Middlesbrough earned themselves another valuable point with a scoreless draw against Watford at Vicarage Road.
On loan substitute Tom Cleverley went closest to breaking the deadlock for the home side when hitting the woodwork.
Following a moving tribute to their former manager Graham Taylor, the Hornets saw an early opportunity as Boro keeper Victor Valdes blocked from Troy Deeney.
Cristhian Stuani had the ball in the net at the opposite end but there was an offside call; although the visitors were forced to scramble away when Abdoulaye Doucoure’s low drive wasn’t cleanly taken by Valdes.
Stuani lobbed over the advancing Heurelho Gomes in reply but also beyond the target, while Valdes saved a Stefano Okaka header after the break.
Grant Leadbitter’s speculative effort next proved wayward and Etienne Capoue was similarly off-target at the opposite end, with Doucoure missing a later header and Boro substitute Rudy Gestede also wide.
Watford were though closest to a reward as Cleverley’s shot came back off an upright and Capoue sent the rebound wide, while Deeney also saw a further attempt deflected behind by Valdes as the deadlock remained.
Watford: Gomes (Pantilimon 66), Kaboul, Prodl, Britos, Kabasele, Capoue, Behrami (Cleverley 77), Holebas (Zuniga 89), Doucoure, Deeney, Okaka
subs (unused): Cathcart, Sinclair, Watson, Ighalo
Middlesbrough: Valdes, Chambers, Bernardo, Gibson, Friend, Fabio, de Roon, Leadbitter, Forshaw, Stuani (Gestede 65), Negredo
subs (unused): Clayton, Fischer, Guzan, Downing, Fry, Gestede, Traore
Ref: J. Moss
Att: 20,659
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