On two occasions during the Hornets’ 3-0 defeat at Norwich City, Heurelho Gomes watched the ball sail over his head into the net. Canaries boss Neil Adams says that was down to his players’ vision rather than a pre-match plan to exploit the Brazilian goalkeeper’s positioning.

Both Bradley Johnson and Lewis Grabban scored chipped goals against Gomes at Carrow Road yesterday and Alex Tettey lashed in a third to complete the victory.

When asked if Norwich had identified Gomes’ positioning during open play as something they could take advantage of, Adams said: “It wasn't to be honest with you. We look at every opponent in depth but it is not something we had identified before the game.

“That is a credit to the players’ vision. They have seen he is a little bit off his line and have got their shots, which were inch perfect, away.”

He continued: “I thought all three goals were top drawer. Bradley's chip, it takes a quality player to do that. If Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo had done that then we'd be watching it time and time again.

“I'm delighted for Lewis because he has been excellent in pre-season. He worked his socks off today and scored a great goal.

“Alex's goal is a tremendous strike as well but he is been upstaged almost by fantastic finishes from his colleagues.”

The Hornets were reduced to ten men at Carrow Road in only the second minute of the contest as Joel Ekstrand was dismissed for elbowing Nathan Redmond.

Adams said he had not seen the incident in his post-match press conference but added: “I saw Nathan on the floor and straightaway you are looking at the officials.

“The linesman had the best view of it and seemed as though he wasn't going to flag. But he did and has deemed it enough to warrant a red card.

“I have spoken to Nathan and he didn't know what hit him. He said he felt a bang and then went down. He is not pointing the finger at the defender. Like I said, I haven't seen it but the officials have seen enough.”

He added: “The sending off after just three minutes was a massive turning point in the game, just as we said last week at Wolves.

“It is then a case of the opposition digging in and making it difficult for you.

“Watford went for 4-4-1 and left Troy Deeney upfront, who is a massive threat even on his own and he can keep a defence occupied single-handedly when he is at it.

“Watford always had that out ball but when you have that numerical advantage for such a long time you have got to be patient, you have got to keep the ball, and you have got to keep it with quality.

“We did that throughout the game. We scored three but we could've scored many more.

“I was delighted with our application and our quality shone through.”