Play-off chasing QPR were held to a goalless draw by Championship strugglers Watford at Loftus Road.

Rangers had won their last three home games under Paulo Sousa, but could not find a way through against a Hornets side who more than held their own.

In fact it was the visitors who came closest to stealing the points when Lee Williamson rattled the woodwork with a free-kick late in the second half.

When these teams met just over a month ago, Sousa had just been appointed Rangers head coach and watched from the stands as Watford ran out 3-0 winners at Vicarage Road.

Malky Mackay was in caretaker charge of Watford that day, but Brendan Rodgers took over shortly after tasked with dragging the Hornets clear of the drop zone.

The visitors arrived in west London on the back of two straight defeats, and were facing a team with one of the best home records in the division.

But Watford frustrated their hosts in the opening stages, limiting them to a long-range effort from Martin Rowlands which was comfortably held by goalkeeper Scott Loach.

For the second match running, Sousa made six changes to his starting line-up and it showed with Rangers struggling to string any passes together early on.

Watford's Tamas Priskin squandered the first decent chance after 20 minutes, heading Williamson's corner wide.

Rangers eventually got into their stride, though, and Heidar Helguson should have opened the scoring against his former club when presented with a gilt-edged chance seven minutes later.

The on-loan Bolton striker flung himself at Lee Cook's dangerous free-kick but sent his diving header wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

Just before the break Williamson fizzed a shot narrowly wide of Radek Cerny's goal.

Sousa sent on top scorer Dexter Blackstock for Cook at the interval, and they immediately threatened when Patrick Agyemang's close-range effort was spilled by Loach, but no Rangers player could take advantage.

Blackstock just failed to get on the end of a deep cross from Rowlands before Helguson blasted over following an almighty goalmouth scramble - with Rangers baying for a penalty for a shirt-pull on Damion Stewart.

Blackstock, looking to add to his tally of 11 goals this season, then met Hogan Ephraim's corner with a free header but sent the ball over the top.

At the other end, Stewart did well to block Jobi McAnuff's shot before Williamson came closest to breaking the deadlock with a blistering free-kick which cannoned back off Cerny's post nine minutes from time.

Teams:

QPR Cerny, Delaney, Ramage, Hall, Stewart, Cook (Blackstock 46), Rowlands, Mahon (Leigertwood 84), Ephraim, Agyemang, Helguson.

Subs Not Used: Connolly, Ledesma, Alberti.

Booked: Ramage, Rowlands, Helguson.

Watford Loach, DeMerit, Doyley, Mariappa, Harley, Bridcutt (Bromby 89), Williamson, Jenkins, Smith, McAnuff, Priskin (Rasiak 62).

Subs Not Used: Lee, Hoskins, O'Toole.

Booked: Mariappa, Rasiak, DeMerit, Harley.

Att: 16,196

Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).