Watford had to settle for a point in their final game of 2023 after Vakoun Bayo was sent off against Stoke City at Vicarage Road.

Jake Livermore gave the Hornets the lead from close range with his first goal for the club, but Ryan Mmaee turned his marker before firing home the equaliser.

Giorgi Chakvetadze hit the Stoke bar in the opening exchanges of the second half, but Ivory Coast forward Bayo then saw red following a tangle with Luke McNally, which saw both players end up on the floor.

The visitors sensed a fourth away win of the season but could not make their man advantage count as goalkeeper Ben Hamer crowded out Bae Junho in a one-on-one and also made an excellent fingertip save to deny Mmaee his second.

Watford remain 10th in the table, four points outside the play-off spots, with Stoke slipping a place to 19th, but seven clear of the bottom three.