A resilient display from Hornets stopper Heurelho Gomes kept Eddie Howe's men at bay in the goalless draw between the two promoted sides
Bournemouth took another step towards safety with an assured display in the fourth goalless draw at Vicarage Road this season.
And they were denied a bigger share of the swag by an inspired second-half display from Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes.
Odion Ighalo's fine solo run and rising shot, diverted around his near post by Artur Boruc, after 80 seconds was as close as either side came to a breakthrough before the break.
In front of watching England coach Roy Hodgson, Troy Deeney – hoping to earn an international call-up to face Germany and Holland next month – sent a long-range shot high and wide.
Max Gradel, coming off the bench to replace the injured Junior Stanislas, lifted Bournemouth's best effort over the top and saw his close-range header clawed to safety by Heurelho Gomes.
Watford's outstanding keeper also well full length to keep out Harry Arter's rocket.
1. Who could Roy Hodgson have been watching?
Not before time, England coach Roy Hodgson made his first visit to Vicarage Road this season to run the rule over Watford skipper Troy Deeney.
Hodgson saw what everyone else has been looking at for six months: whole-hearted effort, aerial presence, leadership and endeavour.
Whether those attributes are enough to earn Deeney an international cap remains to be seen.
2. Gradel will make the grade
Bournemouth welcomed back the first of their long-term injury casualties, Max Gradel, as an early substitute for crocked Junior Stanislas, and he looked livelier than a labrador with a toilet roll.
Gradel decorated his comeback with mazy runs and almost scored 10 minutes after the break. He will feel like a new signing at Dean Court.
3. Watford fans REALLY don't like Anthony Taylor
Hell hath no fury like football supporters with long memories who feel short-changed by the man in the middle.
Two months ago, referee Anthony Taylor sent off Watford's Nathan Ake for a dangerous challenge but gave Tottenham's Dele Alli the benefit of the doubt after wiping out Etienne Capoue before his sidekick turned a blind eye to Son Heung-min's offside winner in the last minute.
Taylor was welcomed back to Vicarage Road with the enthusiasm of flatulence in a sauna.
4. Plastic rivalry is no substitute for the real thing
Driven mainly by semi-literate warriors on social media, factions of Watford and Bournemouth fans have developed a synthetic dislike of each other.
Hornets fans feel short-changed by Bournemouth's glut of penalties in recent meetings, while Cherries ultras – if there is such a thing – have gloated about pipping Watford to the Championship title last May.
Do me a favour. As Hornets skipper Troy Deeney wrote in his programme notes: “Apparently we're rivals with Bournemouth. Really? How about it's two teams who got promoted at the same time, after a great battle for the title, both making a right go of it in the Premier League?”
For the record, historically Watford's sworn enemies are Luton and Bournemouth, er... hate bad weather because it keeps the tourists away.
5. Pretty in pink
Bournemouth's pink third kit looks like it was chosen by one of the directors' wives in the curtain section of a department store.
Sorry, it's a no from me.
Player ratings
Watford
Gomes 9 – MOM Fabulous, especially full-length save to turn Arter rocket around post
Paredes 7 - Spirit of adventure down right flank was intermittent threat
Britos 7 - Possibly Watford's best central defender since John McClelland
Catchcart 7 - Booked. Possibly Watford's second-best central defender since John McClelland
Ake 6 - Relieved to emerge unscathed from leaping down a 6ft sheer drop
Watson 5 - Booked. Off the boil on his 50 Watford appearance in 12 months
Capoue 6 - No word yet from search party looking for his first Hornets goal
Behrami 6 - Booked. Tenacious as ever but a couple of sloppy clearances
Amrabat 5 - Used to wash dishes in a restaurant, nothing on a plate for him here
Deeney 5 - Little joy when he was desperate to impress England manager Roy Hodgson
Ighalo 4 - Poor quality finishing this time – free header and another yawning chance wasted
SUBS: Suarez (Capoue, 57) 6, Abdi (Amrabat, 83) 5
Bournemouth
Boruc 7 - Vital early save to deny Ighalo high at his near post
Smith 6 - Got away with series of niggling challenges in feisty contribution
Francis 8 - Composed and disciplined after early scare, good organisation
Cook 8 - Emerged with credit from robust battle with Deeney and Ighalo
Daniels 8 - Not for the first time, he looked a class act
Surman 6 - Booked. Quietly effective but don't overlook his colossal work-rate
Arter 7 - Scored with a belter here last season, almost repeated the trick
Ritchie 6 - Anonymous for 45 minutes but supply of crosses increased markedly
Stanislas 5 - Retired hurt after pulling up with hamstring problem after 21 minutes
King 5 - Pacy runs kept Watford's back line occupied and honest
Afobe 5 - Lean pickings for Cherries' record signing
SUBS: Gradel (Stanislas, 23) 7, Gosling (Afobe, 74) 5, Murray (Ritchie, 85) 5
REFEREE: Anthony Taylor
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