The Hornets struggled to get going throughout in a messy, stop-start game punctuated by lengthy stoppages and rarely looked like making the breakthrough as they sought to follow up their win against Wrexham with another three points.
Giorgi Chakvetadze in action during the goalless draw against Leicester City at Vicarage Road (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)
It was the Foxes who had the better chances to win it; Patson Daka seeing a penalty saved superbly by Egil Selvik at the end of the first half before the striker headed a glorious opportunity wide after the break.
Here are five talking points we’ve picked out from the draw. You can tell us what you think by using the comments facility on this page.
Mendy struggles
Saba Goglichidze’s injury absence meant Formose Mendy was given just a second start since his summer move to Vicarage Road but it quickly turned into a tough home debut.
The centre back was walking a tightrope from the 12th minute when he was booked for a foul on Abdul Fatawu.
The Senegal defender continued to look hesitant, culminating in the 40th minute when he was beaten by Fatawu and clumsily conceded a penalty.
Ed Still wasted little time in acting, replacing Mendy with Kevin Keben at the start of the second half.
Penalty prowess
Leicester would have been expecting to take the lead from that penalty but Selvik had other ideas as he marked his 50th Hornets appearance in style.
Daka struck his spot-kick well enough but the Norwegian read the striker’s intentions, diving low to his right to push the ball onto the post.
It was a key moment in helping Selvik keep a clean sheet, although he was unable to celebrate the milestone with three points.
Pollock shines again
Another player marking an appearance milestone was Mattie Pollock, who celebrated his 100th in style with another impressive display.
The centre-half carried on from where he left off against Wrexham on Tuesday, making some key defensive blocks and winning most of his aerial duels as he once again led by example.
Attacking limitations
There was no lack of effort but Watford rarely threated to find a way through the Foxes’ defensive ranks.
The stop-start, bitty nature of the first half meant the Hornets struggled to get in any rhythm and that continued to elude after the break.
With Nestory Irankunda and Giorgi Chakvetadze unable to create anything of note from out wide, and Luca Kjerrumgaard feeding off scraps until Still tried to change things, keeper Jakub Stolarcyzk had a largely untroubled afternoon between the posts.
One blow too many?
If Watford fail to raech the play-offs, it will not be due to this result in isolation but this feels like two big points dropped.
Still’s side now found themselves seven points adrift of the top six with seven games remaining as they head into the international break after Hull City, Southampton, Wrexham and Derby County all won this afternoon,
There are certain to be more twists until May when the Championship does resume at Easter, but the odds on the Hornets’ season being extended have lengthened markedly.