Watford Under-21s picked up their first point since late October in a 0-0 draw away at Cardiff City this afternoon in a game that was screaming ‘goalless’ well before the end.

There were a handful of chances at either end, but neither keeper was seriously extended as both sides enjoyed lengthy spells with the ball without creating a great deal.

Watford did look very comfortable in possession and moved the ball around well, but too often the ball into or inside the final third wasn’t clinical enough to cause the home side problems.

Defender Albert Eames caught the eye for Watford, not just because of his solid and calm defending but for his preparedness to get forward down the flank and also to get shots away from around the box.

Up front, the strength and pace when running with the ball of Michael Adu-Poku unsettled the home defence at times – a year and a day after he made his first-team debut away at Reading in the FA Cup.

The first half was largely played within the middle third. Watford enjoyed a lot of the ball and looked comfortable in possession, whereas the home side posed most threat on quick breakaways.

Xaver Massiah-Edwards had the first attempt of the game but his curling shot was held by Cardiff keeper Joe Thomas.

Jonathan Macaulay then made a couple of good saves, first diving to his right to hold a low shot from Japhet Matondo and then tipping away an angled effort from Trey George after the Bluebirds had countered quickly from a Watford corner.

In the 17th minute there was something of an escape for the hosts as Thomas stretched to get to Michael Adu-Poku’s cross but knocked the ball onto his own defender Will Spiers, who was relieved to see it trickle just wide of the back post.

Thomas then held well when Eames let fly from 20 yards before Cardiff failed to take the best chance of the half after 29 minutes, defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott reaching a free-kick at the back post but directing his header wide.

The last effort of a somewhat shot-shy first 45 minutes came when Eames centred from the right and Laken Torres controlled the ball on his chest in the box, swivelled to create space but shot over the top.

Two minutes after the restart Cardiff didn’t clear a cross and Eames stepped in to win a tackle but then shoot wide from the edge of the area.

In the next attack Cardiff got away down the right but, when Spiers shot, Macaulay made a comfortable save.

In the 66th minute a clever dummy from Gyamfi on the edge of the box allowed Eames to stride onto Charlie Davis’ cross but his shot flew just wide of the post.

With 11 minutes to go there was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for Josh Mullins as he turned to play back pass but steered it wide of Macaulay who then slipped as he tried to readjust. The ball skipped towards the empty goal but then just bobbled wide of the post.

The draw means Watford stay ninth in the 10-team Premier League Development League South table, although it was a welcome first clean sheet since early September.

Watford: Macaulay, Eames, Triallist, Ramirez-Espain, Coyne, Mullins, Adu-Poku, Davis (Balogun 87), Torres (Collins 82), Gyamfi (Hamiga 82), Massiah-Edwards. Subs not used: Browne, Stallard.