David McGoldrick is flagged offside as he puts a chance over the bar. He has had more shots without scoring than any other player in the Premier League with 34 before today.

It's lively now - Gerard Deulofeu glides into the United area but Chris Basham robs him and earns a big round of applause.

Jack O'Connell drills the ball into the area from the left and Ollie McBurnie deflects it on target, but Ben Foster is alert and drops to his right to make a superb stop.

The Blades go close again within seconds, and it's McBurnie on target again, but Foster is in the right place to keep it scoreless.

Watford mount an attack with Ismaila Sarr loping down the right, but his low cross is poor and easily turned away inside the United area,

Another great interception by Kabasele, he sticks out a leg to deny David McGoldrick a chance and end a slick United move.

Don't forget to send in your theories and rants about today's game to #bbcfootball or via SMS (UK only) to 81111, and our team of social media elves (seconded from Santa for the day) will post the best ones in here.

The greasy surface could have a say here today - it is tipping it down in Sheffield at the moment.

Gerard Deulofeu leans into Chris Basham to give away the first free kick of the game. and then within seconds Christian Kabasele slides in nicely to get the ball away from Enda Stevens as the Blades attack near the corner flag.

Gerard Deulofeu has an early moan at the referee as the ball goes put - he felt it should have been a Watford throw near the United box.

David Coote blows his whistle, and Watford get the game under way!

OK - the teams are out and we are all set to start about 10 minutes behind schedule.

The teams are in the tunnel, we'll try to find out what the reasons behind the delay were.

The start has been delayed at Bramall Lane until 15:10, due to "operational issues".

Image source, @SheffieldUnited

Kevin Nolan
Former West Ham captain on BBC Radio 5 Live

Watford haven't just missed Troy Deeney on the pitch, they've also probably missed him at the training ground. He loves the club and with the standards he sets, if there are players shirking responsibility, then he'll let them know and drag them up. Deeney leads all the time, not only on the pitch but off the pitch also. He’s a massive plus point for Nigel Pearson.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Lawrenson takes on singer-songwriter and Sheffield Wednesday fan Richard Hawley to make predictions for the festive Premier League fixtures.

Vicki Sparks
MOTD commentator at Bramall Lane

'Tis the season to be jolly - and that's certainly the case at Sheffield United, with Chris Wilder even taking a turn as 'Santa' for the assembled media this week!, external

Mind you, it's no surprise that the festive spirit is brimming over at Bramall Lane - I doubt even the most ardent Blades fans would have put 'fifth in the Premier League on Christmas Day' on their wish-list this year.

It's been more of a Nightmare Before Christmas for Watford supporters this season, but the advent of Nigel Pearson is already yielding results.

If he can lead Watford to back-to-back league wins for the first time since February against a side as in form as Sheffield United some might even consider it a mini-Christmas miracle!

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United

Three years, two promotions and now sitting fifth in the Premier League.

26 December 2016: Sheff Utd 2-0 Oldham - League One

26 December 2017: Sheff Utd 3-0 Sunderland - Championship

26 December 2018: Sheff Utd 3-1 Derby - Championship

26 December 2019: Sheff Utd v Watford - Premier League

Image source, Reuters

Well, I suppose he does wear red and white...

Image source, Getty Images

Hello, and season's greetings to you!

I hope Christmas Day brought you everything you wanted, but let's face it - the presents, the turkey, the awful cracker jokes and the repeat of Morecambe & Wise were just the starter - this glorious day of festive football really is the main course!

Come back at around 14:50 GMT for build up followed by live coverage of the match itself.