Millwall 0-0 Watford: Lions hold Hornets to goalless draw
- Published
Watford's Andre Gray (right) has gone 12 appearances without a goal
Watford climbed into the Championship automatic promotion places despite being held to a goalless stalemate by draw specialists Millwall at The Den.
The Hornets had the better of an entertaining first half as Tom Cleverley's free-kick was headed against his own post by home defender Shaun Hutchinson and Bartosz Bialkowski saved Ismaila Sarr's shot with his legs.
But Jake Cooper twice came close to giving Gary Rowett's Lions an interval lead, first heading against the woodwork before seeing another header ruled out for offside moments later.
The second half was less of an event - Watford coming closest when Nathaniel Chalobah's 25-yard strike was beaten away by Bialkowski, who then tipped Troy Deeney's rebound wide.
Xisco Munoz's visitors move above Swansea into second despite missing out on a fourth successive Championship win, while Millwall also rise a place to 15th with their 12th league draw of the season.
Lions striker Kenneth Zohore failed to connect with Danny McNamara's fine first-half cross and at the other end Hutchinson made a goal-saving interception to prevent Andre Gray from scoring, as somehow neither team broke the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.
However, a poor playing surface was not conducive to slick football and both sides lacked quality in attacking areas as the game wore on.
Midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld had an assured debut for Millwall after signing from Birmingham on Monday but Rowett's side are now winless in their past nine home league matches.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett:
"With Watford they don't just pass the ball well but they can out-muscle you and we had to stand up to that.
"Our home form hasn't been good so I spoke to the players before the game and told them to treat it like an away game. The challenge wasn't to go and get on the front foot, I just felt we had to keep our shape.
"First half I think we did that well and we had a goal disallowed for offside that I think was probably level.
"Second half we had to hang on a little bit because we weren't passing the ball well, but a clean sheet and a point at home is more where we feel we need to be."
Watford head coach Xisco Munoz:
"I think it was a very good performance in which we controlled the ball very well in both halves and created chances to score.
"This is good momentum for us and I don't want to make excuses but today was also difficult for our guys. They gave everything, though, so to them I say congratulations - they are winners to me.
"Millwall didn't give us much space behind the line of defence but we continued to try and play in front of them until something happened. We had the chance but when it comes and you can't score, that's a problem."