Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Watford 0
Albion endured their second consecutive 0-0 at the Amex as ex England goalkeeper Ben Foster kept them at bay, with several brilliant saves.
Dale Stephens named as a starter was injured in the warm up and replaced by Yves Bissouma.
There was very little goalmouth action in the first half, although Solly March was doing his best to provide service to Glenn Murray.
Albion’s first real chance came as Shane Duffy headed a Pascal Gross corner , wide.
Then Locadia cut in from the left and with Murray free, shot high and wide.
Albion were edging it, Davy Propper snatching at a shot which rolled wide of the post.
Watford offered very little in reply Tory Deeney looking menacing but not receiving the service he would have hoped for from Will Hughes or Tom Cleverly
Albion’s best chance of that half came from a Locadia header from the edge of the box, which was expertly pushed away by Foster.
The Seagulls were quick to test Foster again as soon as the second half started, March seeing the keeper push his shot around the post.
March really had come to life another cross just failed to reach Murray , then Darryl Jammatt hacked the loose ball away
Murray then just failed to connect after Propper played the ball through to him, as the ball went loose Gaetan Bong fired a rare shot over the bar.
Watford were still showing little attacking impetus, the only action Deeney was seeing, was his ongoing scrap with Lewis Dunk
Murray then saw another chance go sailing over the bar from a Gross cross.
Murray was replaced by Florin Andone and suddenly Albion had far more pace up front
Then it was Gross again who provided the cross, that Locadia met with a firm header that Foster somehow clawed out from underneath the bar.
From the corner Andone just failed to stab the ball forward and Shane Duffy tried a spectacular overhead kick , which Foster saved with his feet.
Soon after Locadia picking up a pass from Bissouma, cut in again , but his shot off the outside of his foot flew away for a throw in.
Deeney and Dunk were kicking and tearing lumps out of each other , not that referee Simon Hooper noticed , although he noticed when as an Albion player Ashley Barnes tripped him up at Burnley . Barnes receiving a 7 match ban.
Albion’s last chance of note was probably the best , Martin Montoya squeezing a pass through to Andone , who with only Foster to beat, the Romanian fired his shot straight at the keeper.
Albion stay 13th but are now just five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
The Seagulls play Burnley at the Amex in the Premier League next Saturday (9 February) at 5:30pm.
But before that have a largely unwanted FA Cup 4th round replay at West Brom next Wednesday (6 February)
It will be the first time the club has been live on BBC 1 since the 26th May 1983 and that FA Cup Final replay.
