Watford were denied the chance to go top of the Championship on Wednesday evening, after being held to a 0-0 draw away at Nottingham Forest.

Forest, looking to arrest a dismal run of form of late, came into this one on the back of three straight defeats, seeing them drop down to 21st as they prepared to take on the high-flying Hornets.

The first-half saw Forest nullify the threat posed by a usually free-scoring Watford side, with the Reds setting up with a 4-1-4-1 formation. Ryan Yates acting as the screen in holding midfield, with full debutant Cafu and Harry Arter playing slightly advanced.

Arter's positioning saw him threaten to open the scoring on 16 minutes. The midfielder found himself on the edge of the area where the ball fell to him kindly following Joe Lolley's cross, but could only fire wide with a deflected effort.

Watford came into this clash after thrashing Preston 4-1 at the weekend - a win which saw Troy Deeney score on his first league start of the season.

He was to start on Wednesday night, too, partnering Joao Pedro following Andre Gray's absence due to injury. Deeney used his physical prowess to full effect in the opening 20 minutes, but his chest-down failed to fall at the Brazilian's feet.

Forest - who came into this one having conceded 17 goals in the Championship already this season - would also have to deal with the threat of Ismaila Sarr out wide.

The Senegalese international was proving to be a nuisance in the opening stages, and the wide-man was brought down by Joe Lolley out wide, who was subsequently shown the game's first yellow card on 22 minutes.

Watford were struggling to get into their usual rhythm, though, with Chris Hughton's side standing firm and looking organised in their new-look system.

Forest, though, were also struggling to create any real clear-cut chances. Their most promising piece of attacking play came into fruition on 37 minutes.

Clever footwork from Anthony Knockaert saw him escape from the corner, cut inside before fizzing a perfectly-weighted reverse pass into Cafu's path.

The latter was to pull off a rabona cross which was aimed towards the back post, but Joe Lolley's end-product was lacking as his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

That was to be the end of the action in what was a rather lacklustre display from both sides, with Brice Samba and Ben Foster not having to make a meaningless save in the opening 45 minutes.

Hughton will have been largely pleased with his side's defensive performance, but you could forgive him for being frustrated by his side's final pass in front of goal.

This was to be the case early in the second-half. A quick exchange between Yuri Ribeiro and Lolley saw the latter beat his man down the left-hand side, although his low cross into the box was to be easily dealt with by the opposition defence.

Ribeiro was also the creator of another attacking phase moments later, with his dangerous in-swinging cross was headed over by Taylor.

Cafu will have been eager to make an impact in his first start for the club, and the Olympiacos loanee was the orchestrator of another attack moments later.

The midfielder picked up a loose ball in the centre of the park, driving forward before looking to his right and playing in Lyle Taylor. Taylor's low cross looked destined to land at Cafu's boot, but superb defending saw Craig Cathcart put the ball out for a corner.

Nevertheless, Forest were getting on top, and perhaps a little bit of frustration was shown by Watford as Nathaniel Chalobah and Domingos Quina were booked in quick succession for late tackles on Cafu and Lolley.

That forced Ivic into making his first change of the evening, with Quina being replaced by Stipe Perica as the Hornets looked to add more attacking impetus up top.

Perica nearly made an immediate impact, with Sarr firing a dangerous low drive towards the back post, which was snuffed out and cleared for a corner.

Watford's deliveries into the area had been impressive. The same couldn't be said for Forest, who got themselves into dangerous areas but were unable to apply that killer touch.

Tempers were to flare late on as Chalobah looked to hack down Arter in midfield. Referee David Webb was to wave play on, though, allowing Sarr to burst down the line, fire in a cross which eventually dropped for Deeney, who lashed a ferocious effort over the bar.

Forest players were left incensed, feeling that they should have been given an extra-man advantage for the final five minutes of the encounter. Hughton was to make his first change of the match moments later, with Sammy Ameobi replacing Lolley.

But there was to be no late flurry from either side, as the game was brought to an end.

Something to build on for Forest, who were unable to find the net for the fourth successive game despite an improved second-half.

A chance to go top denied for Watford, too, as Ivic's side failed to really lay a glove on the Reds in what was a below-par display.