Gianfranco Zola does not believe his team have a discipline problem and insists Watford can't be labelled a "dirty side" despite receiving four red cards in their last four games.

Technically it is three red cards because Matej Vydra's was rescinded but the team's indiscipline has seen them drop points in recent matches.

Zola said: "I don’t think [we have a discipline problem]. The first two are because Fernando Forestieri got a second yellow card after a slip, that has been misinterpreted, and the second red card (Vydra against Middlesbrough) was cleared.

"So I do not think that is the case. The fact we have had the red cards have strongly penalised us but we can’t be labelled a dirty side.

"We were unlucky with the first two because they were not red cards. The last two games were not unlucky, we have just made some mistakes."

Zola added: "Our performances in those matches make us even more disappointed. We wonder where we would’ve been without those red cards. But you can’t change that any more we just know what we have to do to improve that and we know that we are going to be stronger than this."

Watford were winning 1-0 against Cardiff City on Tuesday night before Daniel Pudil was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident with Craig Noone.

The Hornets were then reduced to nine men when Nathaniel Chalobah (pictured right) received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Zola said: "My view is that Daniel Pudil did react but he didn’t hit the man in the face. He had a reaction because the man was holding him back and he pushed him away. I don’t think it was a strike in the face like has been said.

"Unfortunately, it was a tough game and the linesman saw the movement out of his corner of his eye and he punished him for that.

"With Chalobah, it was one of those silly things. I don’t think he thought very much about it. He controlled the ball and put it out. Unfortunately it was costly but they realise they made a mistake and both have said it won’t happen again."