Daniel Bachmann saved a penalty but Tom Cleverley's wait for a first home win as Interim Head Coach continued as the Hornets drew 0-0 with Hull City.

With the Tigers needing to win to give their Sky Bet Championship play-off hopes the best possible chance, and the Golden Boys desperate for a long overdue home victory, this was a game with plenty of attacking intent at both ends.

No side was able to breakthrough, however, with Bachmann particularly having an excellent game in the Watford goal and the Hull defence holding firm.

Cleverley made three changes from the 3-2 defeat to Southampton last weekend.

Ryan Andrews, Ismaël Koné and Francisco Sierralta returned to the side, with Mattie Pollock dropping to the bench and Tom Dele-Bashiru and Giorgi Chakvetadze absent entirely.

Jeremy Ngakia and Ken Sema were both named as substitutes after recovering from injury.

Hull made the first threatening attack but Bachmann was able to easily claim Jaden Philogene’s low cross.

On nine minutes, the Tigers spurned a major opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty.

Referee Ben Toner pointed to the spot after Wesley Hoedt clipped Fábio Carvalho in the box, but Bachmann got down to his left to save a low effort from former Hornets loanee Ozan Tufan.

This was the second Watford penalty save against Hull this season, after Ben Hamer denied Philogene in the Golden Boys’ 2-1 away victory in December.

With the save lifting the home crowd, the Hornets nearly edged in front themselves when Yáser Asprilla headed wide from a Jamal Lewis cross.

Lewis was making things happen on the left flank and another dangerous delivery then found Emmanuel Dennis with his back to goal.

The Nigerian swivelled round but lashed his shot wide of the target.

Hull pressed forward and won a corner which came to nothing, prompting a swift Hornets counter-attack which saw Lewis and Asprilla exchange passes before the Colombian was crowded out.

With the game becoming end-to-end, Ryan Porteous was needed to intercept a Tyler Morton cross and send it behind for a corner with Tufan lurking for an easy finish.

From the resulting set-piece, Tufan back-heeled towards goal from point-blank range following a Jacob Greaves header, but Bachmann blocked on the line.

On 26 minutes, Watford had a penalty shout of their own turned down when Dennis’ attempt to make progress in the box was seemingly blocked by Morton’s arm.

With Toner awarding Hull a number of free-kicks in the closing minutes of the half, Hoedt was shown a yellow card for a foul before Greaves followed him into the book.

In stoppage time at the end of the half, Edo Kayembe attempted a trademark bullet finish from the edge of the box but it was nicked behind as the first 45 ended.

Porteous started the second half by volleying high into the Rookery before he was booked for fouling Tufan.

Andrews was the next to have his name taken for impeding Philogene, before an offside flag cut short Hull’s celebrations after Tufan had put the ball in the net.

Asprilla then set Vicarage Road alight with a sensational individual run from just inside his own half, which saw him skip past several Hull players.

He poked a pass through for Dennis, who was denied by a Matty Jacob tackle when primed to provide the finish.

The match continued to bounce from box to box and Andrews was next to try his luck for the Hornets, sending his shot wide of the left post.

A patient build-up move, coming up against some strong Hull defending, then ended with Koné curling a shot that was easily claimed by Ryan Allsop at the near post.

Ngakia made his return in place of Andrews on 65 minutes, as the game again became stop-start due to the referee’s whistle.

Sierralta was the next to be yellow-carded for a foul on the edge of the area, with Morton sending the free-kick into the wall.

Cleverley rolled the dice on 73 minutes with a double change, bringing on Mileta Rajović and Sema for Dennis and Lewis.

Rajović was almost immediately tugged back by Alfie Jones on the edge of the area and he took the free-kick himself, forcing Allsop into a smart diving stop.

Watford were beginning to get on top but there was a nervy moment at the other end when Hull sub Liam Delap steered a shot only inches wide of the far post.

The visitors made a triple switch as the match entered the final 10 minutes with Cleverley also introducing Martins for Vakoun Bayo.

Then, following another foul on the edge of the box, Bachmann made a fantastic stop from Carvalho’s free-kick which was heading for the top corner.

Sema’s cross caused difficulties in the Hull box but no player was able to turn home, before Martins missed a big chance in the 87th minute.

The Brazilian had found Asprilla with a superb dissecting pass but after receiving the ball back he slipped while taking aim and the ball veered off target.

It was a miss which was nearly punished as Bachmann only parried away Jacob’s drive, before the keeper had to dash out bravely to stop the rebound being poked home.

Another big Hull chance arrived when Greaves headed down before racing clear on goal, but the superb Bachmann was equal to his thumping shot.

Asprilla then skied a stoppage time effort as Watford drew 0-0 for the second home match in a row.