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If you thought there was a lack of action as Stoke City were held to a goalless draw by Watford, then you were right.

Watford arrived at the bet365 Stadium with a reputation for having the longest games of the season (97 minutes and 53 seconds) but the lowest ratio of the ball actually being in play during that time (54.8 per cent).

And, at least in that regard, they didn’t disappoint.

Almost every visiting player called for the physio during the match while Orestis Karnezis idled over goal-kicks and no one was in a rush to take a throw or set piece while referee Jon Moss literally shrugged his shoulders.

(Image: Leanne Bagnall)

Figures calculated by Opta show that the ball was actually in play for just 42 minutes, 43.3 per cent of the 96 minutes and 41 seconds between Moss’s first and last whistles.

That is the lowest in the Premier League this season on both counts.

It was 12 minutes less than Stoke’s average for the season (54:46) and four minutes less than the previous worst score in the top flight for any game this term, Huddersfield’s 0-0 draw with Burnley in December (46:02).

Watford take up four of the top five in the Premier League this season for ratio of lack of ball in play. Their away trip to Everton (45 per cent) is second on the list while home games against Leicester (48 per cent) and Huddersfield (48.3 per cent) are in fourth and fifth respectively.

Crystal Palace’s 2-2 draw with West Ham is third (47.2 per cent).