The stats don't make great reading for that, sadly.

We've had six shots from Watford. None for Boro.

Conversely we've got seven fouls by Boro and nine by Watford.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford lead then though Ismaila Sarr's inadvertent contribution but it was not plain sailing for the Hornets against a dogged Middlesbrough.

It took a while for any moments of genuine quality to break out amidst the blood and thunder of slide-tackles in midfield but Watford found it when Phillip Zinckernagel's effort was helped in by Sarr.

Boro finally woke up, once Sam Morsy unfortunately had to go off with a knee injury, and threw plenty at the visitors - but they look defensively sound.

Still plenty of time to turn it round.

Boro win another corner, they're racking up here.

Neeskens Kebano races to take it with time ticking, but Joao Pedro clears...

Watford faff about with it at the back and Boro snap into life and nick the ball.

Neeskens Kebano skips down the left and swings in a cross to the back post which Djed Spence helps back into the mix but Dan Bachmann claims it.

Watford almost penalised.

After Ismaila Sarr is robbed in the Boro left-full back position, Boro break swiftly and Hayden Coulson bombs forward.

He passes to Duncan Watmore who wins a corner.

Neeskens Kebano belts in the set-piece which is cleared. Paddy McNair whips in a cross which Francisco Sierralta pokes away.

Threats from the Teessiders.

Just going back to Nathaniel Chalobah's challenge - it was one-footed rather than two, sliding in, and low onto the ball.

Sam Morsy seemed to twist his knee with the foot in the ground. Shame really, as it has been a tough but fair game.

Seven minutes of added time, by the way. Largely because of Morsy's unfortunate injury.

Boro earn themselves a corner, Neeskens Kebano curls it in from the right but Nathaniel Chalobah helps it away with his head.

They are grafting away but Watford look comfortable with what has been launched at them.

The half-time montage of this game will amount to a some shots of slo-mo slide tackles and a goal.

It's been a battleground in the midfield so for. No place for the faint-hearted.

Paddy McNair's set-pieces look Boro's best outlet.

One such free-kick brings a corner after it's headed behind.

Then Neeskens Kebano curls in a peach of the cross to the back-post but there's not a red shirt about to attack it.

Neil Warnock is raging on the touchline. Wild gesticulations, words spewing from his mouth with anger.

Boro haven't beaten Watford in eight attempts going back to 2012, and Neil Warnock has lost his past five against the Hornets.

That run looks like continuing here.

Ken Sema is down for Watford, caught a boot in a tackle.

So Sam Morsy is withdrawn, limping off, to be replaced by Hayden Coulson.

Bit of a reshuffle in order for the home side then.

Image source, Getty Images

George Saville is muscled off the ball by Watford as he poured forward for Boro.

Then play is stopped as Sam Morsy again goes down. It looks like his race might be run.

The knee injury is causing him some considerable discomfort.

Boro create some panic as Neekens Kebano plays a one-two with Duncan Watmore and bursts into the box, but his centre for Djed Spence is cut out.

Sam Morsy is then cut in half by a sliding Nathaniel Chalobah, who gets a yellow for his trouble. The Watford captain in the book.

Egypt international Sam Morsy having treatment.

Boro looking to use the pace of Djed Spence as he is released down the right.

He's a bit isolated on the right but continues to plough his way to the byline but the Watford defence crowd him and the ball squirms behind for a goal-kick.

Watford's grip slightly loosened of late.

Joao Pedro leaves Darnell Fisher in a heap after an aerial collision. Practically jumped into the Boro defender and gives away a free-kick.

No shots on target so far. Just two shots by Watford in general.

Djed Spence gets down the right for the home side and curls a cross in which is harmlessly cushioned down by the Watford defender Francisco Sierralta.

Image source, Rex Features

I don't think even the most ardent Middlesbrough or Watford fan would say this has been entertaining.

Not a lot has genuinely happened, neither Marcus Bettinelli or Dan Bachmann have got their gloves dirty so far.

Sluggish fare.

Middlesbrough struggling for any rhythm.

They get a free-kick which is pumped into the box, but cleared.

Sam Morsy touches it back to the defence, who fire a pass out to Djed Spence which goes to touch for a Watford throw.

Bit wayward thus far.

Watford dominating the possession as it stands, with the odd error gifting Boro rare ball - such as a heavy from Ismaila Sarr which went straight to George Saville.

Kiko Femenia swings in a cross from the right and Ken Sema gets a shot away which looked like it went behind off Darnell Fisher but a Boro goal-kick is given instead.

Hornets' midfielder Phillip Zinckernagel is proving a threat, operating around the box. His shot is deflected wide by Boro for a corner.

Watford go short, but the build up yields nothing.