A disallowed Middlesbrough goal ensured today’s game with Watford remained goalless at half-time.

Boro controlled possession for almost the whole of the first half without really troubling Jonathan Bond in the Hornets’s goal.

Jonathan Woodgate appeared to have broken the deadlock shortly before half time with a header from Grant Leadbitter’s free-kick but it was ruled out for offside.

Sean Murray, Daniel Pudil and Fernando Forestieri had wayward efforts and Troy Deeney had a tame header routinely saved during a first half when the home team struggled to gain possession or create clear-cut chances.

Watford XI: Bond; Angella, Cassetti, Doyley; Faraoni, Murray, Tozser, Diakite, Pudil; Forestieri, Deeney.

Subs: Woods, Bellerin, Battocchio, Merkel, Park, Anya, Hoban.

Middlesbrough: Given; Varga, Woodgate, Gibson, Friend; Chalobah, Whitehead; Ledesma, Leadbitter, Adomah; Graham.

Subs: Konstantopoulos, Butterfield, Hines, Carayol, Main, Omeruo, Kamara.

Follow the second-half action here.