Watford and Sheffield Wednesday had to settle for a point each as the two sides played out a goalless draw in the Sky Bet Championship.

Both teams had spells on top and each struck the post as the momentum swung back and forth, but nobody was able to break the deadlock with chances at either end going begging.

Valérien Ismaël made three changes to the side which drew 1-1 at home to Southampton in the FA Cup on Sunday, with his squad facing a quick turnaround before tonight’s clash at Hillsborough.

Ben Hamer was prefered in goal in place of Daniel Bachmann, while Tom Dele-Bashiru was restored to the line-up after being rested as a precaution at the weekend due to a hamstring niggle.

Jake Livermore also returned to the Hornets midfield as both Francisco Sierralta and Yáser Asprilla dropped to the bench.

Mattie Pollock, who impressed in the centre of defence against the Saints, was named for only his second start of the season and his first in the league after pledging his future to the club yesterday.

Matheus Martins showed the Hornets’ intent as early as the first minute as the goalscorer against Southampton raced past Marvin Johnson on the right wing before forcing the hosts to clear his cross behind.

A second corner won by the lively Martins then led to a chance for Vakoun Bayo but his hooked effort took a deflection and was comfortably held by James Beadle.

The hosts grew into the game with Barry Bannan especially pulling the strings in the middle of the park.

With Watford giving the Scot too much space, the home skipper was able to let fly from 25 yards and Hamer needed to dive brilliantly to tip the effort away.

Bannan then curled in a dangerous delivery which Di'Shon Bernard headed wide as Wednesday enjoyed a spell on top.

Pollock conceded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area but Bannan’s low effort struck the bottom of the wall.

Dele-Bashiru earned Watford some respite after being hauled down by Liam Palmer on a breakaway run, and Martins was desperately close to scoring his second free-kick in as many games.

The winger's attempt took a huge deflection and struck the post with Beadle wrong-footed, and Wednesday were able to clear as Bayo lurked for a tap-in.

The near-miss brought Watford back into the game and Dele-Bashiru would have been disappointed to slice wide when the ball bounced kindly on the edge of the box.

Watford then created the stand-out chance of the half as Koné powered forward and put Bayo clean through on goal.

With Beadle rushing out, the striker nipped the ball across him and slid a pass across to Martins who seemingly had the goal at his mercy.

The Brazilian was unable to finish into the empty net, however, and agonisingly placed his shot off target as the angle became too tight.

Shortly before the break, Jamal Lewis defended superbly for the Hornets as Anthony Musaba looked to drive in on goal.

There was then a huge scare as Iké Ugbo’s shot across Hamer cannoned off the far post, before the keeper did well to keep out Musaba’s header on the rebound.

Watford ended the half with Ryan Andrews flashing a shot wide as the opening 45 minutes ended goalless.

Martins, who was one of four players booked in an at times feisty first 45 minutes, was replaced by Asprilla at the break.

Wesley Hoedt conceded an early free-kick but Johnson curled into the wall, before Koné drilled just wide of the upright after cleverly moving the ball onto his right foot.

Giorgi Chakvetadze then made his mark on the game with two big moments – firstly sending a threatening cross through the area which no Hornet could get on the end of.

Asprilla, the match-winner when these sides met at Vicarage Road earlier this season, collected the ball but his shot was saved by Beadle’s legs as he turned back into the danger zone.

Chakvetadze then sent an even better ball into the box which Bayo was inches away from connecting with for the opener.

Wednesday thought they had taken the lead when Bernard got on the end of a Bannan free-kick, but the home players’ claims that the ball had crossed the line were waved away as Hamer saved.

Owls substitute Michael Smith deflected a shot wide as the game switched from end-to-end with both teams enjoying forays forward.

Ismaël brought on Mileta Rajović for Bayo and Ken Sema continued his comeback from injury in place of Lewis.

The subs nearly combined instantly as Sema’s cross was close to picking out Rajović as Beadle claimed.

Giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas was an issue for the Hornets and there was a let-off when Bannan opted not to shoot in favour of chipping his set-piece over the wall to the back post.

Smith arrived for a free header which he couldn’t direct on target, to the relief of the visitors.

Emmanuel Dennis came on for the last five minute of normal time in place of Chakvetadze.

In the 90th minute, Hamer made another terrific stop after Musaba ran across the edge of the box and blasted a shot which was arrowing towards the top corner.

At the other end, Livermore fired an effort wide of the target before Mallik Wilks dragged a shot just adrift of the far post for Wednesday.

It was not to be for either side as neither team could find that piece of quality to finish off a move and the game ended all square.

Watford claimed their first clean sheet since the 5-0 win over Rotherham United on November 11 and stretched their unbeaten away run to seven matches.