A 41st minute goal from Micah Richards has cancelled out Odion Ighalo’s opener and leaves Watford’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa poised at 1-1 at half time.

Ighalo tucked home the first goal of the contest in the 17th minute but the Hornets have come under heavy pressure in the first half and the home side eventually levelled as Richards headed home a free-kick.

Quique Sanchez Flores made two changes to the Watford side who started the defeat to Manchester United.

Nathan Ake was restored to the starting XI with Ikechi Anya dropped to the bench while Juan Carlos Paredes earned his first league start of the season with Jose Manuel Jurado named among the substitutes.

The first save either goalkeeper had to make came in the tenth minute. Richards powered forward from centre-back and slipped a pass through for Jordan Ayew.

The striker sprinted onto to the ball and, from an angle, fired towards goal. Heurelho Gomes was alert and reacted quickly to save.

Villa applied pressure in the opening quarter hour but Watford held firm. And when the Hornets fashioned their first opportunity they went in front.

Ighalo broke in behind the Villa defence and forced Brad Guzan into a save. The ball was cleared to Almen Abi whose cross was only headed into the path of Ben Watson.

The Watford midfielder drove a shot towards goal, the ball was deflected into the path of Ighalo who poked his shot past Guzan and into the net.

Flores’ side created an opportunity to double their advantage moments later as a Troy Deeney cross was destined for Ighalo but Richards stuck out a vital leg to clear.

Defensively Villa were shambolic at times but when they attacked they carried a threat.

Ayew wasted a gilt-edged chance to score when he dragged a shot from ten yards wide before Jordan Veretout curled a strike wide and Scott Sinclair forced Gomes into a save.

But the home side continued to attack and, four minutes before the break, they were rewarded with an equaliser.

Alan Hutton won his side a free-kick 25 yards out. Veretout took it and crossed for Richards who rose powerfully and steered his header past Gomes which meant the contest was level at the break. 

Aston Villa: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Clark, Richardson; Gana, Veretout; Sanchez, Gil, Ayew; Sinclair.

Aston Villa substitutes: Bunn, Okore, Bacuna, Westwood, Lescott, Traore, Gestede.

Watford: Gomes; Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Ake; Capoue, Watson, Paredes, Deeney, Abdi; Ighalo.

Watford substitutes: Arlauskis, Anya, Guedioura, Ibarbo, Berghuis, Jurado, Diamanti.