Dogged, determined, disciplined – they were the watchwords as Watford thoroughly frustrated Ipswich and left Portman Road with a deserved point to maintain Tom Cleverley’s unbeaten record.

The Hornets became only the second team to stop the Tractor Boys scoring at home in the league this season as they drew 0-0, and such was their hard work and spirit they didn’t give up as single on-target goal attempt in the second half.

In fact, other than the 20 minutes before half-time when Ipswich pushed them back, Watford looked comfortable and while they didn’t create a great deal they looked to get forward when and where they could.

The back three were immense: they scrapped, they tackled, they threw themselves in the way of things and they didn’t panic.

The one time the giant and dangerous Kieffer Moore did get a sight of goal, his header was well saved by Dan Bachmann, whose handling was safe and secure all night long.

In the second half the home side made changes, tried different things but, long before the end, there was an air of frustration around Portman Road as they attacked more in hope than confidence.

To take a point off Leeds, West Brom and now Ipswich is very likely more than any Watford fan predicted when Cleverley stepped into the role.

He has restored pride in the badge, got the team looking to attack but maintained a solid base: three clean sheets in five games, compared with two in the previous 20 league games.

If these nine games are a long audition for Cleverley, then so far he’s definitely done enough to be called back for a second read through – and he clearly knows his lines.

There were two changes to the starting line-up, with Mattie Pollock and Giorgi Chakvetadze coming, and Francisco Sierralta and Emmanuel Dennis dropping to the bench.

Cleverley opted for 3-4-3 with Ryan Andrews and Jamal Lewis at wing backs, and Tom Dele-Bashiru in the middle with Edo Kayembe.

Vakoun Bayo led the line with Yaser Asprilla and Chakvetadze on the flanks.

Early on, Watford matched the home side and Asprilla tried an audacious 40-yard lob when he saw Hladky off his line but it was high and wide.

Bachmann made his first good stop of the night when he dropped to hold Broadhead’s low 20-yard effort before Chakvetadze played Bayo into the box but the striker’s shot was deflected wide.

However, the second part of the half saw the home side asking all the questions.

A tremendous weaving run from Hutchinson into the box on the right ended with his low hammered clear by Kayembe.

Then when Porteous missed the ball on halfway, Jackson broke down the right flank. He crossed and Moore turned the ball wide at the near post.

In the 34th minute Davis turned Kayembe in midfield and moved forward before shooting from 20 yards, but it was straight at Bachmann.

Two minutes later Broadhead turned well on the edge of the box and fired a low shot beyond Bachmann but the ball came back off the inside of the post.

More great play down the right saw Broadhead drag the ball back for Taylor who seemed set to score until Kayembe made a great block

Then a short free kick 35 yards out allowed Morsy to attack the box before shooting from 25 yards, but Bachmann held well again.

The keeper made the key save three minutes before the break. Clarke crossed and Moore got above Andrews but the keeper pushed it away.

The second was a lesson in containment from Watford, and such was their discipline and organisation Leeds didn’t muster a single on-target goal attempt after the break.

The back three looked strong and determined, and behind them Bachmann fielded crosses well, but so dependable was the defending from front to back that Ipswich seldom threatened.

Indeed, what chances there were fell the way of Watford.

Asprilla stung Hladky’s palms with a 25-yard effort and then he combined with Ismail Kone to set up Lewis for a low angled shot which the keeper pushed away.

At the other end a superb block from Mattie Pollock stopped Al-Hamadi from getting a shot away when he was played into the box with four minutes to go.

In fact, Hladky prevented a dramatic and incredible winner deep into stoppage time.

Watford broke down an attack inside their own half and Kayembe, possibly having seen how far out of his goal the keeper was, hammered the ball from a good 55 yards out towards the end empty net.

Hledky dashed back into the area and then dived to palm the ball wide of the target.

Watford: Bachmann; Pollock, Porteous, Hoedt; Andrews, Dele-Bashiru, Kayembe, Lewis; Asprilla (Ince 90+3), Bayo (Dennis 85), Chakvetadze (Kone 70). Subs: Hamer, Sierralta, Livermore, Rajovic, Martins, Morris