Source: Team_Talk
Hornets hold Tigers in KC stalemate
Watford kept their unbeaten start to the season going by grinding out a 0-0 draw in a forgettable clash against Hull City at the KC Stadium.[LNB] New signing Robert Koren went close on three occasions for the Tigers from long distance, but the hosts had goalkeeper Matt Duke to thank for preserving a clean sheet as he denied Danny Graham and Jordon Mutch after the break.[LNB]Jay Simpson went straight into the Hull starting XI after joining from Arsenal, while Watford manager Malky Mackay named the same line-up for the third Championship match in a row.[LNB]Watford carved out the first opening of the contest when Will Buckley brushed aside Paul McShane and cut infield, but his curling effort drifted wide.[LNB]Koren and Simpson then combined at the other end, with the former just failing to pick out the latter with a superb cross.[LNB]The hosts began to build some pressure, and Koren went close minutes later when he forced Scott Loach into a flying save with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area.[LNB]Simpson then fired into the side-netting following McShane's deep cross, but with little separating the two sides in a mediocre encounter, Hull started resorting to ambitious efforts.[LNB]The early stages of the second half were similarly stop-start, but Koren demonstrated his ability from long range again with a dipping volley just over from 20 yards.[LNB]The visitors should have taken the lead though when Martin Taylor headed wide from six yards following Don Cowie's inswinging free-kick from the left flank.[LNB]Mackay tried to shake things up with a double substitution as Troy Deeney and Mutch came on to replace Marvin Sordell and Buckley, respectively.[LNB]Hull continued to look marginally more threatening though, as Tom Cairney drilled an angled drive across the face of goal and then substitute Mark Cullen scuffed a shot from a good position.[LNB]Deeney failed to make the most of a decent opening for Watford as he headed wide from close range after Cowie had picked him out with a pinpoint cross.[LNB]However, Duke was forced into action moments later when he tipped wide Graham's snap-shot from 18 yards.[LNB]Koren was easily the most creative player on display, and he went close for a third time in the match with a cross from the left wing that nearly sneaked in at the far post.[LNB]As the clock ticked down, the game finally started to open up, but a lack of cutting edge continued to frustrate at both ends.[LNB]Nick Barmby's cross was headed wide by the unmarked Richard Garcia as Hull tried to commit more men forward.[LNB]Watford nearly snatched a late winner when a low half-volley from Mutch was parried by Duke, but the contest always seemed certain to end goalless.
