Tom Cleverley bemoaned Watford’s lack of cutting edge after their goalless draw with Stoke at the bet365 Stadium.
The visitors dominated the game for more than an hour but could not score and in fact needed two late saves from Norwegian goalkeeper Egil Selvik to ensure they kept a third consecutive clean sheet.
The draw leaves Watford three points off the top six, while Stoke sit five points above the drop zone.
“In the first half we controlled it but didn’t have much to show for it,” said Cleverley. “I felt we needed more intent and to commit a few more numbers forward.
“We certainly took the initiative after half-time and for 25-30 minutes I thought we were going to break them down.
“It’s something I haven’t said too often this season, but we lacked a cutting edge in and around their box because we couldn’t break them down.
“They came strong in the last five or 10 minutes and pushed us to the end.
“But we controlled the game enough to win it. After half-time we had five shots in seven minutes.
“Were they outstanding chances? No. But it felt like a matter of time. Unfortunately, you have these kinds of days.
“It’s not something I can complain of too much this season. We have scored in a high percentage of our games.
“We are a little bit disappointed that we haven’t come away with all three points, but it is a big turnaround from where we have been away from home.
“If we continue to play like that for the last 11 games then I have no doubt we will achieve our goals because we have the firepower and the quality.”
Watford went closest to scoring when Stoke defender Ben Wilmot deflected Imran Louza’s cross on to his own post.
Giorgi Chakvetadze curled a right-footed effort wide, while Mamadou Doumbia flashed another effort past Viktor Johansson’s upright.
Stoke finished strongly, only for Selvik to keep out Million Manhoef’s low shot and Bae Jun-ho’s header.
City were booed off after their midweek defeat by Middlesbrough, but this time the home crowd reserved their biggest jeers for former player Tom Ince.
Stoke boss Mark Robins said: “After the week we have had, it was important we did something that was more like what the supporters expect and what the players can do.
“I asked for them (the fans) to get behind the team and they did it incredibly well. That is something we can use for energy.
“It wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination. But there were a lot of positives,
“The clean sheet was important, the point we will take, but the only disappointment was we didn’t score and win the game.
“I am going to take it (the clean sheet) and run with it because there were some good performances in there.
“Some of the things levelled against the players previously were answered in a more positive way and the supporters responded in kind.
“There is a performance standard and minimum performance level we have to do. But the work rate they put in shouldn’t be underestimated.”
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