At half-time Watford were cruising to victory but had this match gone on any longer they would surely have lost. A full-pelt comeback from Tranmere Rovers saw the League One strugglers overturn a three-goal deficit against Premier League opponents to secure a replay at Prenton Park. As Rovers manager Micky Mellon put it: “You can see the quality of these teams, but if you get the momentum it doesn’t matter how good they are, it’s difficult to get it back.”

This was the type of FA Cup tie that punters pay their money for. Certainly the 2,700 travelling Tranmere fans were in ecstasy at their team’s performance, aided in no small part by having two of their second half goals awarded (at least in part) by VAR. But their team’s showing, in managing to inflict on their hosts in the second half a punishment they had received in the first, was something to behold.

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Despite making nine changes to the side that beat Wolves in the Premier League on New Year’s Day, Nigel Pearson’s men were confident and composed from the off, with Nathaniel Chalobah a key influence. They opened the scoring in the 12th minute when the 20-year-old Tom Dele-Bashiru curled a shot inside the left-hand post from 25 yards.

Two minutes later and Chalobah doubled the lead, capitalising on Tranmere’s embarrassment. A pass from Peter Clarke inside his own box went behind Manny Monthé, and while Monthé managed to poke it clear from Isaac Success, the ball ran in to the path of Chalobah, who drove across and through the ball to find the same side of the net as Dele-Bashiru.

The third goal came just after the half hour and Success was involved again, bursting clear in the middle of the park and playing an excellent through ball to the lone striker, Andre Gray. Gray dithered at first and lost the shooting opportunity. He then cut outside Clarke with a touch that was too heavy, but Roberto Pereyra was on hand to gobble it up and hit another expert finish.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Goalscorer Roberto Pereyra is sent off late in the game. Photograph: John Walton/PA

Mellon was forced into decisive action at half-time, making a double substitution – including bringing on winger Corey Blackett-Taylor for forward Stefan Payne – and abandoning a three-man backline. For Watford, meanwhile, there was a change too, the injury-plagued Chalobah forced off with a groin strain. The 18-year-old Brazilian João Pedro came on – he signed from Fluminense on Wednesday and was the third of five Watford players to make their first-team debuts.

Pearson was not inclined to read too much into the result and said he did what he had to given Watford’s parlous position in the Premier League. “The league is our priority and I make no apologies for that”, he said. “I have no qualms about it. But to get to half-time at 3-0, you expect to see it through. Two things strike me from that: we have players close to the first team who have not taken their opportunities and young players who, although they have done pretty well, know they have to be physically good enough too.”

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Watford were adrift in the second half and when VAR overturned an incorrect offside call on Connor Jennings’s near-post header in the 66th minute, the blue and white touchpaper was lit. Every Tranmere attack had Watford wobbling, in particular every set piece. With 12 minutes to go the deficit was cut further after Monthé made up for his first-half misery by lashing home a deep corner that was not cleared.

With five minutes remaining Tranmere completed their recovery, when Blackett-Taylor ran at the substitute (and Watford’s fifth debutant) Mason Barrett. The winger burst past the teenager and Barrett brought him down, only for the referee, Graham Scott, to call for a corner. Again VAR checked and again delivered for Tranmere, awarding a penalty which Paul Mullin converted calmly.

In the final minutes there was still time for Pereyra to be sent off, Watford to put a dangerous free-kick just over the bar and Tranmere to once more cause havoc in the Watford box. But a draw was the final score and Prenton Park awaits. Would the replay be an unwelcome distraction from league matters, Mellon was asked. “It won’t be an unnecessary distraction to the bank manager.”