Stoke City and Watford have played out a goalless draw in Wednesday night's Premier League encounter at the bet365 Stadium.

Neither side clicked into gear during a dour encounter of few chances between two out-of-form sides in the lower half of the table.

The only moments of note in the first half came from Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting's shot across the face of goal for the hosts and Richarlison firing Gerard Deulofeu's cross over at the other end.

Stoke came close to breaking the deadlock just after the hour mark when Orestis Karnezis blocked Xherdan Shaqiri's effort and substitute Peter Crouch headed the rebound straight at the goalkeeper.

A rare Watford attack then almost reaped dividends for the visitors as Abdoulaye Doucoure got the better of Kurt Zouma and lined up a shot, only for Ryan Shawcross to throw himself at the ball.

Jack Butland made his first meaningful save late on, parrying Roberto Pereyra's shot away, but neither side could force the issue by the full-time whistle.

STOKE CITY (4-2-3-1): Butland; Bauer, Shawcross, Zouma, Pieters; Fletcher, Adam (Crouch 60'); Choupo-Moting, Allen, Shaqiri; Diouf (Berahino 85')

WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Karnezis; Kabasele, Prodl, Mariappa, Holebas; Doucoure, Cleverley (Pereyra 72'); Richarlison (Gray 68'), Capoue, Deulofeu (Carrillo 88'); Deeney