Bristol City 0-0 Watford
Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate

Watford were left ruing Darius Henderson's first-half penalty miss as they failed to close the four-point gap on City following a 0-0 draw at Ashton Gate.

A season high home attendance of 19,026 witnessed a Coca-Cola Championship match full of passion, tough tackling and two strong defensive displays.

Henderson was denied from the spot by a superb Adriano Basso save. The striker was lucky not to be sent off minutes later when his high tackle on Lee Johnson - which left the midfielder on crutches - was only punished by a yellow card.

City's chances in the game were sparse - none of which clear cut. The home side's main threat came from the boot of Marvin Elliott who was twice denied from long range.

The draw maintains City's place on top of the Championship, although Stoke close the gap to one point following a 1-0 win at Norwich.

After a quiet and nervy opening 15 minutes, Watford registered the first shot of the night when Jobi McAnuff sent a slow grasscutter into the arms of Basso.

City responded with an Elliott piledriver on 20 minutes which Watford keeper Richard Lee did well to push wide of his right-hand post.

And soon after Elliott lined up another long range attempt, again forcing Lee into a diving save to push the ball around the upright.

City kept up the pressure and looked dangerous from set-pieces, with David Noble and Brian Wilson both going close only to be denied by last-ditch tackles.

Then, against the run of play, Tommy Smith cleverly worked his way into the box and crashed to the ground under pressure from Michael McIndoe. Referee Andre Marriner was just yards away and immediately pointed to the spot.

Henderson stepped up confidently but was denied from 12 yards by a terrific one-handed save from Basso diving to his left.

The former Gillingham forward took his frustration out on Johnson moments later with a studs-up, knee-high tackle. But with the crowd baying for a red card, referee Marriner only issued a caution. Seconds later Johnson went in late on Danny Shittu and picked up a caution to match.

The encounter was turning fiery and even the two benches were getting involved with arguments and angry confrontations.

On the stroke of half-time a goal-mouth scramble saw Basso save on his goal-line after City had failed to clear their lines from a Leigh Bromby long throw.

Still feeling the effects of Henderson's tackle, Johnson was replaced at half-time by Nick Carle in central midfield. Midfielder Johnson later appeared on crutches at pitchside for the second period.

The half-time interval appeared to cool tempers and it was another slow start for the second period.

Bromby headed an outswinging cross from John Eustace just wide of the far post, but the chances soon dried up.

The next opportunity arrived on 72 minutes as Jamie McAllister's left-wing cross was nodded over the advancing Lee by Adebola, but also over the bar.

A late, cheeky backheeled effort from John Joe O'Toole almost wrong-footed Basso but the ball skipped wide of the post and that was the final chance of a nervy affair.