Slavisa Jokanovic stated professional football is not a game for pussies (weak people) and has called on his Watford players to be 'real men' as he looks for a reaction to Saturday's 3-0 defeat.

The Hornets' head coach is refreshingly honest in his interviews with the written press and is not afraid to speak his mind.

On Saturday his team matched promotion-rivals Norwich City for an hour before a controversial penalty decision resulted in the Golden Boys succumbing to a 3-0 defeat.

Jokanovic had previously overseen a run of three consecutive victories and this afternoon said: "It is more difficult to work after losing and it is easier after you have won. After wins I am a very good coach and they are very good players and everything is nice.

"[But] this job is not for pussies, it is a job for real men. After we win it is easy to say 'look how good I am' but now is a time for strong people and when we have a problem, like the last game, now is really the time to show you have a champion's mentality."

Norwich's foundation for victory at the weekend was their defensive organisation and tactical discipline.

Neither team played a lot of possession-based football and their goalkeepers were not stretched prior to Wes Hoolahan's dive in the build-up to the Canaries' first goal.

In the last few years Watford have, more often than not, struggled to break down teams at Vicarage Road who prioritise defending and do not leave a lot of space in the Hornets' final third.

Jokanovic said that was 'typical in football' and accepted his players have still not found the right balance between attack and defence.

He said: "For many years Watford did not win games like 5-0 [against Charlton], 7-2 [versus Blackpool] and 0-5 [at Fulham] and it is a question of what we want to do. I believe we are a really strong team offensively but I still think we could take more of a risk [in attack in matches like Norwich]. In the last game we didn't have any defensive problems before they scored - this is 100 per cent true - but it is also true that we did not create dangerous chances or play football. Where is the balance?

"What we want to do is not concede many goals but still try to take more risks [in attack] to find the right characteristics of my team.

"If you think we will do this by putting on more defenders then that is impossible. I will probably use more offensive players.

"The solution of this problem is not about other [clubs'] players or money or anything. It is about these players [at Watford] and their characteristics will determine which way we play.

"I would prefer to play like Barcelona or Chelsea but we have to play like Watford."

Jokanovic was already planning to make changes against Rotherham prior to the weekend but has suggested the manner of the defeat could influence his selection further.

The Golden Boys usually play in a 3-5-2 formation but the Serbian has indicated he could change the formation against Rotherham United tomorrow night. Sean Murray is expected to be the only forced absentee.

Jokanovic said: "This is not a time to explain my changes but I will be obligated to make changes. We will be playing against a different kind of team and this situation - after the last game and the opposition we will face - will obligate us to move our structure and find something different.

"We didn't have any defensive problems in the first 65 minutes but it is also true that we didn't connect enough in attack and play enough football in this game.

"I will always try to play football and I must move my plans a little bit."

The former Chelsea midfielder also acknowledged Watford have struggled against teams like Rotherham in the past, saying: "This team play typical English football, where there are many long balls, they are very strong, they have great spirit and solidarity and they are going to always try. This is the type of game that we do not like as much - a physical game - and we must still find the football. I expect we will do this tomorrow evening."

Rotherham, who are 21st in the table, lost 5-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday but have shown in recent weeks they can compete with the Championship's best sides, holding league-leaders Derby County to a 3-3 draw and beating Ipswich Town 2-0.

Jokanovic added: "I don't know [if Rotherham's 5-0 defeat will be a factor]. We have to concentrate on us and many things determine what happens on a football pitch and many of them are in our hands. It is our obligation to be ready, be prepared, work together and play football.

"In my opinion we are a more quality team but our time is not speaking in interviews, it is out on the field. I am sure my team will be ready."