Cardiff City have edged closer to automatic promotion to the Premier League by picking up a point against Watford at Vicarage Road.

The result leaves the Bluebirds five points clear at the top of the Championship, while the hosts are three points behind Hull City.

Malky Mackay's side began brightly, focusing their attacks mainly down the right-hand side.

Kim Bo-Kyung nearly gave them the lead when he wriggled free inside the area in the 17th minute, but his deflected shot was well saved by Manuel Almunia.

Watford then come into the game and had a few opportunities of their own.

David Marshall knew very little about Troy Deeney's header from three yards out, but he somehow managed to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Then Craig Conway made a quick breakaway, but dragged his shot wide from just outside the box.

Perhaps the best chance of the first half fell to Deeney, but he fired over from 12 yards out after Matej Vydra had knocked down Matthew Briggs's cross.

With plenty at stake for both sides, the play became heated as the first half drew to a close, leading to a few crossed words between the dugouts.

Cardiff had Marshall to thank for keeping the scores level in the 55th minute, as he sprang to his right to tip Deeney's header around the post.

That was the only real chance in a second half that was keenly contested but very tight.