The 10-man Cherries were on course to return to the summit after goals from Yann Kermorgant and Matt Ritchie put them 2-1 up against Sheffield Wednesday, despite Simon Francis' dismissal
But the visitors were awarded a spot-kick five minutes into stoppage time and Chris Maguire made no mistake to snatch a 2-2 draw
That meant Watford leapfrogged Middlesbrough and the Cherries to climb into pole position thanks to a stunning goal by Craig Cathcart
The Hornets were making hard work of beating Birmingham until defender Cathcart came up with an overhead kick to convert Ikechi Anya's cross midway through the second half.
Derby's automatic promotion hopes are over after 4-4 draw at Huddersfield, with Rams winger Tom Ince hitting the first and last goals of a see-saw encounter
Oscar Gobern, Mark Hudson and Reece James put Town 3-1 up after Ince's opener but Simon Dawkins and Jesse Lingard restored parity
Nahki Wells netted for the hosts but Ince had the final say
In the lunchtime kick-off Wolves striker Benik Afobe hit his 31st goal of the season to salvage a 1-1 draw against play-off rivals Ipswich at Molineux.
Afobe pounced after 50 minutes to cancel out a 21st-minute own-goal from Richard Stearman.
Brentford's play-off hopes were dented after they twice threw away the lead to draw 2-2 with Bolton.
Alex Pritchard and Jonathan Douglas were on target for the Bees, but they were pegged back by goals from Adam Le Fondre and Mark Davies.
At the other end of the table Wigan live to fight another day after beating Brighton 2-1.
Tim Chow marked his first start of the season with the opening goal for the Latics before Dale Stephens equalised
Anything but a victory would have sent Wigan down but James Perch bundled in a late winner to keep their slim survival hopes alive.
Millwall missed the chance to pile on the pressure on fourth-bottom Rotherham after a goalless draw at Cardiff left them four points adrift of safety with three games to play.
Fulham all but secured their survival, nine points clear of Millwall, after Matt Smith's goal condemned already-relegated Blackpool to a 1-0 defeat.
Elsewhere Rudy Gestade hit a hat-trick as Blackburn drew 3-3 with Nottingham Forest, while Tony Watt and Yoni Buyens scored in Charlton's 2-1 win over Leeds.
Source : PA
Source: PA