Beppe Sannino has suggested Watford’s intense training schedule could be influencing his team’s performances during pre-season but believes tonight’s 1-0 loss to Coventry City may help reduce the chance of suffering defeats in the future.

The Hornets were poor during the first half at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park and whilst they improved in the second period, the Golden Boys struggled to create clear-cut chances against the League 1 club.

Sannino said: “I am not happy that we lost the friendly match but this result can become very important because it is better that we don’t lose the next match [against Udinese].”

The Golden Boys take on the Italian club on Saturday in their final first team friendly before their Championship campaign starts on August 9 against Bolton Wanderers.

Sannino has been regularly holding double sessions during pre-season as he attempts to improve his players’ fitness.

And he said: “Yesterday (Tuesday) we worked too much. It is very important that we prepare the team better now for the first official match. But I am disappointed that we lost because I always want to win.

“Coventry were organised and aggressive and they are a team who are better than League 1 but now my team must think about their work and on Saturday there is a match with more probability of seeing if my team are ready or still not ready [for the start of the season].”

When asked if he believes the intense fitness work has been influencing his team’s performances, he added: “We continued the working programme for my team. The staff know the Championship lasts a long time and we need to be prepared for the whole season.

“This result tonight could mean we don’t lose in the future.”

Watford struggled to control possession against Steven Pressley’s men despite having a far superior squad in terms of experience and technical quality.

The Hornets had several shots on goal but the large majority were from outside the area.

Sannino said: “I would like to win [against Udinese] and for sure [play] with more possession, with the players faster and with the players getting behind the defence more.”

Read a report from the match here.