Chelsea captain John Terry's long goodbye began with a goalless draw at Watford.

The Premier League champions maintain Terry could yet still be offered a contract extension, despite his claim after last Sunday's FA Cup win at MK Dons that there will be no 19th season and no fairytale ending.

The likelihood Chelsea will be playing European football next term receded further at Vicarage Road, despite Guus Hiddink extending his unbeaten run in caretaker charge to nine matches.

Five of Hiddink's seven Premier League games have been draws, including against Watford on Boxing Day, leaving the Blues 15 points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal.

Once again the Hornets tested Chelsea, but the visitors were denied victory when Diego Costa's 88th-minute header was kept out by Heurelho Gomes.

The visiting supporters made their feelings clear by repeatedly singing about captain Terry, on his 697th appearance, but their thoughts have fallen on deaf ears before.

Meanwhile, Everton's first home league win since November eased some of the scrutiny on manager Roberto Martinez in his 100th Premier League game in charge but only increased the pressure on Newcastle counterpart Steve McClaren.

A first-half goal from Aaron Lennon, the first time since August 2009 he has scored in back-to-back games, and two late Ross Barkley penalties secured a 3-0 victory.

Martinez has now won 40 times and drawn 31 in his opening century of games at Everton but after a Capital One Cup semi-final exit last week some fans were calling for his head.

A victory and a much-needed home clean sheet, only the second of the season, will have eased that clamour.