Heurelho Gomes produced a string of brilliant saves to earn Watford a point and frustrate Chelsea in a largely forgettable game at Vicarage Road.
Gomes denied Branislav Ivanovic from close range before producing another great stop to keep out a powerful header form Diego Costa at the end.
Costa was involved in a clash with Juan Carlos Paredes off the ball that saw both players booked in the first half.
Chelsea came closest to winning it in the second half but a point was the least Watford deserved against a Chelsea side who were well below-par.
The Blues move up to 13th and Watford go ninth.
Watford vs Chelsea - player ratings
Costa escaped a booking early on when he pushed over Sebastian Prodl off the ball. Referee Mike Dean saw the incident but did not issue a yellow card.
Prodl had the first real chance on 27 minutes when his powerful header was well saved by Thibaut Courtois. The Chelsea goalkeeper was in action again moments later when he pushed away a shot from Etienne Capoue.
Costa saw a shot deflect off Craig Cathcart and just beyond the far post before he was involved in the incident that saw him and Paredes booked.
Costa pushed Paredes to the floor right in front of the two dugouts and the Watford defender rolled around theatrically. With Watford fans calling for Costa to be sent off, Dean gave both players a yellow card.
Chelsea started the second half on the front foot. John Obi Mikel saw a deflected shot tipped over the bar by Gomes, who then kept out a powerful shot form Nemanja Matic.
Gomes was in inspired form. He saved from Oscar before Guus Hiddink brought on Eden Hazard with 18 minutes remaining.
Hazard almost made the difference when he did well down the right cut back for Ivanovic who saw his fierce close-range drive superbly saved by Gomes.
Costa was denied at the death and Gomes was the Watford hero.
