"I think the conditions played a part. We passed the ball quite well and I thought we bossed the game in the first half," said Pardew.
"When the conditions worsened and it became quite muddy, Watford proved the stronger side but we had to dig in and show a lot of character."
West Ham certainly had the better chances in the first half and could have taken an early lead when Tomas Repka sent a low, angled shot beyond keeper Lennie Pidgeley but the ball rolled wide of the far post.
Brian Deane had a good chance when he met a Michael Carrick cross, but his header was adrift of the near post.
Watford had their moments despite playing second fiddle in the first 45 minutes, and it took a fine save from David James to deny a well-struck volley from Paul Devlin.
James also reacted well just before the interval when a shot by Micah Hyde took a deflection off Marcus Gayle. The England keeper read it well to claim the ball on the line.
"I thought we showed them too much respect in the first half. If you give good players room, they will pass the ball," said Watford boss Ray Lewington.
"We closed them down and were much improved in the second half."
Watford should have taken the lead after 54 minutes when Danny Webber met a cross by Paulo Vernazza, but his close-range header struck the outstretched arm of Ian Pearce and appeals for a penalty were denied.
Watford had another appeal late in the game when Devlin broke into the box and was in the words of Lewington was "yanked back by the shirt" when homing in on goal.
However, these appeals were also ignored by the referee as the game ended goalless.