Hornets held by Reading

It was not for the want of trying that this match finished in a 0-0 draw though. Between them, the sides mustered 32 goal attempts but both keepers were in top form and both sets of forwards out of luck.

But Hornets boss Adrian Boothroyd will still have taken plenty of positives from this match - and in particular the form of Anthony McNamee.

Despite facing the experienced Graeme Murty, the youngster was at the heart of all of Watford's attacking threat and worked hard defensively, lasting 90 minutes for the first time in a Watford shirt.

After playing a younger side for the Carling Cup victory over Notts County Boothroyd reverted to a more usual line-up, although the team showed three changes from the one which beat Burnley. Lloyd Doyley returned at right-back, meaning James Chambers switched over to the left and Jordan Stewart was on the bench, while Matthew Spring, as expected, made his first league start but it was at the expense of the presumably injured Gavin Mahon and not Dominic Blizzard. The other change saw McNamee come in for Paul Devlin.

Like Boothroyd, Steve Coppell rested some of his main men in mid-week, but all returned as Reading fielded the same team which beat Millwall 5-0 last week, meaning there was no place in the starting XI for former Hornet Bryn Gunnarsson.

Darius Henderson almost gave the Hornets the perfect start in under three minutes. Marlon King won Malky Mackay's header forward and flicked into the path of McNamee, who in turn played in Henderson but Marcus Hahnemann half-blocked the effort and Ibrahima Sonko completed the clearance.

Ben Foster was then almost caught surprised by Sonko's dipping header from a Nicky Shorey cross but managed to claw the ball over and, from the ensuing corner, Carlisle took a knock to the head clearing but was able to play on after treatment.

And Sonko almost inadvertently clipped the ball into his own net minutes later after deflecting McNamee's cross from the left but Hahnemann showed good reactions to gather.

Watford continued to look the more dangerous though and King just got underneath a header from six yards out on 18 minutes after McNamee had done superbly well to create a yard of space on the left and whip in a cross.

But it took a fine James Chambers block to prevent the visitors taking the lead midway through the half after Steve Sidwell had drove down the Watford left and crossed low into the box where Glen Little took a touch and shot from eight yards but the Watford full-back flung himself into the path of the ball.

Back came Watford though and Mackay's back-post header from a Young corner on brought out a fine save from Hahnemann, who tipped the ball around the post. From the second corner, the ball was half-cleared to Henderson 12 yards out and his shot beat the keeper but James Harper cleared off the line.

Mackay should then have maybe been awarded a penalty after appearing to be clipped chasing a loss ball just outside the Reading six-yard box but referee Richard Beeby was quick to wave away the former Hammer's claims.

Watford were giving the ball far too cheaply away in midfield though and, after Harper intercepted McNamee's loose pass, Little was released on the right and he fired in a dangerous ball which Foster did well to claw to safety.

Half-time Watford 0 Reading 0 Watford were quick to take the initiative after the break and Young forced an early corner before McNamee drove over from the edge of the box after side-stepping Graeme Murty.

Spring was next to try his luck; interchanging delightfully with Henderson before driving into the Reading box but his shot was blocked and the resultant corner cleared.

At the other end, Kitson nodded Bobby Convey's corner over from six yards out before Foster acrobatically tipped Harper's 25-yard half volley over.

McNamee also let fly from 25 yards moments later, but the ball drifted harmlessly over after the Hornets Academy product had done all the hard work in getting away from Murty.

King was almost out away in the 75th minute, but the on-loan Forest striker just failed to control McNamee's dinked ball forward and Hahnemann was quick to gather.

Reading piled on the pressure in the closing stages but it was the Hornets who threatened on the break. King spread the play left to Hameur Boazza - on as substitute for Henderson - and he found the overlapping Young but McNamee just failed to get on the end of the eventual cross.

Young then shot from 20 yards after getting away from Convey but pulled the effort just wide of Hahnemann's right-hand post.

But Reading should have won it in injury time; Convey whipped over a corner from the left and Sonko stole in unmarked but headed over from six yards.

Watford: Foster; Doyley, Carlisle, Mackay, Chambers, Young, Spring, Blizzard, McNamee; King, Henderson. Substitutes: Bouazza for Henderson after 70 mins. DeMerit, Chamberlain, Stewart, Bangura not used.

Reading: Hahnemann; Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey; Little, Sidwell, Convey; Kitson, Lita. Substitutes: Doyle for Lita after 87 mins. Makin, Hunt, Gunnarsson, Stack not used.

Bookings: None.

Attendance: 12,152.

Referee: Richard Beeby (Long Buckby, Northampton).