Stubborn Pilgrims hold out for Watford draw

Plymouth Argyle survived a second-half onslaught to leave Watford with a battling 0-0 draw in their scrap for survival in the Sky Bet Championship, but it could have been more for the Greens.

Despite their increasingly desperate plight to avoid relegation, Argyle were excellent in the first half against a team still holding genuine play-off ambitions.

Ryan Hardie breached the home defence and was only denied an opening goal by an incredible save from Watford custodian Egil Selvik. The positive pattern continued for the Pilgrims, who more than matched their hosts in the first period.

After the break, however, Watford played with an improved tempo and the Greens had to hang on at times. Vakoun Bayo was wasteful in front of goal and Argyle were given a massive reprieve when a Rocco Vata effort ricocheted on to the woodwork.

The Pilgrims stood firm, as Watford grew ever more frustrated with their determined visitors, who almost completed the perfect smash-and-grab, but Muhamed Tijani steered the final chance narrowly wide.

Argyle boss Miron Muslic told BBC Radio Devon: "We were almost perfect in the first half in not allowing Watford a shot on target. The lads were brilliant.

"And they are a very good team with a fantastic home record so it's not easy to keep them out. It's a point and we take it - they are a good team. The next step is to reward ourselves with goals. We created so many good things due to good structure.

"We had a lot of opportunities but we needed to be a bit calmer and show more efficiency. We need to be more clinical with the positions we created. If we had given Watford the same chances that we had, I think they would have taken them."