Burnley 0-0 Watford: Roy Hodgson secures first Watford clean sheet on frustrating night

Roy Hodgson secured a point in his first game as Watford manager but his new side remain the relegation zone after a goalless draw at bottom side Burnley.

The visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock just before half-time, when Clarets skipper Ben Mee almost turned the ball into his own net from a corner.

Burnley's best chances came after the break, when Maxwel Cornet forced a decent save out of Ben Foster with a curling shot and £12m new-boy Wout Weghorst fired wide after being set-up by James Tarkowski.

But, in their first home game since the middle of December and only their 19th game of the season — the latest any side has reached the halfway point of a Premier League campaign — Sean Dyche's Burnley still lack conviction around the penalty area and have recorded a solitary win all season.

They are now three points behind fourth-bottom Norwich, albeit with three games in hand, and boos accompanied the final whistle.

Watford are two points better off from two extra games and Hodgson can take comfort from the clean sheet, his side's first in 31 Premier League matches.

As the opening period drew to a close, the TV cameras panned on to Hodgson.

He was stood in his technical area, the rain swirling around him, utterly drenched. His glasses were steamed up, his hands were stuffed into his pockets.

At the age of 74, Hodgson had no need to put himself through a foul Lancashire evening. He didn't need to join a 17th club in his stellar career.

But football is Hodgson's life. The former England boss thrives on the challenge.

He will be delighted with the clean sheet, even if he failed to join the company of Xisco Munoz, who remains alone among Watford's last 11 managers to win his first game.

Watford did have chances. Joao Pedro