THIS was a game that epitomised the fact that no one team is grabbing the Championship by the scruff of the neck.
The gap at the top tightened ever more with Bristol City and West Brom both losing. The 0-0 draw with Watford and their visitors Stoke City therefore saw a change in the leading two as the Potters claimed top spot. Watford however sit just three points behind with a game in hand and boast a superior goal difference.
The Hornets saw their chances of victory hampered when referee Rob Styles sent off John Eustace just 21 minutes in.
The former Stoke man's challenge on Richard Cresswell was deemed worthy of a straight red card, but didn't seem to upset many of the Potters men who shook his hand as he trudged towards the tunnel.
The Hornets were handed a get out of jail card in the second half however when John-Joe O'Toole won a penalty, only for Darius Henderson to see his second spot kick in a week well saved. Again that was to be Watford's best chance in a game that mirrored that of the Tuesday night previous.
Jay DeMerit had returned to the starting line up at the expense of Aidy Mariappa and Mat Sadler was back in action after recovering form a hamstring injury.
Stoke City were without midfielder Liam Lawrence - suspended after picking up his tenth yellow card of the season - while striker Mamady Sidibe was ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Norwich City.
Glenn Whelan returned from his own two match ban whilst on loan forward Jay Bothroyd was in the side after making the move from Wolves on loan yesterday.
Watford wasted no time in mounting the first attack in this top-of-the-table clash. Tommy Smith put in a typical blistering run down the right and fed Collins John, but Watford's newest striker failed to hit the target with his venomous snap-shot.
Jobi McAnuff was the next to try his luck, but the edge of the box efforts that have become synonymous with the nippy midfielder ricocheted off an oblivious Stoke defender.
McAnuff went closer still when he raced onto John's knock down and riffled a shot goalwards. Again though there seemed to be a Stoke defender in the right place at the right time - or should that be the wrong place at the wrong time - and McAnuff's effort was cleared pretty much from the goal line.
Stoke it seemed were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure throughout the opening 20 minutes.
McAnuff was again in the thick off all the action, spraying in balls to the box at will. One such effort found John's head perfectly and his flick on had to be held by Carlo Nash to prevent the Dutchman netting his first Watford goal.
It was all going so well, until that challenge from former Stoke man Eustace on Cresswell saw the Hornets reduced to ten men. Rob Styles didn't hesitate in brandishing a red card immediately, leaving the Watford skipper with his head in his hands.
Styles, with his usual flamboyant theatrics, did succeed in rousing the Watford support to their vociferous best however. It was just as well, for if Watford weren't already working hard enough, they were really going to have to up the ante now.
It was 31 minutes in before Stoke mustered their first effort, a weak Ricardo Fuller shot from 25 yards that was easily held by Richard Lee.
The dismissal seemed to take some of the sting out of the game and Watford settled into a more methodical approach of attempting to break Stoke down, playing the softly, softly game plan.
Both sides made changes at the break with Lee Williamson replacing Collins John and Paul Gallagher coming on for Leon Cort.
Watford were handed a lifeline on 54 minutes when Andy Griffin brought down O'Toole in the box. Styles pointed to the spot and for the second time this week, Henderson stepped up to take the penalty.
It was déjà vu however, as once again, the darling of the Rookery saw his effort well saved.
The game seemed to fall into a lull. Watford in shock maybe that such a golden opportunity had passed, and Stoke shocked that they weren't a goal down. The crowd however were alive and kicking.
McAnuff was causing trouble for the Stoke defence yet again as he whipped in another fine effort, this time deciding to go for goal and only narrowly missing the target from the edge of the box.
Watford continued to press, despite the one man disadvantage. Stoke however still sat back and invited the pressure.
McAnuff was becoming increasingly frustrated at not receiving any protection from Styles, having been swatted away by his marker for the umpteenth time that afternoon. His voiced frustrations then saw him pick up a yellow card for his troubles.
Henderson and then Shittu took a tumble in the box, Styles waved play on - Watford weren't to be seeing another penalty during this game it seemed.
Tommy Smith's last ditch effort at the death would have seen the points won in spectacular fashion but try as they might, Watford had to see out their sixth successive draw. However, the game in hand could once again make this Watford's league.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Lee; DeMerit, Bromby, Shittu, Sadler; Smith, O'Toole, Eustace (c), McAnuff; John (Williamson 46), Henderson. Subs not used: Poom (gk), Ellington, Kabba, Stewart.
STOKE CITY (4-4-2): Nash; Griffin (c), Cort (Gallagher 46), Riggott, Dickinson (Pugh 52); Delap, Whelan, Shawcross, Bothroyd (Diao 59); Fuller, Cresswell. Subs not used: Simonson (gk), Pugh, Parkin.
BOOKINGS: WATFORD; Henderson (unsporting behaviour 57), McAnuff (dissent 81). STOKE CITY; Fuller (unsporting behaviour 41), Shawcross (dissent 54), Gallagher (unsporting behaviour 87).
SENDING OFFS: WATFORD; Eustace (serious foul play, 21). STOKE CITY; none.
GOALS: WATFORD; none. STOKE CITY; none.
REFEREE: R Styles.
ATTENDANCE: 18,338 (2,435 Stoke supporters)
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