Gianfranco Zola admitted Watford paid the price for not being able to control the midfield during last night's 0-0 draw with Millwall but paid credit to the solidity of Kenny Jackett's Millwall.

The first half was largely uneventful until the final five minutes when the Hornets enjoyed a good spell, which included Fernando Forestieri having an effort cleared off the line.

Forestieri, Troy Deeney, Jonathan Hogg, Almen Abdi and Daniel Pudil all went close for Watford in the second period but they were unable to find a winner.

Zola said: "It certainly wasn't our best game in terms of quality, especially in the first half. In the second half we tried to increase the tempo but it is fair to say Millwall played a good game, defended well and made it difficult for us.

"Sometimes you have to accept that. They haven't lost in their last eight games, which tells you a lot about their solidity and the good moment this team are in."

On Watford's opportunities during the second half, Zola said: "The day Fernando learns to be cooler in front of the goalkeeper, he could be as good as anyone.

"We had some chances and we could have won but maybe the draw is a fair result because they defended very well."

"In the second half we had two or three very good chances," he continued. "Obviously we know we can do better than that but we don't have to forget the opposition can make it hard for you and today that was the case.

"They defended well and I thought especially in the first half, that they were in control of the midfield. That is something that we don't normally allow the opposition to do but Liam Trotter, especially, was excellent. And the fact Millwall dominated the midfield was a surprise because we couldn't play the football we wanted to play. Simple as that."