Slavisa Jokanovic believes his Watford side lacked any plan or desire in the final 25 minutes of their 3-0 defeat against Norwich City and says that concerned him more than the controversial decision to award the Canaries a penalty.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate at Vicarage Road until just after the hour mark. Wes Hoolahan tumbled in the Hornets’ penalty area under minimal contact, it looked a dive, and referee Carl Berry awarded a penalty.

Lewis Grabban dispatched the spot kick and five minutes later Cameron Jerome doubled the visitors’ lead. Grabban struck his second of the afternoon late in the game to complete victory for Alex Neil’s side.

A disappointed Jokanovic stated that the final score, and his players’ disappointing reaction to conceding the opener, meant he couldn’t complain too much about the penalty decision.

“I can’t be disappointed with the first hour,” the Serbian explained. “We didn’t make many chances but neither did they. We had the game under control at that point.

“But after the penalty they then get a quick second goal and we didn’t have any reaction. We started to play without any plan. I am disappointed with how we finished the game.

“You can lose in football but for the last 25 minutes we didn’t play in the right way for us. We played a strange game.”

Jokanovic continued: “I believe it wasn’t a penalty because people around me said it was a dive. Miguel (Layun) also said he didn’t touch the player. From my position I didn’t get a clear view.

“Referees will sometimes make mistakes and make wrong decisions. But after the penalty they score a good goal from outside of the area and then we are trying something different.

“The problem is that last 25 minutes. My team were lost on the field, we didn’t show any reaction and Norwich scored another goal and could have had more.

“I go home feeling that we didn’t finish the game with any plan, with any desire and not playing in the way want. That is what disappoints me.”

“We must be stronger in that situation even if we have to play against the referee too,” he added.

The defeat leaves the Hornets sixth in the Championship table. Results elsewhere weren’t disastrous for the Golden Boys but Watford are now six points behind league leaders Derby County.

Jokanovic’s side have the opportunity to bounce back from today’s defeat on Tuesday night when they welcome Rotherham United to Vicarage Road.

And the Watford head coach believes it is important his players show they have the right mentality to respond to a disappointing setback.

He said: “You have a nice life in football when you win games. Everything is good, the players are good, the coaches are good and there is a good outlook.

“It is a different situation now. We need to have mentally hard people who are willing to change the situation we find ourselves in today.

“In three days we have another chance at home and we must be ready to offer something different to our supporters.”