Watford survived a first-half onslaught to go into the break level with Middlesbrough.
Heurelho Gomes suffered an injury in the warm-up and his replacement, Jonathan Bond, made a superb reflex save to deny Patrick Bamford midway through the half.
Bond also saved from Kike as Boro doubled up in the wide areas and terrorised Watford’s full backs.
The Golden Boys only managed two clear openings as Matej Vydra’s strike from the edge of the area was parried wide and Ikechi Anya had a powerful shot from a tight angle saved.
Middlesbrough line-up: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Whitehead; Bamford, Tomlin, Adomah; Kike.
Subs: Mejias, Husband, Nsue, Veljkovic, Omeruo, Vossen, Reach.
Watford line-up: Gomes; Paredes, Ekstrand, Bassong, Pudil; Tozser, Munari; Anya, Vydra, Forestieri; Ighalo.
Subs: Bond, Doyley, Hoban, Andrews, Murray, Dyer, Deeney.
Referee: James Adcock.
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