Report and free highlights with new Watford head coach Nigel Pearson watching on
Saturday 7 December 2019 19:33, UK
Watford ended a run of three defeats with a goalless stalemate against Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road.
New head coach Nigel Pearson was watching from the stands as caretaker boss Hayden Mullins oversaw duties from the dugout for the second game running.
Watford started as the brighter side with waves of attacks down their right flank, but early promise from £40m signing Ismaila Sarr petered out and neither side managed a shot on target before the half-time whistle.
The second half proved more lively with Mullins' side imposing superiority for the lion's share as Gerard Deulofeu found his groove and combined effectively with Sarr.
But Wilfried Zaha proved a regular menace, bursting from midfield and frequently being floored with tactical fouls from Watford, which resulted in several heated exchanges throughout the game.
Watford almost collected all three points at the end, but substitute Andre Gray's run was blocked and taken on by Troy Deeney, whose deflected shot fell to Sarr - but Vicente Guaita nudged the ball to safety to secure the point.
Pearson would almost certainly have been impressed with his new side after a stoic performance, against a team who sat seventh in the league at kick-off.
Zaha single-handedly attempted to drive Palace forward and tempers began to flare after the Ivorian collapsed with the ball and three Watford players chopped away at the ball between his legs.
That undercurrent of bubbling aggression produced several moments of fracas between Zaha and a raft of Watford players, which saw Christian Kabasele receive a questionable caution, before three other Watford players joined him in the book.
Deulofeu failed to find any power with a clear chance after the break as Watford rekindled their early dominance and took the game to Palace,
But clear-cut chances were rare until the final 10 minutes, when Jordan Ayew fainted past Adam Masina but blazed his shot over the bar, before Sarr and Deulofeu collectively conjured three opportunities for the hosts.
Gary Cahill snuffed out moments of danger during the closing stages, preventing Sarr on two occasions, blocking a header and perfectly timing a last-ditch challenge.
In what was almost the final act of the game, Gray's direct run was deflected for attempts on goal by Deeney and Sarr - but none of the three failed to convert a winner.
Watford manager Hayden Mullins
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson
Sarr showed glimpses of real promise for Watford's relegation battle ahead and would have impressed incoming head coach Pearson in the stands, along with established counterpart Deulofeu.
For Palace, Zaha was also a contender, but Sarr was a regular threat in a game with few chances.
Watford face a difficult festive period, travelling to Anfield next Saturday before hosting Manchester United the following Sunday.
Crystal Palace welcome Brighton on Monday Night Football before facing Newcastle at St James' Park on the Saturday before Christmas Day.
