WATFORD are still searching for their first win of the new season after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Millwall at Vicarage Road on Tuesday (August 13) night.

The home side had the better of the first-half, but it was the visitors who came on stronger after the break, although the Hornets came close to clinching it at the death after the Lions were reduced to ten men when David Livermore needlessly got himself sent off.

Both Watford's defence and midfield improved on the 2-0 defeat at Leicester City on Saturday (August 10), but the forward line continues to look short of confidence, and, at the moment, it is difficult to see where a goal will come from, despite Tommy Smith and Dominic Foley improving on their performances in the opening day setback.

Watford, with Neal Ardley making his first start in a yellow shirt since moving from Wimbledon, and Stephen Glass, replacing the injured Micah Hyde, started positively, but the first promising opportunity went begging after eight minutes when Allan Nielsen and Smith over-complicated play in the Millwall box.

Paul Robinson was booked for a foul on Paul Ifill after ten minutes, and, from the resulting free-kick, Stuart Nethercott saw a shot deflected behind.

Millwall went close again when Tim Cahill was presented with a free header from a Ronnie Bull corner, but he headed narrowly over from ten yards.

It was Watford's turn to go close on 16 minutes when a fine Smith cross was headed back across goal by Nielsen, but Glass couldn't make a good enough connection.

Smith sent a looping header into keeper Tony Warner's arms, but his opposite number, Alec Chamberlain, had to be alert when a David Tuttle free-kick inadvertantly flicked off Neil Cox's head.

Glass had a shot blocked on 31 minutes after a lovely passage of close one-touch inter-play involving Nielsen and Smith, but, two minutes later, a fine left-footed 30-yard strike from Glass brought an excellent diving save out of Warner. From the resulting corner, Sean Dyche headed over from the last attacking incident of note in the first-half.

The Hornets' first opening of the second period came when Smith's cross from the left found Dominic Foley at the near post, but the Irishman couldn't direct the ball on target.

Millwall had a chance after 51 minutes when Steve Claridge fed Bull on the left, but his cross was headed straight into Chamberlain's arms by Neil Harris, who then forced the Hornets' keeper into another save with a snap-shot from distance.

The Lions further emphasised their early second-half supremacy when Chamberlain had to make another save after Ifill had stepped inside the challenge of Glass before shooting goalwards.

Harris had the next opening for the visitors, firing over after substitute Ben May had skipped away from Marcus Gayle, and Harris then stepped inside a challenge to test Chamberlain again.

Ardley had a free-kick blocked before boss Ray Lewington, sensing the game was slipping away from his side, brought on Danny Webber, back at Vicarage Road for his second loan spell from Manchester United, for Foley, and Paolo Vernazza, who has not played since January, for Jamie Hand.

But it was Chamberlain who was the next keeper in action, reacting well to tip over a stinging half-volley from Ifill, From the resulting corner, Tuttle flicked on, but Harris headed badly wide at the far post.

Nethercott headed over from a Bull free-kick as Millwall continued to press, before Smith had his first decent attempt of the evening after 80 minutes, cracking a 20-yard drive straight at Warner.

Chamberlain saved comfortably from a Cahill header, before Millwall were reduced to ten men with nine minutes remaining, Livermore picking up a second booking for a cynical trip on Nielsen.

Only an excellent goalline clearance from Bull prevented Watford from grabbing the winner with five minutes remaining when an unmarked Cox connected superbly with a Nielsen corner to send a downward header goalbound.

Teams:

Watford: Chamberlain; Cox, Dyche, Gayle; Ardley, Nielsen, Hand, Glass, Robinson; Smith, Foley. Substitutes: Webber and Vernazza for Foley and Hand after 69 minutes; McNamee for Glass after 85 minutes; Doyley and Lee not used.

Millwall: Warner; Ward, Nethercott, Tuttle; Lawrence, Cahill, Ifill, Livermore, Bull; Claridge, Harris. Substitutes: May for Claridge after 61 minutes; Ryan, Gueret, Sweeney and Robinson not used.

Bookings: Robinson booked for foul on Ifill after ten minutes; Livermore booked for foul on Hand after 14 minutes; Bull booked for foul on Glass after 17 minutes; Lawrence booked for foul on Robinson after 32 minutes; Tuttle booked for foul on Webber after 70 minutes; Vernazza booked for foul on Bull after 76 minutes; Livermore second booking and sent off for foul on Nielsen after 81 minutes; May booked for dissent after 86 minutes.

Attendance: 11,187.

August 14, 2002 10:00