Stoke City have drawn six of their 12 games since Mark Robins took charge
Championship strugglers Stoke City had to settle for their eighth draw in 18 home games this season as they were held by play-off hopefuls Watford.
In a grim game of few chances, the Potters fans suffered a third goalless draw in the five Championship home games since Mark Robins took charge.
For fellow former Manchester United man Tom Cleverley, it was only the Hornets' second goalless draw of the season.
After missing the chance of a third consecutive win, Watford drop a place in the Championship table to 10th, but are still only three points shy of the play-off zone.
Robins' Potters, who had lost their previous two games, rise one spot to 19th, but remain only five points clear of the relegation places with 11 games to go.
Stoke's resolute performance at least appeased the home fans, who gave plenty of early vocal backing, as well as booing their one-time £10m signing Tom Ince. But there was precious little goalmouth action to prolong such enthusiastic backing.
On-loan Liverpool winger Lewis Koumas fizzed an effort well wide, while Watford went close when Edo Kayembe headed Ince's cross wide and it got only marginally livelier after the restart.
Giorgi Chakvetadze was only fractionally wide for Watford with a curling right-footed effort from outside the penalty box before Mamadou Doumbia's left-footed attempt flashed past Viktor Johansson's other post.
Chakvetadze then threaded a pass through to Yasser Larouci, whose angled close-range shot was deflected behind for a corner, before Stoke defender Ben Wilmot headed against his own post from Imran Louza's deflected cross.
But it was Stoke who came closest to winning it when the hosts finally twice tested Watford's Norwegian goalkeeper Egil Selvik, on only his fifth start following his January arrival.
But substitute Million Manhoef shot straight at the keeper, who then had to dive at full stretch to keep out Bae Jun-ho's header.
Who's next?
Stoke now face an all-Midlands affair next Saturday at Coventry, when Robins returns to the CBS Arena to face the Sky Blues for the first time since his sacking in November.
Coventry are now fifth in the Champioship, having been 17th when Robins left.
Watford return to Vicarage Road for the first of two home games in five days, against Millwall, then Swansea City.
'We controlled the game enough to win in' - reaction
Stoke City boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:
"It wasn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination. But there were a lot of positives. It was niggly at times but I was pleased with some of the tackles we put in.
"The performance was all right on the back of a three-game week. Watford have only played two games this week - and it makes a difference.
"I have to thank the fans for their support. I'd asked for that and they gave us it. That was huge for us.
"After the week we have had, it was important we did something that was more like what the supporters expect and what the players can do."
Watford boss Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"If we continue to play like that for the last 11 games then I have no doubt we will achieve our goals because we have the firepower and the quality.
"In the first half we controlled it but didn't have much to show for it. I felt we needed more intent and to commit a few more numbers forward.
"We have scored in a high percentage of our games. And we certainly took the initiative after half-time. It's something I haven't said too often this season, but we just lacked a cutting edge in and around their box.
"We controlled the game enough to win it. After half-time we had five shots in seven minutes. Were they outstanding chances? No. But it felt like a matter of time. Unfortunately, you have these kind of days. It's not something I can complain of too much this season. It is a big turnaround from where we've been away from home."
