Stalemate Draw At Vicarage Road

Watford and Millwall played out a stalemate at Vicarage Road this evening as the Hornets struggled to break down the in-form Millwall side.

Watford made just one change from Saturday`s win against Leicester, Joel Ekstrand making his home debut in defence in place of the injured Fitz Hall. In the Millwall side were former Hornets Danny Shittu and Darius Henderson.

Most of the first half was played in a sluggish fashion with Watford unable to raise the tempo of the game enough to trouble to well drilled Lions backline.

Millwall had the best chance early on in the game. A deep free kick from James Henry cannoned off Lloyd Doyley and Almunia had to be out smartly to block a shot from Chris Wood.

Watford gradually improved as the half went on but struggled to create any openings. Both Daniel Pudil and Marco Cassetti`s crossing was poor and Fernando Forestieri`s corners particularly disappointing.

The Hornets ended the half with a couple of good moments which could have seen them take the lead. Good build up play saw Almen Abdi find space on the edge of the box but he fired straight at David Forde.

Moments later from a Daniel Pudil cross, Forde failed to collect the ball at the first attempt but Forestieri`s looped shot was headed off the line by Mark Beevers.

Half Time: 0-0
Second Half

The second half panned out much the same way as the first with chances at a premium for either side.

Troy Deeney missed an opportunity from the edge of the box after controlling a cross from Pudil but his snap shot went wide.

Forestieri also went close after creating one of the best passages of the match as he ran onto a ball from Marco Cassetti, played a one-two with Deeney but fired wide from a tight angle.

Millwall offered little themselves going forward. The best they mustered was a header straight at Almunia from substitute Andy Keogh whilst Chris Wood blazed widely over from a decent position as Millwall hit Watford on the break.

Watford mustered the final chance to win the game in stoppage time at the end of the game. Abdi cut in from the touchline and his deep cross caught out Forde before hitting the top of the crossbar with Pudil hooking the rebound wide.

Overall, a disappointing evening for the Hornets, as they failed to convert there possession into clear chances and struggled to pass and move the ball as quickly as they have done of previous occasions.

Watford: Almunia, Doyley, Ekstrand, Hoban, Cassetti (Anya), Pudil, Chalobah, Abdi, Hogg, Forestieri (Vydra), Deeney (Geijo)

Subs Not Used: Bond (GK), Thompson, Yeates, Smith

Millwall: Forde, A. Smith, Beevers, Shittu, Lowry, Henry (Wright), Abdou, Trotter, Taylor (Feeney), Henderson (Keogh), Wood

Subs Not Used: Taylor (GK), J. Smith, Osborne, Malone

Referee: Mr G Ward