Watford’s attendance at Vicarage Road has gone from one extreme to the other this week.

On Saturday the Hornets recorded a figure of 18,602, their highest number since 2007. 

But against Rotherham United last night, only 13,468 fans were present - the lowest total the Golden Boys have achieved in the Championship this season.

However, there are several mitigating factors as to why Watford’s total dropped by over 5,000 supporters in the space of four days.

Firstly, it is an awful lot easier for supporters from both sides to arrive at a game which kicks off at 3pm on a Saturday rather than 7.45pm on a Tuesday night.

Secondly, the travelling Millers support totalled 301 - a solid effort for a Tuesday night fixture – whereas 2,140 Norwich City supporters crammed into the away section in the Vicarage Road end on Saturday.

And thirdly, it was a Champions League night. For fair-weather fans the option of staying in and watching two European heavyweights battling it out overrides the desire to spend more than £25 and watch the Golden Boys.

Prior to last night’s game, the lowest league attendance at Vicarage Road this season was 14,320. That was set against Bournemouth in September - although the game was broadcast on Sky Sports.

As for the highest, the main reason it has taken the Watford more than seven years to break the 18,000 barrier is down to the East Stand, which was renamed the Sir Elton John Stand in December.

It was closed to the public in 2008 and didn’t fully reopen until Boxing Day last year. On Saturday, the majority of the stand was full.

The attendance was also boosted by an impressive travelling contingent from Norwich. A total of 2,140 Canaries supporters crammed into the away section in the Vicarage Road end.

Saturday’s number was marginally less than that of December 2007 when 18,698 fans watched the Hornets suffer a 4-2 home defeat against Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.

The highest attendance figure the Hornets achieved without the Sir Elton John Stand in use came during the 2009/2010 campaign.

Newcastle United were the visitors to Vicarage Road on that day. The Magpies completed a 2-1 victory over the Hornets in the Championship and the game was watched by 17,210 people.