Goalless at the break in flat contest

In a rather uninspiring match at Vicarage Road, Charlton managed not to concede by half time.  Watford had the edge, but were also unable to score.  One goal could settle it, but Charlton may be seeking to confirm their role as draw specialists.

Under-fire Watford boss Alessio Dionisi rang the changes for his side's crucial meeting with Charlton Athletic at Vicarage Road this lunch-time.   The Hornets have conceded nine goals in their previous two games, including five at Cardiff in the week and, as a result of that, introduced five new faces to his starting XI.

Marc Bola, Krepin Diatta, Iker Bravo, Soumaila Coulibaly and Luca Kjerrumgaard all start, while Othmane Maamma, Martin Payero, Stephy Mavididi and Jordan Zemura are among the substitutes.

Addicks supremo Nathan Jones made a single change to the side who grabbed a dramatic point at Burnley on Tuesday - late scorer Ivan Mesik is rewarded with a start in place of the benched Amari'i Bell.

Out-of-sorts Watford began quite brightly.   Iker Bravo was lively - he collected the ball in the middle and spread the ball to Marc Bola on the Watford left.  He twisted and turned his way into the penalty area but then pulled his shot into the side-netting at Arthur Okonkwo's near post.

Charlton had a good chance to take the lead - or at least have tested Watford goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia.  Billy Koumetio found Ivan Mesik on the left. His first-time cross was a good one and was met by Miles Leaburn, who should have done better but nods wide.   Nathan Jones, typically animated on the touch-line, is frustrated by that - he clearly thought Leaburn's header should have been on target.  This will only add to recent criticisms of Leaburn by many Addicks.

Danny McNamara was the first to go into the book for Charlton.   Karlan Grant gave Watford attacker Marc Bola a nudge and McNamara and Bola collided as a result - the ref gave a free kick to the hosts and booked McNamara, who was pretty bemused by the decision.   I forgot to check who the referee was, but it looks like he is a homer.   However, he did even things up a few minutes later by booking a Hornet for pulling Ramsay's shirt.

A good save from Arthur Okonkwo kept the score goalless.  Watford workedit well, onto the edge of the penalty area. The ball eventually found itself at the feet of Krepin Diatta on the right hand side - he cut inside and fired towards the near post, but Okonkwo was equal to it.   As Watford piled on the pressure, they had another chance to score, but the shot was pulled wide.

After 30 minutes, Watford were clearly on top.  Luca Kjerrumgaard found Myron Boadu, who had peeled away from the last line of the unsettled Charlton defence, but Billy Koumetio recovered and produced an excellent last-ditch challenge to deny the forward.  Watford recycled it but Kjerrumgaard fired over the bar. The beleaguered hosts have shown a bit of urgency and have moved the ball a fair bit better than Charlton thus far.

As the half drew to a close, Charlton, for perhaps the first time in this match, enjoyed a sustained spell of possession, albeit they have were not able to truly worry Watford.  The Addicks have tried to get the ball to Karlan Grant and Tyreece Campbell in the wide areas, but so far they have been successfully nullified by their hosts.  Billy Koumetio went as close as anybody for the Addicks when he directed Campbell's mis-hit towards goal but the ball curled wide of the angle of post and bar.