Gianfranco Zola has warned his Watford players they will be dropped if they continue to make individual errors which cost the team.

Today’s 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough means the Hornets have only won once in their last six matches and currently sit seventh in the Championship, nine points below the top two.

The Golden Boys continue to be punished by individual mistakes; like Gabriele Angella’s this afternoon which led to Middlesbrough’s injury-time equaliser.

Zola said: “I am really disappointed because the game was finished. As far as I was concerned, I couldn’t see them coming back. I really couldn’t see it. We had control of the ball and we had so many counter-attacks.

“[For the equaliser] we didn’t capitalise on the first mistake and then secondly we had the ball and we gave the ball away so cheaply and in such a stupid way. I wasn’t very happy with that.

“It is disappointing because after the set back of last week I felt the team gave a great performance in terms of desire, application and they wanted to play as a team. I did appreciate that very much.

“But I didn’t appreciate the mistakes like that. I think people have to start taking responsibility because there will be consequences. All these little mistakes are costing us so much and leaving the team in a standstill position and I don’t like that.”

He continued: “The two goals were good goals and I was pleased the strikers (Troy Deeney and Fernando Forestieri) scored them.

“But I wasn’t pleased when we had the opportunity at the end and Fernando should have played better balls into Cristian Battocchio. That could have been the end of it. Again, I appreciate there were good things we did but I don’t appreciate the lack of determination and ruthlessness, which you need to win championships. Without that, you can be as nice and good as you can possibly be but you won’t win [titles].”

Zola has talked about the importance of his team not being sloppy in possession and inviting pressure from the opposition on several occasions in recent weeks.

Their failure to deal with set pieces has also been an ongoing issue and both problems resulted in Boro equalsing late on.

When asked what he can do to eradicate problems which are occurring on a weekly basis, Zola replied: “It is [happening on a weekly basis].

“People have to understand that if they don’t perform and do well then they won’t play. That is what will happen. They will not play. It is the only way for them to realise that in life, when you make mistakes you have to take responsibility for it.

“Your mistakes are penalising everyone so you have to stand up and be stronger.”

Despite the disappointing finish, Watford were better this afternoon after last week’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Leicester City.

And Zola said: “I was delighted [with the performance before Middlesbrough’s late equaliser]. They really gave everything, stuck together, helped each other and there was something good in the performance.

“Of course we can do much better in terms of passing the ball, creating play and we can do much better than that; we know that.

“Considering the situation we are going through, I was happy with the performance but I wasn’t pleased with the end. The performance was ok.”

Read a report of today's game here.