WATFORD moved off the bottom of the Premiership for the first time since early December but the 2-2 draw with Charlton effectively pushes both sides nearer to the drop.

First-half strikes from Hameur Bouazza and Damien Francis were not enough for Adrian Boothroyd's side to record only its fourth top-flight victory of the season.

Charlton, presumably having received a half-time earbashing from manager Alan Pardew, were greatly improved after the break and salvaged a point through Darren Ambrose's 89th-minute header after Luke Young had pulled one back midway through the second half.

But at this stage of the season a point is not much use to either side and it was also bad news for West Ham, who will kick off against Tottenham tomorrow at the foot of the table.

Wigan's win at Manchester City was also significant and it is likely the bottom three will remain the same to the end.

Even worse for Charlton, having battered Watford throughout the second half, they should have won it as Darren Bent and, particularly, Kevin Lisbie both missed gilt-edged chances in the dying moments.