Hull held at home by managerless Watford

Hull missed the chance to go within two points of the Championship’s automatic promotion spots as Watford impressed on their way to a 0-0 draw under caretaker boss Charlie Daniels.

Tuesday’s match was due to be played a month ago, only for it to be controversially called off just 18 minutes before kick-off due to unsafe areas around the MKM Stadium pitch.

Hull came into the rearranged fixture in third spot having won all four Championship matches since the postponement, but they were denied a fifth victory on the bounce by play-off hopefuls Watford.

Daniels stepped up from his role as under-21s lead coach, assisted by Adrian Mariappa and Dan Gosling, after Javi Gracia called time on his second spell in charge on Sunday and got an immediate response.

Watford were on top in the first half and again had chances after the break, with skipper Imran Louza coming closest for the managerless visitors.

Sergej Jakirovic’s Tigers had the odd chance as they started a run of five consecutive home matches in all competitions with a draw in their game in hand that cut the gap to the top two to four points.

Tuesday’s match was nearly four minutes late getting under way as a hasty repair was made to the net and that delay perhaps played a part in a cumbersome start.

Joe Gelhardt blazed off target from a smart set-piece routine, but Hull were on the back foot for the most part.

Louza whizzed narrowly wide from the edge of the box via a slight deflection missed by the officials and Giorgi Chakvetadze unleashed a 25-yard effort that Ivor Pandur did well to stop soon after.

Stephen Mfuni directed just wide from the resulting corner and the 17-year-old on loan from Manchester City again went close to marking his senior debut with a goal from a set piece just before the break.

Hull were off colour yet so nearly took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Charlie Hughes met a free-kick with a powerful header that Egil Selvik saved well.

Watford’s goalkeeper pulled off another important stop early in the second half when Regan Slater took aim from distance having been found by a delightful Kieran Dowell backheel.

John Egan’s near post flick from one of the corners that followed hit the side-netting but Hull were still looking unsteady and having to dig deep defensively.

Ever-impressive Hughes produced a fantastic block to frustrate Louza, who wasted a glorious 67th-minute chance when dragging wide after fleet-footed substitute Jeremy Petris’ cut back.

Edo Kayembe drilled wide as Watford made a late push, but a forgettable fixture finished scoreless.