Watford’s push for promotion suffered a blow at the hands of second-placed Sheffield United, with a scrappy second-half Ryan Porteous own goal earning the hosts a narrow 1-0 win following a hotly-contested encounter at Bramall Lane.

Both teams enjoyed possession and a smattering of chances throughout a niggly first half, with Keinan Davis looking the most likely in yellow and Imrân Louza lively in his first start since October.

Davis was unable to convert a good chance for the Golden Boys in the second half, while Ismaïla Sarr was a threat, but goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann remained busy and after having a goal ruled out United eventually snatched the winner with 17 minutes left.

A first defeat in five sees the Hornets slip a place down to eighth in the Sky Bet Championship table, three points off the play-off places with 12 games of the season remaining, and with a home game against Preston North End to come next weekend (Saturday March 4, 3pm KO)

Head Coach Slaven Bilić made one change to the XI that started the 3-2 win at home to West Bromwich Albion last time out (Monday February 20), with Louza coming in for Ismaël Koné in midfield, while Craig Cathcart was named on the bench after recovering from a groin injury.

After a tentative start to proceedings, Watford enjoyed the first real sight of goal in the fourth minute, though Mario Gaspar couldn’t connect properly to João Pedro’s sumptuous cross-field ball at the back post.

Max Lowe was at the forefront of a Blades push forward in response, with his effort deflected out following a long Jack Robinson throw, and the former was then involved with a tussle with Davis that sparked penalty calls from the away end.

With the tempo having ramped up, home forward Iliman Ndiaye was denied by Daniel Bachmann one-on-one in the 13th minute, only for the offside flag to spare his blushes, then back at the other end Davis headed wide after a marauding João Pedro run had created a free-kick chance.

Ndiaye did well to create himself some space just inside the box after a John Fleck-inspired breakaway in the 26th minute, but could only fire his attempt over, before a curling Louza set-piece caused mayhem in the home box, eventually resulting in a free-kick in favour of stopper Wes Foderingham.

United were able to create a couple more half-chances as the clock ticked towards half-time - with a John Egan header being blocked by Wesley Hoedt, and then Gaspar doing well to stop Oli McBurnie in his traps - and although Louza swung in another inviting cross from a corner the scores remained level at Keith Stroud’s whistle.

The end-to-end, somewhat scrappy nature of the game continued into the second period, and Bachmann did well to hold an Oliver Norwood free-kick seven minutes after the restart, following a Porteous pullback on McBurnie that earned the Scotsman a booking.

Louza came off worse in a strong 50/50 clash with Egan deep in home territory, but was soon back to his feet, and then Sarr showed a flash of his class with a driven shot that deflected out off Anel Ahmedhodžić.

Ahmedhodžić almost etched his name on the scoreboard at the other end moments later, dragging his shot narrowly over the crossbar, but then Davis went close for Watford, João Pedro’s flick-on just catching him off balance in the wake of James Morris’ cross.

The Bramall Lane crowd erupted when Jayden Bogle prodded in a wayward-looking Ahmedhodžić shot shortly after the hour mark, but for the opener to be ruled out for offside, and then Bachmann was called upon to keep out substitutes Tommy Doyle and Ben Osborn as Paul Heckingbottom’s men ramped up the pressure.

Austria international Bachmann then kept out Sander Berge one-on-one but couldn’t prevent the hosts going in front for long, with Watford failing to deal with the resultant corner and a McBurnie header bobbling past the line off Porteous.

Bilić introduced attackers Henrique Araújo and Britt Assombalonga as the Hornets went in desperate search of a late equaliser, and though much of the five added minutes were played in the Blades’ half, the home side held on to the full share of the spoils.