The contrast was stark. So many of the positives aspects of the performance that enabled Watford to beat Arsenal and reach the FA Cup semi-finals six days previously were missing yesterday in one of the most disappointing displays of the season.

The 2-1 loss to Stoke City was a reminder – not that one should be needed – that if the Hornets are not operating at their peak, or close to it, in a Premier League game then positives results are unlikely to follow.

It was a point acknowledged by Mario Suarez when he spoke to the media after Troy Deeney's late goal had not been enough to turn the tide following strikes by Jonathan Walters and Joselu. There was no attempt to hide behind excuses by the Spaniard, who was quick to quash any suggestion of a hangover from the highs at the Emirates Stadium.

“We have to forget about what we do in the past,” he said. “We have to focus on what is the present. Today was a very difficult game. We didn’t have a good game, they were better than us but we always have to believe in ourselves. We have to do our best, 100 per cent, but today we didn’t play our best game - we were not very lucky too.

“We have to keep pushing, to keep working and we have to know that we are a team that if every single player doesn’t give 100 per cent we cannot do good things. We have to give 100 per cent every day, not only in the games but in training and after we will have good results.”

Suarez continued: “I think they are a really good team, they played very well. They started the beginning of the game very well and better than us. We have to learn from these things too. We have to be focused for the 95 minutes from the first minute to the last one and do our best. That’s it.”

The 29-year-old has had something of a stop-start beginning to his Hornets career since moving to Vicarage Road from Fiorentina in January. Yesterday was his eighth appearance in league and cup but he has yet to start consecutive matches. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder believes his performances will improve with a run of games.

“I’m enjoying it,” he replied when asked how he was finding English football. “It’s very difficult. As I told you before it’s very competitive, it’s the most competitive football. It’s very physical but I feel very good.

“Every single day with every game I feel better and what I want is to play as much as possible, play every single game and with two or three games in a row I can give my best version."