It was Javi Gracia’s 39th game in charge of Watford in the Premier League – the longest tenure of any manager they have had in the top flight – though this was no celebration of his fine work.
Watford attempted zero shots on target over a largely forgettable 90 minutes at the Amex Stadium as Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan never had to get his gloves muddy.
So game No 39 will not go down as a classic – it was guaranteed to prop up the Match of the Day running order – though reaching that milestone can be considered a feat nonetheless.
Florin Andone is denied by Ben Foster as the Watford goalkeeper makes another save in a fine display for the Hornets
Shane Duffy attempts to hook the ball goalwards as Brighton push for a breakthrough against Watford
BRIGHTON (4-4-2): Ryan, Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Gross, Bissouma, Propper, March, Murray (Andone 72), Locadia.
SUBS NOT USED: Kayal, Bissouma, Knockaert, Balogun, Jahanbakhsh, Button.
BOOKINGS: Propper
WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Foster, Janmaat, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas, Hughes, Cleverley, Capoue, Sema (Quina 81), Deulofeu (Gray 70), Deeney.
SUBS NOT USED: Gomes, Britos, Masina, Chalobah, Penaranda.
BOOKINGS:
REFEREE: Simon Hooper
ATTENDANCE: 30,414
Solly March was an energetic presence on the left flank for Brighton in their draw with Watford. CLICK HERE to see more from Sportsmail's MATCH ZONE.
Quique Sanchez Flores, Walter Mazzarri and Aidy Boothroyd all managed 38 games in the Premier League with Watford, along with Graham Taylor back in 1999-2000. Marco Silva, who Gracia replaced in January last year, oversaw a total of 24.
Watford’s sack, hire, sack, hire strategy has been halted for the time being, and they have certainly progressed under Gracia since he took over.
The Hornets are now fighting to finish in the top half of the top flight for the first time since 1987. Of course Gracia would have liked to mark the occasion with a win, though chances were hard to come by here.
To say this game suffered a slow start would be an understatement. It was in the 17th minute when we witnessed our first shot on or off target – a Troy Deeney header which went wide.
The Seagulls had lost three straight league matches before their match against the Hornets
