Marvin Zeegelaar believes Saturday’s 2-0 loss to West Ham United serves as a reminder of the task Watford still face to retain their Premier League status.

The Hornets were second best throughout the encounter at London Stadium as they went down to a demoralising loss to their relegation rivals.

Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic got the goals as the hosts went level on points with a Watford side who remain firmly in the relegation conversation.

Zeegelaar agreed Watford’s performance was below the standard required and said it was harder to swallow as it came against a Hammers side struggling for form.

“Of course it is very disappointing and it always is when you lose. We needed the points and we didn’t do enough to get them,” he said.

“That (West Ham’s position) makes it worse and we shouldn’t lose these games. When we lose they get closer to is and it wasn’t a good game.

“It brings us back down to earth again and it is a reminder that we have to get points as soon possible.”

Javi Gracia’s side were their own worst enemy at times as Zeegelaar lost track of Hernandez for the opener and a catalogue of errors led to Arnautovic scoring the second.

The Hornets were a world away from where they had been on Monday night as they dispatched Chelsea under the Vicarage Road lights.

The relief which came with that win over Chelsea was clear, but Zeegelaar insists Watford were not complacent in the wake of beating the champions.

“No I do not think so. Of course Monday gave us a confidence boost and it is good but we were not ourselves today,” he said.

“It was not a good performance. In the first half we gave it away and were not sharp enough so they scored. After that we were not able to come back.”