The Hornets had taken the lead early when Luca Kjerrumgaard tucked in Edo Kayembe’s cross, before Scott Twine’s header levelled things up before the break.
Saba Goglichidze’s header had earlier hit both posts before Imran Louza and Nestory Irankunda went close after the break, when the visitors stepped their performance level up, though Egil Selvik was still required at the other end.
With the Hornets looking set to drop more points, though, Ngakia rifled a beauty into the top corner to put his side seventh in the Championship ahead of the rest of the fixtures this weekend.
Luca Kjerrumgaard scores the opener (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)
Having talked up finding a way for Giorgi Chakvetadze to influence games more often, Ed Still could not have wished for a better start at Ashton Gate.
Chakvetadze picked up the ball on the left flank and drove inside, feeding Kayembe to square for Kjerrumgaard to slot an opener into the roof of the net after just seven minutes.
Watford struggled to settle from there, though, and the Robins came into it, Selvik making a sharp stop to deny a sweetly-struck Ross McCrorie volley.
Gerhard Struber’s side continued to dominate the ball and territory, testing Selvik with a succession of crosses that the goalkeeper generally punched clear as the halfway point of the opening period ticked by.
Edo Kayembe crosses low (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)
It was Watford who came agonisingly close to scoring next, though.
Imran Louza’s delivery was headed onto the post by Goglichidze, hitting Radek Vitek and bouncing back onto the woodwork before settling into the goalkeeper’s arms.
Just after the hour mark, Nestory Irankunda rocketed an effort inches wide from 30 yards, a strike that would have been hard to trump as goal of the season had it flown in.
Twine hit the wall with a free-kick but made a meaningful impact nine minutes before the break when he equalised.
Randell’s excellent cross was headed in by the attacking midfielder from close range, a goal that owed everything to the fine delivery.
Chakvetadze’s final pass let him down as Watford streaked clear on the break just before half-time and the sides went in level.
The Hornets started the second half confidently, taking the game to their opponents more – with Papy Mendy on hand to mop up the odd attack at the other end.
Egil Selvik is down to save (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)
Louza went closest to rewarding their efforts with a goal, his shot tipped behind by Vitek after a fine touch in the middle of the pitch.
It was Still’s side who had the next real chance just after the hour mark, too, when Irankunda flicked Chakvetadze’s cross over after Kayembe’s audacious backheel.
At the other end, substitute Sinclair Armstrong shot into the side-netting as the game continued to live on a knife edge.
Still introduced Tom Ince and Mattie Pollock with little over 20 minutes to play, the former seeing a shot blocked almost immediately.
The game required something special and, with 14 minutes to play, Ngakia delivered.
WHAT A STRIKE! 🔥
Jeremy Ngakia fires Watford back in front with a phenomenal goal 😱 pic.twitter.com/nkqOTEKs93
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 27, 2026
Kayembe’s pull-back found the defender in space 25 yards out and he struck a piledriver into the top corner, a goal worthy of winning any game.
There was a scare just a few moments later when Chakvetadze failed to cut out a cross-field pass but McCrorie blazed wide with a sight of goal.
Selvik made another save in stoppage time when Bird headed goalwards as Watford nervously held on.
Watford: Selvik; Ngakia, Abankwah, Goglichidze (Pollock 69), Mfuni; Louza (Bola 90+3), P. Mendy (Ekwah 85), Kayembe; Irankunda (Ince 69), Kjerrumgaard, Chakvetadze (Bove 85)
Unused subs: Baxter, Petris, Nabizada, Semedo