toptop
Several
fine stops from Heurelho Gomes earned Watford a 0-0 draw against Chelsea in the
Premier League at Vicarage Road.
Odion Ighalo had the best chance for the hosts, miscuing a close-range header in
the first half, while former Tottenham goalkeeper Gomes was at his best to keep
out Diego Costa's late header, Chelsea's clearest opening.
The result means Chelsea are unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions, their
best run since the 2014/15 season, while Watford move up to ninth, four points
ahead of the Blues.
John Terry, who announced on Sunday he would be leaving Chelsea at the end of
the season, was named as captain at the heart of the Blues defence for the 11th
straight game, while Watford's new signing Mario Suarez started on the bench for
the hosts.
The first chance of the game fell to Watford after an even opening as Jose
Holebas' cross from the left found its way onto the head of Odion Ighalo six
yards out, but the striker failed to make proper contact after rising too early.
Moments later, Etienne Capoue stung the hands of Thibaut Courtois from 15 yards
after Jose Manuel Jurado had dodged two Chelsea men on the edge of the area to
feed him.
Costa and Juan Carlos Paredes both went into the book just before the break
after a clash in front of the Hornets bench.
The Chelsea striker reacted to Paredes' initial challenge but the pair were
quickly separated as manager Quique Sanchez Flores and Odion Ighalo played
peacemakers.
After the interval, Holebas hit the side-netting from the left angle after a
fine one-two with Capoue, moments after Troy Deeney had driven the ball a couple
of yards wide of Courtois' post.
Chelsea then came close to breaking the deadlock through Oscar, but the
Brazilian's poke from close range after Costa had centred from the byline ran
just wide of the left-hand post.
Oscar then forced Gomes into a good save with 20 minutes remaining after his
long-range effort, before Gomes was at his best again to palm away Branislav
Ivanovic's drive from inside the area after Eden Hazard's cut back.
And man of the match Gomes, keeping his 10th clean sheet of the season, produced
a fantastic stop with three minutes remaining, diving to his right to keep out
Costa's header.
Player ratings
Watford: Gomes (9); Paredes (6), Prodl (6), Cathcart (6),
Holebas (7); Behrami (6), Watson (6), Capoue (6); Jurado (7); Deeney (6), Ighalo
(7).
Subs: Suarez (6), Guedioura, Abdi (6) Nyom (6)
Chelsea: Courtois (6); Ivanovic (6), Zouma (6), Terry (6),
Azpilicueta (6); Mikel (6), Matic (5); Willian (6), Fabregas (7), Oscar (7);
Diego Costa (5).
Subs: Hazard (7).
Man of the match: Heurelho Gomes
Teams
Watford Gomes, Paredes (Nyom 68), Prodi, Cathcart, Holebas,
Capoue Suarez 87), Watson, Behrami, Jurado (Abdi 64), Deeney, Ighalo
Subs Not Used Pantilimon, Amrabat, Guedioura, Anya
Booked Paredes, Prodi
Goals
Chelsea Courtois, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Azpilicueta,
Mikel, Matic (Hazard 73), Willian, Fabregas, Oscar, Costa
Subs Not Used Begovic, Baba, Traore, Kenedy, Cahill,
Loftus-Cheek
Booked Costa
Goals
Attendance 20,910
Referee Mike Dean