A 3-0 aggregate defeat to Bunrley in the semi-finals ended their dreams of a return to the Premier League, with iconic manager Coppell resigning on the spot at Turf Moor.

Reading Chronicle: PAPA (Image: PA)

It would take another three seasons before Brian McDermott would lead the club back into the top-flight in 2012.

Watford finished in the bottom half for the next three seasons, earning Premier League promotion in 2014/15, where they would remain until 2020/21.

'Goal scorer' Eustace is now first team manager at Championship rivals Birmingham City, his first professional management job after four years as a coach with Queens Park Rangers.