Watford are on course for promotion to the Premier League after 10-man Norwich City played out a goalless first half with Rotherham United.
The home side, who were deducted three points this week for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season, will slip into the drop zone if scores remain as they currently stand.
The visitors forced a couple of early corners at a tense New York Stadium, and Lewis Grabban went down inside the area early on, but the referee waved away the tentative appeals from Norwich.
Nathan Redmond fired in an effort from range for the Canaries, but it was comfortably held by Rotherham keeper Emiliano Martinez on 12 minutes.
Bradley Johnson's clipped pass found Martin Olsson, but the Swede's shot was blocked on 20 minutes as Norwich continued to press for the opener.
However, Alex Neil's side were reduced to 10 men when Grabban was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Craig Morgan.
Rotherham's best chance of the half fell to Danny Ward from Matt Derbyshire's cross, but the winger's effort was narrowly wide.
The sending off forced Neil into a tactical reshuffle as Gary Hooper was brought on in place of Wes Hoolahan just after the half-hour mark.
Paul Gorst
