Watford resumed their 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship campaign with a hard-fought point at home to Hull City, with both teams cancelling each other out to earn a clean sheet in freezing conditions.

In the first match action since mid-November, a somewhat subdued first 45 minutes delivered a smattering of chances, as João Pedro made the greatest impression for the hosts while Jacob Greaves and Tyler Smith kept Daniel Bachmann alert at the other end.

Opportunities were more commonplace after the break, and both defences did well to maintain the goalless scoreline as João Pedro, Yáser Asprilla and Rey Manaj went close but couldn’t quite find the all-important winner.

An away trip to Huddersfield Town lies next in store for Slaven Bilić and his charges on Saturday (December 17, 3pm KO), and with their position in the play-off places strengthened they will be hopeful of extending their unbeaten run to four games in West Yorkshire.

Head Coach Bilić made five changes to the XI that had earned a draw at Bristol City last time out (November 12), with Jeremy Ngakia, Craig Cathcart, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Asprilla and João Pedro all being drafted into the starting line-up.

Following a tentative start to proceedings, play was briefly halted around the five-minute mark when Hamza Choudhury and Dimitrios Pelkas hurt themselves committing to a 50/50 challenge, leading to the latter eventually being replaced by Greg Docherty.

Watford gradually grew into the game, with João Pedro announcing himself with a silky nutmeg on 12 minutes, before Choudhury was forced off for Joseph Hungbo having unsuccessfully attempted to run off his knock.

Away midfielder Ryan Woods received the first yellow card of the contest for a nasty challenge on João Pedro near halfway soon after, and then the first whiff of away pressure saw Greaves head tamely wide from a deep corner.

As the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark the Tigers went one step closer to notching the opener, though Christian Kabasele was on hand to deny Smith, and then at the other end goalkeeper Matt Ingram did well to palm João Pedro’s low effort away from danger.

Asprilla was increasingly imposing himself in a central attacking role, with João Pedro having dropped deeper in the wake of Choudhury’s departure, and while the teenager continued to kickstart home attacks, Kabasele and then Bachmann were called upon to avert away danger to keep it 0-0.

Substitute Hungbo flashed a wild, volleyed shot off target in the aftermath of an inswinging Ken Sema free-kick one minute shy of the break, and after a brief Hull foray forward referee Dean Whitestone brought the first half to a close.

The visitors enjoyed the first clear-cut chance of the second period, when Bachmann did well to keep out a driven Smith shot from a tight angle, but as the game opened up Cyrus Christie was alert to head away a teasing João Pedro free-kick.

The Boy from Brazil came close to breaking the deadlock in the 52nd minute, turning in space near the penalty spot before unleashing a powerful low drive that Ingram neatly pounced on down to his left.

With the momentum now firmly in Watford’s favour Asprilla went within inches of his first goal in yellow, shooting too close to Ingram after being picked out by Sema from the left, and then going close with a headed effort at the second attempt.

Davis got in on the act as the hour-mark loomed, fizzing a pearler towards the target and winning a corner that saw Ngakia steer a looping header narrowly over the woodwork.

Hull were struggling to contain the growing Watford pressure - and João Pedro again blasted a shot off target - though former Hornet Ozan Tufan, and then Greaves, did serve a reminder of Hull’s threat when they each fired over from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Manaj came off the bench for his first appearance since August, shortly before Christie leathered an attempt in Bachmann’s direction, and the former narrowly missed the target with just two minutes left after being cleverly picked out by Hassane Kamara.

Hull were camped in their own half for much of the remainder of the clash, but Watford were unable to breach their stubborn backline and in the end were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.