Heurelho Gomes made two excellent saves to deny the visitors a much-needed boost to their poor title defense as the Hornets held firm for a seventh top-flight clean sheet at home this season.
The home side had the best chance of the first half in the 28th minute through midfielder Etienne Capoue, but Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois standing firm to deny the Frenchman.
Oscar missed a glorious chance shortly after the break when he failed to steer Diego Costa’s pass into the back of the net, before Gomes heroics denied Branislav Ivanovic from close range and Diego Costa in the closing stages.
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The point moves Chelsea up to 13th on 29 points, while Watford currently sits on the 9th spot.
Hiddink’s unbeaten run since returning to the helm now stretches to nine games in all competitions, but the draw will be seen as a missed opportunity to put greater distance between Chelsea and the relegation zone.
In the other result of the night, Everton defeated 18th-placed Newcastle 3-0.