While the Hornets had their moments, it was the visitors who had the better of the chances, Selvik tipping Patson Daka’s spot-kick onto the post just before half-time.
Abdul Fatawu missed a massive chance after the break, while Nestory Irankunda came closest for Watford with a near-post shot was saved.
In a game full of stoppages and bitty football, Ed Still’s side were unable to find much of a rhythm and – with play-off rivals winning – slip seven points behind the top six with seven matches to play after the international break.
Pierre Ekwah on the ball (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)
Leicester were the better side in a stop-start opening 15 minutes, broken up by a blow to the face for Imran Louza and various other stoppages.
Formose Mendy, on his full home debut, was booked for an early challenge down the left, while Selvik was down to stop Luke Thomas’ shot-cross free-kick.
Watford begun to build some pressure from there, Giorgi Chakvetadze seeing plenty of the ball, but a number of crosses were dealt with as neither side were able to open up their opposition.
A series of farcical stoppages interrupted the first half as first Jordan James went down holding his head while Watford were attacking inside the box, before referee Josh Smith’s communication device broke and he had to change it.
The stoppages disrupted Watford, who were finding Chakvetadze in plenty of space but unable to generate any major chances from it.
At the other end, Mattie Pollock and Selvik were on hand to deal with the Foxes’ threat as the clock ticked towards 40 minutes.
With five minutes of normal time to play before the break, though, Fatawu drifted past Mendy and was brought down by the defender inside the box.
The centre-back was perhaps lucky not to receive a second yellow and was bailed out completely as Selvik pushed Daka’s strike onto the post – not the first penalty Leicester have ever missed at the Vicarage Road End.
Egil Selvik saves Patson Daka’s penalty (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)
Watford wanted a red card for the visitors when James fouled Chakvetadze but the referee resisted as the visitors continued to dominate heading into the break.
More good work from Pollock and Selvik was to thank as Ed Still’s side got into half-time level.
The head coach made a change at half-time, replacing Mendy – who had a difficult 45 minutes – with Kevin Keben.
Stephy Mavididi drew a save from Selvik with a tame effort, but a scrappy first 15 minutes of the second half was shaded by Watford, who won a succession of corners and saw Louza shoot high and wide on the hour mark.
Edo Kayembe on his 150th Watford appearance (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)
Fatawu was a danger whenever he picked up possession, though, and caused panic in the backline again just after the hour, his shot ricocheting to Divine Mukasa to shoot at Selvik from a tight angle.
After 65 minutes, Fatawu seemed destined to score from Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s back-post cross but somehow failed to make enough of a connection with the best open-play chance of the match, the ball bouncing wide.
Still replaced Louza and Chakvetadze with Papy Mendy and Edoardo Bove, switching Irankunda to the left, and the move nearly paid dividends.
Irankunda cut in from the wing and shot at Jakub Stolarczyk’s near post, but the keeper was equal to the effort.
As the game briefly opened up, Divine Mukasa and Luca Kjerrumgaard exchanged 20-yard drives but neither hugely threatened.
Goalless at The Vic. pic.twitter.com/fRg6G6QeoY
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) March 21, 2026
Ricardo Pereira drove dangerously across the box and Edo Kayembe skewed over with a few minutes to play, neither team able to muster much quality in the final third in the closing stages.
Selvik reacted angrily as De Cordova-Reid ran across him in the closing stages, a rare flare-up in a disappointing second half.
And the goalkeeper cemented his indisputable man of the match display by saving from Ben Nelson with the very last action of the match, the Hornets ultimately falling further behind in the top-six race.
Watford: Selvik; Abankwah, Pollock, F. Mendy (Keben 46), Bola; Louza (P. Mendy 66), Ekwah (Semedo 86); Irankunda, Kayembe, Chakvetadze (Bove 66); Kjerrumgaard (Doumbia 76)
Unused subs: Baxter, Eames, Ince, Nabizada
Attendance : 19,493 (2,225 away)