Watford cannot make the ball stick in midfield, it's as if they're moving in treacle as Boro snap up every 50-50, and 70-30 for that matter.

Might be a nervy last eight minutes plus stoppages.

Here comes a sub. Isaac Success, what a name, replaces Ken Sema. He gave away the crucial, goal-contributing free-kick with a clumsy foul.

Boro get some reward then, for their endeavour.

Now they look the side more likely to come up with the win.

Watford have been unbeatable, six straight wins and 10 in 11, but Boro have had their measure.

Paddy McNair puts a free-kick into the box but Boro striker Chuba Akpom can only glance it square rather than at goal and the position is lost.

Now Watford make a switch. Dan Gosling comes on for Philip Zinckernagel.

Paddy McNair has a glimmer of a chance, as the ball bounces to him on the edge of the box, but his half volley thumps into the ground - taking the sting out of it - and is cleared.

Boro are nudging closer and closer but concrete chances elude them largely.

Neeskens Kebano and Duncan Watmore off for Boro, Chuba Akpom and Yannick Bolasie on.

Joao Pedro strokes the ball just wide for Watford!

It all came when Ismaila Sarr won the second ball from a long pump forward, and fed Phillip Zinckernagel.

He gives it to Ken Sema, who then rolls it wide to Pedro, but his cushioned effort trickles wide.

Image source, Rex Features

Patience being shown by Watford, keeping possession.

Then a long, raking pass to Ken Sema catches the winger out and it's out for a throw.

He hoist a leg hoping to trap it but failed.

It's won back and Kiko Femenia tries a one-two with Nathaniel Chalobah but the ball zips away from him and out for a Boro throw.

Exasperating.

Adam Masina gets a corner for Watford after Nathaniel Chalobah's cross flies across goal to the far side.

It's cleared but Ismaila Sarr reloads. It breaks to Joao Pedro, whose shot is blocked and then Phillip Zinckernagel gets a shot away but it's easily denied by the converging defence.

Watford enjoying a flurry of opportunities there.

Decent chance here for Watford.

Throw in puts Ismaila Sarr in behind and he skirts the byline before cutting back to Joao Pedro.

His first-time shot whistles just wide of the post, with Marcus Bettinelli flat on his heels.

So close to number two.

Postpublished at 60 mins

60 mins

Middlesbrough 0-1 Watford

Oh. Sickening collision there as Neeskens Kebano curls into the back post and Dan Bachmann the Watford keeper and Boro defender Darnell Fisher thud together on the edge of the six-yard box.

Both thankfully are ok, but it was some coming together. Heavyweight.

You can throw a blanket over Watford's midfield three at times, clustered in the middle of the pitch.

Now the Hornets are trying to open the field up a bit but Boro's shape is well-positioned.

They're not being unpicked by the ball movement at all. Set and solid.

Ball pumped forward toward the Boro box, but Darnell Fisher does well to usher it back to Marcus Bettinelli with Ismaila Sarr rushing through.

Dribs and drabs of chances.

Another raid by Watford, this time Kiko Femenia gallops down the right and sweeps in a cross but Boro have adequate bodies to cover.

Xisco Munoz has been calm and relaxed on the bench, but he'll be glad to see his side take the game to Boro after decent spells of pressure.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford break the cycle of Boro attacks as they push on the opposition goal.

Phillip Zinckernagel picks out Joao Pedro, who shuffles to work a yard and then skies his shot over the top.

Nothing going there.

Bad luck for Boro!

One long ball through sets Hayden Coulson away and he holds it up before tucking back to Marc Bola.

His swinging cross is nodded at goal by George Saville but hits Duncan Watmore in an offside position.

He tucks into an empty net, but it's chalked off. That header looked close.

Hayden Coulson is ok by the way, running off his sore knee.

Good to see.

Although Neil Warnock was pretty angry in that first-half I doubt it was aimed at his players to be fair.

They were committed and competitive, albeit without a cutting edge.

Watford need to lift a bit.

Middlesbrough then try to break but Grant Hall and Hayden Coulson come together with a bang.

It looks a bit nasty, particularly for Coulson who already came on to replace the injured Sam Morsy.

Here we go then.

Both sides have had their half-time team-talks.

Boro to get us going.

Boro's angst centred around the goal scored by Ismaila Sarr.

Firstly, they felt Sarr was offside, which was disproved.

Then, Neil Warnock was vexed by the fact it looked like Phillip Zinckernagel might have accidentally handled the ball as it came to him on the edge of the box.

Referee Tim Robinson didn't see it. Only the slowed down replays seemed to show the touch.