Watford have more than held their own against Premier League leaders Chelsea and the Hornets are drawing 0-0 with the Blues at half time of their FA Cup third round tie at Stamford Bridge.

Slavisa Jokanovic made three changes to the Golden Boys starting XI which defeated Cardiff City last weekend.

Troy Deeney, Daniel Tozser and Jonathan Bond were named in the side in place of Almen Abdi, Adlene Guedioura and Heurelho Gomes. The former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper missed the game with a groin injury.

Chelsea, as expected, dominated possession and Gary Cahill flicked over a free kick whilst Andre Schurrle fired wide.

The Hornets, buoyed by 6,000 travelling supporters, settled and Petr Cech was forced into a save from Tozser’s powerful volley and then Deeney tested the Chelsea stopper from distance.

Jose Mourinho’s side have struggled to test stand-in Watford goalkeeper Bond but he was forced into an excellent reflex stop to deny a close-range Didier Drogba header.

Cahill then glanced a header wide before Fernando Forestieri’s shot was deflected over by Kurt Zouma.

The Hornets best chance of the half arrived in added time. Pudil broke forward and found Odion Ighalo unmarked on the edge of the penalty area.

He took a touch and fired towards goal. However, his shot was poor and the ball rolled comfortably past Cech’s post. 

It was the final opportunity of the opening period. 

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Filipe Luis; Ramires, Mikel; Remy, Oscar, Schurrle; Drogba.

Chelsea substitutes: Courtois, Ivanovic, Ake, Matic, Willian, Salah, Diego Costa.

Watford: Bond; Hoban, Cathcart, Angella; Paredes, Munari, Tozser, Forestieri, Pudil; Ighalo, Deeney.

Watford substitutes: Gilmartin, Doyley, Murray, Vydra, Abdi, Doherty, Smith.